A Free & Easy Way for Gainesville, Florida Apartment Residents to Watch Their Credit Reports

The information contained in your credit report can affect your ability to get a credit card, insurance, employment, or even an apartment. It is important, therefore, to watch the information contained in your credit report and make sure it’s accurate and up-to-date.

Thanks to The Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can access your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) every 12 months, free of charge. Keep in mind, however, that there is only one authorized government website to obtain your free credit reports—www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Private companies advertise free credit reports, but these reports often come with hidden fees for unwanted services like credit monitoring.

To get your free, no-strings-attached credit report, go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com and follow the instructions or call 1-877-322-8228. You may also reach this service by mail at Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

This free service can help you monitor your credit in a couple different ways. Some people get all three reports at once. Others request one agency’s report at a time. By spreading the reports throughout the year, consumers are able to monitor their credit history more frequently.

If you see errors on your free credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission offers information on how to dispute errors and have them removed. If your credit report shows evidence of identity theft, go to www.consumer.gov/idtheft for information on defending yourself against this crime.

Whether you want to rent an apartment in Gainesville, Florida or are trying to buy a car in Tampa, your credit report could mean the difference between getting what you need or being left out in the cold. Make sure to reap the benefits of free credit reports at www.AnnualCreditReport.com.