Free Credit Reports Available in the Southern States Starting June 1

Pursuant to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) passed by Congress in late 2003, consumers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas will be eligible for their free annual credit reports on June 1, 2005.

(PRWEB) June 3, 2005 -- Pursuant to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) passed by Congress in late 2003, consumers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas will be eligible for their free annual credit reports on June 1, 2005.

After that date, consumers in those states may apply for their free reports online at www.annualcreditreport.com. This annualcreditreport web site is a joint venture of the three national credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. The construction and design of the site were specified by FACTA and approved by the Federal Trade Commission.

For consumers without Internet access, you may call 1-877-322-8228 for your free report. Or you may request an application for your free credit report by mail from:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
PO Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

The Southern States join the Western and Midwest States in being eligible for their free annual credit report. On September 1, consumers in the Eastern States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Territories become eligible.

The issue of ordering your credit report and monitoring your credit is especially important in light of the recent incidents of unauthorized access to databases containing sensitive consumer information. While these unfortunate crimes underscore the difficulty of defeating criminals intent on stealing your personal information, it also reminds all consumers to take steps to safeguard their credit as much as they are able.

At a minimum, consumers should check their report annually for inaccurate information and for unusual or unauthorized inquiries into their credit.

For consumers not eligible for their free credit report under FACTA, there are numerous alternatives to check their credit report online and by mail from www.Creditreporting.com. Choices include a free credit report offer, a credit monitoring service, and merged 3 bureau credit reports with credit scores that include information from the three national credit bureaus.

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