Senator Onorato Urges Consumers To Order Free Copies Of Their Credit Reports Beginning In September

          Noting that New York State residents will become eligible to receive free copies of their credit reports beginning on September 1st, State Senator George Onorato (D-Queens) today urged his constituents to take advantage of this new opportunity to better track their credit histories and protect themselves against identity theft.

          "Under a change to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, New Yorkers will be able to order free copies of their credit reports from the three major consumer credit reporting agencies once a year," said Senator Onorato. "This will provide all of us with an important new tool to track our credit histories as reported by Equifax, Experian and Trans Union, correct errors, and pinpoint any irregularities that could potentially be related to identity theft."

          When the law goes into effect in New York, consumers will be able to order one free credit report from each of the three agencies within a 12 month period by completing an on-line form, calling a toll-free number or making requests by mail. The official website for ordering credit reports online is www.annualcreditreport.com and the toll-free number is 1-877-322-8228. To make requests by mail, consumers should fill out an Annual Credit Report Request Form (which can be downloaded and printed from www.ftc.gov/credit ) and send it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

          Senator Onorato cautioned that New Yorkers interested in receiving copies of their credit reports should beware of possible fraudulent e-mails, Internet pop-up ads or other communications offering to provide the reports in return for a consumer’s personal information. "These solicitations might very well be scams by potential identity thieves," he said. "It is very important that consumers only deal with the authorized website, toll-free telephone number and mailing address established by the consumer reporting companies."

          To learn more about free credit reports, and to receive a copy of a mail-in request form, interested constituents are invited to contact Senator Onorato’s office for a copy of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) brochure called "Your Access to Free Credit Reports." Those interested may call 1-718-545-9706 and ask for extension 7907 in Albany; e-mail Janet Kash of the Senator’s staff at kash@senate.state.ny.us or write to the Senator at 315 Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York, 12247.