The FACT Act amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act by requiring all nationwide consumer reporting agencies to provide consumers, upon request, a free copy of their credit report once during every 12 month period. Beginning December 1, 2004, the free report requirements were phased-in as follows:
A model form entitled “Request for Free Credit Report” has been issued (found in 16 C.F.R. 690, Appendix D) in order to comply with the law. In addition, a centralized source has been established so that consumers may make one request to obtain free credit reports (the annual file disclosures) from all nationwide consumer reporting agencies by phone, mail or over the Internet (www.annualcreditreport.com). The address is Central Source LLC, P.O. Box 105283, Atlanta, GA 30348-5283. The telephone number is (877) 322-8228. A consumer education brochure was published by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that explains consumer rights and how to obtain the free credit reports. The brochure is available on the Internet at http://www.ftc.gov/freereports.