Dear Neighbor:

As of September 1, 2005, all New Yorkers can get a free credit report annually from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. It’s a chance to monitor your credit accounts for any unusual activity and can help safeguard your finances and prevent identity theft.

Your credit report includes information about where you live, how you pay your bills and whether you have filed for bankruptcy. The three consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – sell that information to your creditors, insurers and other businesses when you apply for a loan or insurance or rent a home.

Knowing your credit history can save you heartache and aggravation and protect your assets. Take a moment to read this pamphlet and find out how to order your free credit report.

As always, please contact my District Office at (845) 338-9610, if I can be of additional help in this or any other matter.

Knowing your credit history helps keep you secure

Protecting your credit information

• Order all three credit reports at the same time, which lets you compare them; or individually, which helps you monitor recent developments

• Contact official site for free annual credit reports

  Website: www.annualcreditreport.com

  or

  Toll-free number: 1-877-322-8228; or

  Mailing address:	Annual Credit Report Request Service PO. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

  It’s recommended that you mail the official printed form, available from the Free Annual Credit Report Web site. Free reports are not available directly from Equifax, Experian or TransUnion, although you can buy a copy of your report from each bureau

• Check the Federal Trade Commission Internet site for specific information on your access to free credit reports at: www.ftc.gov/credit and www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.htm

• Be aware of unofficial offers of “free” reports with strings attached, like a charge to join a credit monitoring service

• Do not give out personal information – particularly your Social Security, bank or credit card numbers – to unsolicited callers. Credit bureaus will not be calling you

• These reports provide your credit history, not your credit score which is often referred to as your FICO score (named after the company that developed the scoring system used by most lenders) and must be purchased

Improving your credit and correcting errors

For credit advice, visit New York State’s banking Web site:

www.banking.state.ny.us/csbr.htm

Click on:

• Understanding your Credit Report and your Credit Score; and

• Using Credit Wisely: What you need to know

Assemblymember Kevin Cahill
Gov. Clinton Building, Suite G-4
1 Albany Avenue
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 338-9610
cahillk@assembly.state.ny.us