Risk of using online credit reports

Crystallas · #1 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006, 02:00 AM

Are there any risks of using one of the free online credit report services?

I've been way to skeptical to ever try them. My credit hasn't limited me from anything, so I havent needed to look. But sometimes Im curious to see what some of these sites score me as.

Also does anyone recomend any free credit report pages(ones without subscriptions?)

Thrif-t · #2 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 06:25 PM

There's no risk as long as you go to the right site. Make sure it starts https, the "s" is very important, lots of spoof sites don't have the s. Everyone should check their credit report at least once a year from all 3 reporting agencies to make sure everything is on the up and up and you don't have any fraudulent activitiy in your name. I do it all the time for my husband and myself.

poundwise · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 07:31 PM

If you want the free ones, use annualcreditreport.com, it is the only real one. The other so-called 'free credit report' sites are scams or, at the very least, ads - attempting to get you sign up for credit services.

If you are talking about pulling your reports, getting your scores, etc. besides your free reports, I'd suggest using myfico.com to pull all three and get all three scores. It makes it simple and you make a single payment.

abowers · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 08:16 PM

The following passage is from the FTC website, which is helpful: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/repair.htm

Each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — is required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.
The three companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report. To order, click on annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You can print the form from ftc.gov/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They are providing free annual credit reports only through annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. For more information, see Your Access to Free Credit Reports at ftc.gov/credit.
Otherwise, a consumer reporting company may charge you up to $9.50 for another copy of your report within a 12-month period.

Crystallas · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 11:43 PM

wow, thanks. Some very good info. I've neglected my credit in this aspect. I know my credit is good, but I havent done any reports ever since I was in my early 20s.

Elgin526 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 06:04 AM

And it's not just fraud that can put bad stuff on your reports, simple mistakes on the part of creditors or the credit brueaus can put bad things on your report (why are mistakes never good stuff?).

b4freedom · #7 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 07:36 AM

Go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com/ to get your free copy from all three credit agencies.

Don’t pay for or sign up for a service that will charge you for your credit report. Don’t pay for or sign up for a service that will monitor your credit report.

All of these services are a waste of money. You only need to check your credit report once a year.

poundwise · #8 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b4freedom

Go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com/ to get your free copy from all three credit agencies.

Don’t pay for or sign up for a service that will charge you for your credit report. Don’t pay for or sign up for a service that will monitor your credit report.

All of these services are a waste of money. You only need to check your credit report once a year.

For one, that is not necessarily true for everyone in every circumstance. For example, if you have to reason to believe you may a victim of identity theft or, if you are working to correct mistakes on your report prior to seeking a mortgage. Also, you may have already obtained your free one for the year when something comes up and you need to check it again.

For another, none of the services offers a free credit score, so you will have to pay someone at some time to obtain that information if you want it.

There are many ways to go about it. No one solution is right for everyone.

netflixdude · #9 (**permalink**) 06-17-2006, 07:33 PM

make sure the site is secure and is a knowne company, that's all i can say. my friend got burnz by a fishing scam, so you need to be kareful!

poundwise · #10 (**permalink**) 06-17-2006, 07:53 PM

So that there is no confusion...

You obtain your free credit reports (annually) from all three bureaus via:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com

You can obtain copies of your credit reports and credit scores through the three credit bureaus:

http://www.transunion.com

http://www.experian.com

http://www.equifax.com

And, you can obtain your FICO score and individual credit reports from each of the three bureaus through the Fair Isaac site (FICO):

http://www.myfico.com

You can count on virtually any other site to be, at best, an attempt to upsell you on credit monitoring or other services or, at worst, a scam.

My advice therefore, as I stated, is that if you are eligible for your annual free credit report from the bureaus, obtain it from the annualcreditreport.com site. Otherwise, use the myfico.com site to pull your reports and scores. In the case of the latter, I'd recommend paying the one-time fee, not getting an annual, automatically renewing, subscription.