As of September 1, 2005, anyone in the nation can now order one free copy per year of his or her credit report.  Checking your credit report is a good idea, as it isn’t uncommon for other people’s mistakes to show up on your report. 

For example, it didn’t take long to see glaring errors in my Equifax credit report.  The first page indicated that I’ve lived in six locations over the past couple of years.  None of that was correct.  I’ve lived in two houses over the past 26 years.  Neither one of them showed up.  Of the six locations on my credit report, one was an old office, one was a commercial building I co-own, three were rentals, and one was my brother’s home.  Also, Equifax had my place of employment as "Taylor Realtors." 

That was just the first page.

To obtain copies of your credit reports (you can order three, one from each reporting agency) go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call 677-322-8228.