“Free” Credit Report Risks
Along with creditor’s loosing data, marketer’s unauthorized access and miscellaneous credit bureau mishaps, there could be more risks with trying to check your credit online or accepting other offers for “free” reports. If you are concerned about your credit score, identity theft, inaccurate reporting of your credit and check it though a vendor offering free reports, you may be exposing yourself more.
There are so many different vendors offering free credit reports that it is easy for unscrupulous types to advertise to give you a free report in order to get access to your personal information. Think about it! You have to give them your name, address, social security number and birthdate in order to get the free report. Everything needed to steal your identity.
If you want to review your credit report, there are a couple of safer ways to go about it. You can order it directly from the credit bureaus. They have to provide you with a free copy once every twelve months. I recommend checking it more often, however, as a great deal of damage can be done in a year. Even if there is a charge, it’s worth it and far better than risking your personal data getting into the wrong hands.
Another option for getting a thorough current report is to get one from your bank or mortgage broker. The cost is minimal and you don’t risk your personal information to an unknown source.
Forewarned is forearmed. Get a copy of your credit report from the bureaus free once during the year, then pay a $15 to $20 fee to get a copy from your bank or mortgage broker. Your risk of exposing your personal data to an unforeseen threat is greatly reduced.
If you find in the worse-case scenario that you have been a victim, routine checks will ensure you can immediately go to work to expose the theft and correct your credit report.