Every consumer should be maintaining their credit profiles to ensure the highest scores possible. To do so, you must first order your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) entitles you to a copy of your credit Report for free, provided you meet the following criteria:

• You have been denied credit because of information in your credit report within the last 60 days.

• You are currently unemployed and are seeking employment.

• You receive public assistance.

• You believe that your credit file contains errors due to fraud or identity theft.

Additionally, you also may be able to get your credit report and credit score from other business or companies. For example, if you live in California and are shopping for a home loan, the lender must provide you with your credit score by law. Several other states require that credit scores be disclosed to consumers.

It's possible to receive a free copy of your credit reports annually if you live in Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont and Maryland. Recently Congress passed a law which affords each of us the right to a free credit report annually. Below is a listing of the start dates for this particular program:

Consumers in the Western states -- Alaska, Arizona, California,

Consumers in the Midwestern states -- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin -- can order their free reports beginning March 1, 2005.

Consumers in the Southern states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas -- can order their free reports beginning June 1, 2005.

Consumers in the Eastern states -- Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia -- the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all U.S. territories can order their free reports beginning September 1, 2005.

To take advantage of the free annual credit report, please visit: www.annualcreditreport.com.

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About the Author

Michael Goff is the Co-Founder of Gateway Credit Connection and CreditMonkey.com, helping empower consumers to take control of their personal and business finances.

Gateway Credit Connection 15770 Dallas Parkway Suite 1100 Dallas, TX 75248 888.230.7630 Visit us online at http://www.CreditMonkey.com