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 Program allows Kansans to obtain free credit report By Eric Swanson Dodge City Daily Globe If you're hoping to get a loan or open a new charge account, a solid credit rating often means the difference between success and failure. One of the keys to maintaining a good rating is checking credit reports on a regular basis. And a new federal program is designed to make that task easier. Starting this month, Kansans and residents of other Midwestern states can request a free annual credit report from each of the nation's three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. They can pull all three reports at the same time or stagger them throughout the year. Americans have the right to obtain free reports under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, which makes it easier for consumers to monitor the reports for inaccuracies or indications of identity theft or fraud. The law will be phased in over a nine-month period starting with December 2004, when reports became available in the Western states.