Credit report

From GRA

As of September 1, 2005, all US residents are able to receive one free credit report annually. It is advised to take advantage of this opportunity to verify the accuracy of information on you on file with the national credit bureaus.

Your credit report is a valuable document. The information it contains carries a great deal of weight when you go to apply for credit. Errors in information do occur, and if not corrected could mean that you might not qualify for the most favorable treatment from a lender or even a landlord.

The Federal Trade Commission cautions you to be sure you are requesting the free credit report through legitimate channels. They recommend typing in the URL http://www.annualcreditreport.com when you go online instead of clicking on a pop-up or hyperlink in an e-mail. There have already been reports of scams from unscrupulous individuals trying to secure personal information through official-looking e-mails with similar URLs.