The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) was amended in 2003 and is now known as the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA). Under provisions of FACTA, you have the right to obtain a free copy of your consumer credit report, once a year (for Georgia residents, twice each year), from each of the national consumer credit reporting agencies. You may also obtain your credit score and related information from each bureau for a “fair and reasonable” fee. You can request your free reports at: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
Under FACTA, you are also entitled to a free report if:
- You’ve been denied credit, insurance, or employment within the past 60 days, or
- You are offered credit on terms that are materially less favorable than those offered to most other consumers, and that notification must provide a statement that explains your right to obtain a free credit report from a credit-reporting agency and how to obtain the report, or
- You certify in writing that you are unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days, or
- You are receiving public welfare assistance, or
- You have reason to believe your consumer file contains inaccurate information due to fraud.
Should you dispute an inaccurate item in your credit report(s). After investigation is complete, you will receive updated credit reports free of charge.
If you don’t qualify for a free report under any of the provisions above, you may still order a copy of your report by communicating directly with any or all of the credit bureaus as listed below:
- Equifax
PO Box 740241
Atlanta GA 30374
www.equifax.com
800-685-1111 - Experian
PO Box 2002
Allen TX 75013
www.experian.com
888-397-3742 - TransUnion
PO Box 1000
Chester PA 19022
www.transunion.com
800-916-8800
To limit your risk of identity theft, we suggest you not request your reports in writing. You will be required to provide the following information in any written request letter:
- Your full name
- Your date of birth
- Your current address
- Any former addresses in last 5 years
- A photocopy of driving license, showing current address
- A photocopy of your Social Security card
If you make your request by phone or online, you may be required to give them any of this same information and in some cases verify certain account numbers so that they know they are dealing directly with you.
It should take from 10 to 30 days to obtain a copy of your credit report from each of the agencies.
