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Getting A Free Credit Report While Job Hunting Can Avoid An Embarrassment

I was trying to get a new job when the employer told me that he could not hire me because my credit was bad. I just sat there in shock for what seemed like an eternity, blinking at her. After a few minutes I stood up and walked out completely embarrassed and went straight home and ordered a free credit report.

I know I must have look silly, but I was astonished because not only do I pay all of my bills on time, I only have two credit cards and neither of them have a balance. My car is paid off and I rent a small apartment. I almost never take out any type of credit and I have almost no personal debt whatsoever.

It was obvious that I had been the victim of identity theft as soon as I got my free credit report. I had six credit card entries that were not mine, and all of them were maxed out and in default.

The first place I contacted about being the victim of identity theft was my local police department. They recommended that I contact the Federal Trade Commission and find out what steps I could take to fix my credit report. Luckily their website had all the information I needed.

When I called them the first thing I did was put a fraud alert on my credit report. This alert tells creditors that I could be a victim of identity theft and they should take all of the steps necessary to ensure that they do not provide credit to anyone but me. There are two types of alerts; one is just temporary, while the other lasts for seven years. Each one entitles me additional free credit reports.

Once I filed a police report and an ID theft complaint, I went back to get that job I wanted. I refuse to let some jerk stop me from getting the job I wanted. The lady I interviewed with was stunned to see me come into her office and explain what had happened. She told me later that anyone that could recover from a setback like I had deserves to work for their company.

Well, three months have passed now and I got another free credit report in the mail. Not only has all of negative information left my report, I think my credit score is as high as it can be.