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If you're afraid that credit problems or a dispute with a vendor may have damaged your credit rating, the process of checking your file is fairly simple. Removing disputed debts is not always as easy as it sounds but it is well worth the trouble.

If you live in the western United States, you can get one free credit report per year effective Dec. 12, 2004. The program is spreading across the U.s. in 2005. Here's how.

There are three major credit reporting bureaus, all of them the object of repeated consumer complaints and governmental actions. Each one will send you a copy of your credit report for $8 each.  Yes, this means that to get a complete picture, you need to spend $24 and deal with three individual companies.  However, if you have been denied credit because of a negative report, you are entitled to a free report, something the companies are often not very eager to provide.

Company	Phone	Web
Equifax Experian Trans Union	800 685-1111 888 EXPERIAN 800 916-8800	www.equifax.com www.experian.com www.tuc.com

There are companies that will do this for you for a few dollars more if you're feeling pressed for time. However, be careful. These companies aren't always upfront about their charges.

If you have been refused credit because of a poor report, the agencies must send you a free report.  In most cases, you must request this in writing.  They won't do it over the phone or on the Web.

If there are entries you disagree with, you may dispute them and, after an investigation, the credit bureau will either remove the entry or allow you to file a statement giving your side of the story.

Whatever you do, don't fall for the many scams that promise you a "brand new credit identity."  What these scam artists don't tell you is that creating a false credit ID is a serious crime for which you could go to prison. 

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