Free Personal Credit Report Online- What To
Do With Your Report Once You Have It
Chances are you have seen ads online for free personal credit report. You may
have even clicked on one and received a copy of your credit history. Now that
you have all of this information, do you know what to do with it?
Check for inaccuracies
It is very possible that some of the information contained on your credit report
isn’t accurate. It can be something as small as an address you no longer live at
or something as big as a debt you paid off being reported as outstanding. If you
find an inaccuracy, contact the credit bureau and ask them to correct the error.
Check for unusual activity
Does your credit report contain accounts that you never opened. Are there
outstanding balances due to companies you have never heard of? If so,
someone may have opened accounts in your name and your credit report is
paying the price. If your credit report contains any information that leads you
to believe you are a victim of identity theft, contact the credit bureau and your
local police department, who may put you in touch with the FBI.
Check to see who has been checking you out
Your credit report contains a list of the companies and individuals that have
requested and received a copy. By law, there are certain requirements that

must be met for a third party to view your credit report. Most requesters are
required to have obtained your permission and signature, although under
certain circumstances, this isn’t necessary. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act,
"Any person who knowingly and willfully obtains information on a consumer
from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses shall be fined under
title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both." If
someone you know shouldn’t have had access to your credit report, is listed as
having obtained it, contact the credit reporting agency right away.
Your credit report is an important tool lenders use to help determine whether
or not to give you credit. A free online credit report is an important tool that
you can use to make sure your credit report is as clean as it should be.