Comments:

     To the FTC, RE FACTA Free File Disclosures Proposed Rule, Matter No. R411005

     Faster free reports, with a privacy guarantee

     To the FTC:

     As a victim of identity theft, I have experienced first hand the outrage of having my good name and reputation

     sullied by clever and ruthless criminals.  One of the enabling factors of identity theft is the ease with which

     imposters can obtain credit cards from banks, retailers and other companies.  One of the defenses against

     identity theft is to periodically check one's credit record maintained by the three major credit bureaus.  I now do

      this once a year myself, although I must say that one of the bureaus, Equifax, has a convoluted touchtone

     system that makes it difficult to order my report each year.

     Given the rampant level of identity theft in the U.S., I believe it is essential that all Americans should be able to

     obtain free personal credit reports each year so they can determine if anything is amiss.  I urge you to do

     everything possible to make annual free credit reports available more quickly to people submitting bona fide

     requests. Moreover, their requests should not result in their being "spammed" by credit bureau ads for

     additional, costly services.  Your main concern should be that average citizens are able to safeguard their

     good names, reputations and credit ratings.  The commercial concerns of the credit bureaus should be

     secondary.

     Your rules should prevent the credit bureaus from collecting information beyond that which is needed to verify

     the identity of the person making the request. (If, after reviewing his/her credit report, a citizen wishes to

     voluntarily submit information in order to correct or explain a credit discrepancy, that is another matter.)  Many

     people, including me, don't think it is fair to give up personal information to take advantage of an important

     new federal right to a free credit report.

     Sincerely,