Don't get me wrong,

I absolutely LOVE the freecreditreport.com commercials. I sing along with them every time I see them. The tune is so catchy that you forget to listen to the part at the end that states "requires enrollment in Triple Advantage." And yes, the credit report is free but Triple Advantage isn't.

Here is how you really get a free credit report. Because of the consumer advocacy programs signed into effect by George W. Bush, individuals are eligible for a free credit report every year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax.) A smart consumer would get one credit report every 4 months. That way, you would have 3 free credit reports every year. For instance, in January one could get a free credit report from Experian, then in May get one from Trans Union, and then in September get one from Equifax. There is no catch and there is no charge. This is a law and you are entitled to get it free. Now, the credit reporting agencies may try to sell you additional products while you are getting your free report but you don't have to buy! To get your free (and I really mean free) credit reports, go to www.annualcreditreport.com and register. You can choose to get all reports from all three agencies at one time or you can choose to do as I stated above and get one from each agency disbursed throughout the year.

Knowledge is power and the more you know about what is in your credit report, the more power you will have when applying for credit.