CCCS will also provide counseling on your credit report for a counseling fee of $25. Credit is now the measuring stick for financial worthiness. The components that make up credit scores and the information contained in the credit report are difficult to understand. A CCCS certified counselor will go over the report with you line by line and advise you how to correct errors on the report and how to improve your credit score.


CREDIT REPORT ERRORS CAN COST YOU MONEY!

Errors on your credit reports concerning creditor balances or timeliness of payment are common. These errors may cause a lender to charge you a higher rate of interest, thinking you are a greater credit risk. Every year and before major credit purchases, consumers should review their credit reports for accuracy. The process is easy. Contact the three national credit bureaus listed below and request a copy of your credit report. One copy of each report is free every year. Georgia residents can obtain a second copy free of charge each year of the Equifax report.  In most other states the charge is $9 per copy. Once you receive your copies, review them for accuracy. Look over everything from the spelling of your name to the balances reported by your creditors. If you find an error, contact CCCS to set a low-cost appointment to speak to a counselor for suggestions, or write to the credit bureau and dispute this information so they can investigate and correct your report. You can request a credit score from each agency for a small fee, around $9.00.

To order copies of your credit reports, list the following information:

    * Full name
    * Daytime and Evening phone #'s
    * Current address
    * Addresses for past five years
    * Date of birth
    * Marital status
    * Birth name
    * Social security number

Sign the bottom of your request and enclose a copy of your driver's license, utility bill or government identification, showing your current address. Send one copy of this information to each of the following national credit bureaus:

Equifax Credit Information Services
PO Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Phone: 1-800-685-1111

TransUnion Corporation
Consumer Relations Division
PO Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
Phone: 1-800-916-8800

Experian (Formerly TRW)
PO Box 8030
Layton, UT 84041-8030
Phone: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)

FREE CREDIT REPORT
All consumers are eligible for one free copy each year from each of the three bureaus via the website:
http://www.annualcreditreport.com

Georgia residents are also eligible for an additional free copy of the Equifax report each year.


Or call CCCS at 1-800-821-4040 or 912-691-2227 for a one-on-one credit bureau counseling session.


ID Theft

Consumer fraud is big business that poses a significant threat to consumers and to the economy. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers contact them with more questions and concerns about credit and credit fraud than any other topic.

Credit fraud appears in many forms: abusive lending practices, stolen credit cards, hijacked credit identities, advance-fee loan scams, and so-called guaranteed credit repair cons.

The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998 allows victims of identity fraud the right to file police reports and to recoup damages. It also appoints the Federal Trade Commission to serve as an advocate for victims by assisting them with finding the right law enforcement agency to prosecute their case.

Other ways to prevent identity theft:

    * Shred or burn any papers with financial information and identifiers, such as account numbers or your Social Security number. Tearing documents in half and throwing them in the trash is not enough protection.
    * Don’t put your Social Security number on any document unless it is legally required.
    * Check your credit report regularly (ideally, twice each year) to make sure you recognize all the entries.
    * Remove your name from promotional lists operated by credit reporting agencies and credit grantors.

If you find you have been victimized by identity theft, immediately call the credit bureaus and put a fraud watch on your account. File a police report. You’ll need it when disputing charges with various creditors.

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and the California Public Interest Research Group also offer internet-based tips at www.privacyrights.org and www.pirg.org/calpirg/consumer/privacy. The “Identify Theft Survival Kit” can be ordered along with free form letters at www.identitytheft.org.

To minimize your vulnerability to identity theft, CCCS suggests consumers order a copy of their credit reports twice each year. Georgia consumers are entitled to two free copies from each agency within a 12-month period. In other states the cost won't be more than $8.00.

The three credit reporting agencies are:
Equifax at 1.800.997.2493, www.equifax.com
Experian at 1.800.311.4769, www.experian.com
TransUnion at 1.800.916.8800, www.tuc.com