"Free" Credit Reports……Hmmm

The offer for a "free" credit report blasted from the radio. A young woman, wondering whether her credit was any good, dialed the toll-free number. The report was going to be e-mailed for free. The catch was to get the freebie, she had to agree to try out a credit monitoring service, but everything was "guaranteed." Her next credit card bill showed a charge for an $80 membership, which entitled her to unlimited credit reports and notices when someone checks her credit. It's foolish to buy a package like that when all you really need is the credit report. A single copy costs about $10, and by law, you are entitled to a free copy if you've been turned down for credit within the last 60 days.