Actually Free Credit Report

Hold on to your passwords. Identity theft was the most prevalent problem plaguing consumers in 2012, according to data released from the Federal Trade Commission.

Credit scores are one of the most important numbers in consumers' lives. They can mean the difference between renting a home or owning one, and getting a great interest rate on your car loan or walking off the lot with a subprime contract.

Credit.com reader Tanya wrote us recently with this question: My score is 606. At this moment, I only have a Macy's card with a limit of $100. Divorced 5 years ago, when my ex filed bankruptcy and included the house we had together.

In the last hour, several Consumerist readers have forwarded us e-mails they have received from the video-streaming folks at VUDU. The message alerts customers to a recent theft at the company offices and the potential that customers’ private information could be compromised.

The Federal Trade Commission just released a report on the credit reporting industry that could spell trouble for tens of millions of consumers. 

Your Life Insurance Policy May Not Be Protected by Ben Levisohn, Business Week

Most people know living without health insurance is very risky (and shouldn’t be done). But people are much less aware of the importance of long term disability insurance. The census bureau estimates that you have a 20% chance you will be disabled in you lifetime. A disability can decrease your earning power and also can increase your expenses (to cope with your disability). In my opinion your emergency fund is best used for short term disability insurance.

"Meet the Press" has really got to step up its game on the health-care debate. Last week, host David Gregory tweeted "Compelling fact today: dem-wh health care plan would only cover 16 of the 50 mill uninsured. That makes it a harder sell. Info from cbo." Problem was, his fact wasn't much of a fact. CBO didn't score a "Dem-White House" plan. It scored a partial version of the Senate HELP Committee's plan. The White House wasn't involved. And nor, for that matter, would that plan have only covered 16 million.