It’s imperative to regularly review your credit report to ensure accuracy, prevent fraudulent activity and keep track of your financial progress. Your credit report is a snapshot of how well you’ve managed debt and contains a variety of other information, including how much debt you’ve accumulated, how you pay bills, where you live and whether you’ve filed bankruptcy.

You’ve probably seen or heard advertisements offering free credit reports, but the ” Better Business Bureau ” advises you to be careful when responding. Some are misleading, as they promote free credit reports, but require you to purchase credit monitoring or other products or services.

Beginning April 2, the Federal Trade Commission’s Free Credit Reports Rule will require new prominent disclosures in ads for free credit reports. The disclosure states, “ This notice is required by law. Read more at FTC.gov. You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com or (877) 322-8228, the ONLY authorized source under federal law. ” The statement must be at the top of each page mentioning free credit reports. Television and radio advertisements must comply by Sept. 1.