A Comparative Look at Instant Credit Report Products (cont.)
Contributed by Alix Mcmurray
That Instant Credit Report May Have Claws as Well as Teeth
It is regrettable that the Internet is sometimes a force unleashed, in marketing credit reports as in other things. There is even a website maintained by a law firm which invites complainants to join a class action suit against one of the aforementioned companies. Apparently the "free" initial credit report was charged to some customers' credit card without their knowledge or consent.
It May Not be Instant, But it Will be a Free Credit Report....
You may at this very moment be eligible for a free copy of your credit report if you live in any of the following seven states: Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont. As for the other states, thanks to Congress and the Federal Trade Commission, there exists a new rule entailing a "phase-in" schedule. Starting December 2004 and proceeding every calendar quarter after that, residents of a specific group of states are entitled to ask for a credit report.
The phase-in program has started on the West Coast, and will reach the East Coast by September 2005. For details and to find out when you will qualify, you can visit annualcreditreport.com. You can also review the Federal Trade Commission's website, particularly their "Facts for Consumers."
