Castle Bank Mortgage

Consumers nationwide now have new tools to fight identity theft and credit reporting errors under a new federal law. Beginning March 1, 2005 you will be able to check your credit report annually with the three major national bureaus, to make sure your accounts are not being misused and that no unauthorized accounts have been opened in your name. You can also check your credit report for mistakes not caused by identity theft that could also damage your credit rating.

Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union, the three national credit reporting agencies, have set up a special site where you can request, view, and print a free report. The site is www.annualcreditreport.com and it is the only authorized site to request your free report(s). If you do not have access to the Internet you can call toll free at 877-322-8228 or write to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, GA 30348-5281.

A credit report contains information on where you live, how you pay your bills and whether you’ve filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

When you order your report, you will need to provide your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment. You may order one, two, or all three reports at the same time or you may stagger your requests. It’s your choice. Staggering your requests during a 12 month period may be a good way to keep an eye on the accuracy and completeness of the information in your reports.