Check your credit report once a year & how-to

Everyone should check their credit report annually. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, or FACTA, provides for one free consumer report from each of three agencies once a year. Some government regulations are good, and this act was created to help all of us. Of course, if you're buying a home the lender will run a new credit report for you, but this could give you a start.

Read this article from BankRate.com to learn how to obtain a free annual credit report as well as "12 free credit monitoring strategies":

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/financial_literacy/June07_free_credit_information_a1.asp?prodtype=mtg