Comments:

16 April 2004 The Federal Trade Commission Via Internet Comments Regarding FACTA Free File Disclosures Proposed Rule, Matter No. R411005 This note confirms that USPIRG is also submitted a zipped file containing the comments of over two thousand PIRG members from around the country. We collected the comments by email, but have deleted the email and regular mail addresses of the citizens to protect them from spam if the comments are posted on the FTC site. However, the comments include a full name so we believe that they meet the FTC?s requirements for consideration. We can provide the comments in different formats if needed. The basic message that the citizens send you to is the following: I urge you to make annual free credit reports available more quickly to all Americans, rather than delaying access to most of the country at the unjustified request of the credit bureaus. Also, the rule should make clear that information is only collected to verify identity. Many consumers, 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. However, many of the consumers have also added their own additional ideas and thoughts. U.S. PIRG is also submitting detailed comments on the free report rule under separate cover, in coalition with several consumer and privacy advocacy organizations. Those comments will also arrive today. Please contact me at 202-546-9707 (x314) or at ed@pirg.org if you have any questions.

Very truly yours, Edmund Mierzwinski
Consumer Program Director
U.S. Public Interest Research Group, 218 D St SE, Washington, DC 20003