To Check Your CreditReport- (NAPSA)—School 999 is out and summer asa is just around the — corner. Before planning ". an. that summer vacation, experts recom- / mend reviewing your finances by %& getting a FREE an- nual copy of your credit report from Equifax, Experian or TransUnion at Photo credit: Shutterstock www.annualcredit Check your credit report before making those report.com. vacation plans. “Each year, there are over 25 million free credit reports provided to consumers,” said Stuart K. Pratt, president and CEO of the Consumer Data Industry Association. “And while that’s a significant number, many consumers don’t exercise their right to review their credit report.” According to a survey by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, only one in three consumers have reviewed their credit report in the last 12 months. “You may have heard recent newsstories about the National Consumer Assistance Plan (NCAP), an unprecedented program announced by the three national credit reporting agencies in cooperation with the NY Attorney General. The NCAP will enhancethe credit reporting agencies’ ability to collect accurate consumer information and provide consumers with a better experience interacting with them. Credit report literacy is a priority for the industry. By reviewing yourcredit report every year, you can check up on your financial health as well as prevent future issues that might cause a credit denial later,” Pratt said. For instance, if upon reviewing a free copy of your credit report you see information you don’t recognize, notify the credit reporting agencyright away. All three of the nationwide credit reporting agencies can be accessed online, by phone or by mail. Whatever method you choose, the credit reporting agency will investigate disputed information by contacting the lender that provided the information and asking them to verify, correct or delete it. Pratt commented that a 2011 study by the Policy and Economic Research Council found that 95 percent of consumers whonotified the credit bureau about an error in their credit report were satisfied with the outcome. Go get your FREE annual copy of your credit report from Equifax, Experian or TransUnion at www.annualcreditreport.com. Make this summer a happy and credit-healthy one. ween eee nee ene DOL eee eee eee nee eee Note to Editors: The credit bureaus are implementing a National Consumer Assistance Plan in New York State. It will be going countrywide. While the information is relevant and can benefit people throughout the United States, it may be ofparticular interest to news outlets in New York State.
