[news] Our Private Information in Exchange for "Free" Credit Checks

[Resist!ca]

Beginning on December 1, 2004, "consumers" (according to the FTC) in the Western states, are encouraged to order their credit reports "for free," once a year. [Other areas of the country will follow throughout the year.] But there is one aspect to this that we need to be aware of. [...E]very time you apply for a "free" copy of your credit reports, the parties involved are going to try to squeeze as much personal information as possible out of you, to sell and use later, as a valuable resource. Additionally, receiving your credit report does not include the answers to essential questions such as where did this information go, and who ordered it, without specific lines of questioning that these credit reporting agencies tend to avoid answering.

URL: http://resist.ca/story/2004/12/26/85441/577