Get Credit for Being the Little Guy with a Free Credit Report
Contributed by Roland Head
Use a bad status to get free credit report
When it seems that there aren't a whole lot of people pulling for the little guy anymore take solace in the fact that you may be eligible for a free credit report. The law requires a free credit report under certain adverse situations. Of course, no one wants to be in these situations in the first place, but if you are, take advantage of it in the following situations:
1) You have been denied or were otherwise notified of an adverse action related to credit, insurance, employment, a government granted license or other government granted benefit or another transaction initiated by you within the past sixty (60) days based on information in a credit report provided by such agency.
2) You certify in writing that you have reason to believe that your file at such credit reporting agency contains inaccurate information due to fraud.
3) You have been denied house/apartment rental or were required to pay a higher deposit than usually required within the past sixty (60) days based on information in a credit report provided by such agency.
4) You certify in writing that you are unemployed and intend to apply for employment during the sixty (60) day period beginning on the date on which you made such certification.
5) You certify in writing that you are a recipient of public welfare assistance.
Get the credit report to see what's being held against you.
If you meet any of the criteria above, you are entitled to a free credit report to determine the evidence against you. By getting the credit report you will have first hand knowledge of why you are in that condition.
You are normally not allowed a free credit report except one per year per credit bureau. However, meeting one of the criteria above entitles you to just that. It is a protection by the law that is very helpful under adverse conditions.
