Free Online Credit Report Offers: Are They Really Free? |
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Online credit report issuing companies are
airing commercials everywhere. Right from the daily newspaper to the popular TV channels, you can get commercials like Contact us, we provide you free online credit report. But have you ever thought if they are really free? Frankly, most of them are not. If you search online, you'll find hundreds, even thousands, of companies willing to offer you a free online credit report. But don't get temped to their offers straightaway. There are several instances of people ending up huge sum in the name of viewing free credit report. Therefore, you need to work very cautiously while searching a company. Before you accept one of those free online credit report offers you should know that they would provide you with one of the three major credit bureaus' (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) credit reports. The three major credit bureaus have very good reputation and they have been in the service over decades now. You are entitled to get a free copy of your credit report from these bureaus only once in a year. Apart from the three major credit bureaus, there are several credit-reporting agencies that have grown up locally. While some of them are okay, some are only concerned with making money by taking advantage of your condition. They offer free service only during the credit monitoring trial period. Credit monitoring trial period is basically a system that alerts you when there are any significant changes on your credit profile. This may not be a bad idea if it's something you are looking for, but if you are not and if you are caught in the wrong hands, it is simply another monthly fee you would be paying for. You may be surprised to know that there are even some companies that ask for money during the credit monitoring trial period before providing you the free online credit report. While you apply for a free online credit report, try to know the exact company profile. The three major credit bureaus are the safe places to get your reports. These credit bureaus keep your information in huge computer database and they can generate them anytime you wish. These bureaus work on a 24-7 basis and hence they are able to provide ample customer satisfaction to the consumers. No doubt, these bureaus charge $10 to $20 from you, but their reports are accurate and trustworthy. And even if you find any kind of error, you can correct them by informing the issuing company. On the other hand, with the local agencies you may not get such assistance as you get with the three major credit bureaus. Therefore, it's better to go for the reputed agencies. These agencies not only save your personal information like your name, address, date of birth, social security numbers, driver's license etc. but also use encryption technique to ensure that your information would be as secure and private as possible. This can be a very advantageous thing for you in keeping you away from problems like identity theft etc. So, reputed agencies are always a better place to apply for your online credit report. Even if you apply for a free online credit report from a reputed agency, you need to read the fine prints before you make the deal. Do not provide any of your personal information online unless you see the secure icon (padlock or key) at the bottom of your browser window. When you see these icons, you would know that all information you exchange is encrypted for privacy while in transit. To conclude, online credit report is easy to get, but it's really difficult to find out a free credit-reporting agency that gives you a perfect and genuine credit report. No doubt, your online search may give you a huge list of agencies, but the real thing is how much you are able to find out the one that fulfills many of your dreams by providing you the right kind of help and assistance. |
