Get Your Free Credit Reports Online - Comments Page 1

Some have access to more reports each year. From http://consumer.georgia.gov/consumer-topics/credit-reports-and-credit-score

"As a Georgia resident, you were already entitled by the Fair Business Practices Act to two free credit reports from each reporting agency per year. To request the second of your free annual reports, which would be sent to you by mail, contact the three main national credit reporting agencies directly."

I don't know if other states have similar options.

Bob (or readers), there is a fourth Credit bureau, Innovis. Are they also required to provide a free report?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, I forgot to mention Innovis. They do not participate at the AnnualCreditReport.com site, but you can get a free credit report once yearly at https://www.innovis.com/personal/creditReport

I would rather NOT know my credit score and/or who asked for my credit report than allow the reporting agencies from knowing my latest and most current email address.
What I really want to know is how to protect this information (both the score and the report) so that it is not shared, reported or divulged without prior authorization of the owner (=me).

We have our accounts frozen. Having said that, will we need to 'pay' to un-freeze to access them?

One thing you can do - shy of "freezing" your credit accounts - to protect yourself after the mega-ginormous Equifax hack is to request new credit cards with a different account number. Most credit card companies and banks are happy to do this for free.

They will lock that account so that no further charges can be made, and send you a new card. Stagger your requests so that you still have at least one active credit card; don't request all new ones on the same day, or you'll find that none of your cards will work for a week or so.

P.S. Our accounts have been frozen for years, already.

I tried the Free Report site and ran up against problems. Apparently, they don't have the most current information or what they do have is just plain wrong. Such as--did I own a Subaru Legacy? No, it was another model, though still a Subaru. So that's counted as a wrong answer. Same with past addresses. Two of them applied--which one do they want? They must be basing their answers on information that is many years old. Just an observation....

Just sign up for Credit Karma. They make their bucks by offering you credit cards and loans but their service is providing you with current copies of TransUnion and Equifax credit reports in a easily navigated fashion. They don't cost you a ding on your credit. They also alert you to changes. Now it's only two of the three, but generally things will show up on all three within a short span. I also froze my credit with all three agencies which costs $20 right now as equifax has to provide it for free.
https://www.creditkarma.com/

Yes, when you freeze your credit you have to pay for it (generally $10) and you have to pay to unfreeze it (also $10). You can usually unfreeze it completely or choose to unfreeze it for a period of time (also $10, but saves you having to pay to re-freeze it). Also if you are applying for something specific you can ask them what credit agency they use and only unfreeze that one.

Just looked at the Request Yours Now site to get my credit score. It asks for my SS# and other pertinent information but it is not a secure site. This puts me in a position between a rock and a hard place. I would like to know the data transmitted is encrypted. Your thoughts.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Why do you say it's not a secure site?

Dan, as has already been said, try Credit Karma. Several reputable consumer gurus recommend it, and I've used it for over a year.

Also, the fees are different for the different bureaus. I think all of them waive fees if you can prove you're an ID theft victim, and some or all wave the fee for freezing and/or thawing if you're 65 or over. Check each site.

Here's a chart that lists the costs to freeze and unfreeze your credit, if any, for each state:

https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze/credit-freeze-information-by-state

What are the numbers to call to get your reports sent to you

I live in Washington state and was able to freeze my credit with all 4 agencies for no
charge. As I (and spouse) are retired with no debts, loans or mortgage we don't anticipate
unfreezing. I still monitor our accounts on a daily basis.

Just tried all 3 agencies, individually, on AnnualCreditReport.com and ALL said that I had to apply via postal mail, including a LONG list of photocopies of documents with enlargements of small type! NONE would send me a report by eMail/OnLine. So much for that "However, you can receive a report immediately online." statement. Your experience may vary....

olamoree; Big E hacked my info. I wasn't able to get the free credit protection after applying and receiving and waiting the required time twice. Also they used a shady website to apply for the protection. So i consider they let me down twice. Like it or not they abused our accounts.
Creditkarma, which i use, monitors accounts for change. So does my bank. That's about the only freebie the bank gives seniors. And freeze my accounts? A truck ran over my car's front end. It's been fixed but another car was what i was considering before the accident.

Did I miss anything in my summary below?

I. ID THEFT/ASSET FRAUD PREVENTION:
1) Even if you don't use phone/internet banking, register all your accounts so someone else can't from stolen info if lacking your passwords (after keylogger almost stole IRA, we trust address book more than password apps)
2) Maintain liftable SSN freezes at all credit bureaus (free to victims, and often to seniors)
3) Online:
a) 2-step log-in verification where offered
b) change manual passwords quarterly
c) Vanguard Investments/likely others block entry from IP addresses not recognized as clients--do yours know your IP, or are you on unsecured public wifi?
d) set up maximum security on internet hardware and software firewalls/passwords/etc--Bob's archives
e) check websites padlocked and not re-routed; open no unknown email/attachments/downloads; turn off device not x-out of malware
4)Physical: Car contents/gloveboxes; Mailbox and Wastecans; Home interior traffic

NOTIFICATION OF FINANCIAL FRAUD:
1) Your email/voicemail Alert Settings with your institutions
2) Your free or paid ID/Credit Monitoring Service alerts, and monthly report including no activity (mine free from AAA and now Equifax too since I was breached)
3) Alternating your annual free credit reports from all the bureaus for your year-round checking

Experian Tips: https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/after-the-equifax-breach-watch-out-for-phishing-scams/?ty=na&pc=crm_exp_0&cc=emm_c_m_pro_33580_mktftt_20170926_x_103

At least a decade ago, I followed advice and froze my credit at all three major companies. Years later, I asked for my free credit report and ran into a strange problem: When I received the reports (one by one in the mail) two of the three had absolutely nothing about me at all, and the third mentioned just one thing that was extremely insignificant.

I suppose one reason could be that I have had no credit-compromising slip-ups in my relatively simple life, and never needed to apply for loans. But even positive factors, like my long-term good standing and savings at several institutions, and my disciplined use of credit cards, did not appear on the reports either.

Of course, I'm sure these agencies have plenty of data about me so I have to conclude that the freeze simply prevents anyone from even seeing it, including ME. As a rep at one of my local utilities put it (when I asked to change an account from an aging parent's name to mine), "Sorry, it appears like you don't even exist".

But I'm wondering now whether this hidden info nevertheless became visible to hackers via the breach at Equifax. Anyone out there know what a freeze actually does for a person's EXISTING info, besides preventing new accounts from being opened?

Just recently, as in the last 3 or 4 years, EQUIFAX
on annualcreditreport would NOT allow viewing of the report online-it would only send it by mail. Few years back I requested that but never received it. Whether it was never sent, or it got waylaid on the way, I dunno. Experian and Transunion both allowed online viewing and downloading/printing.