I would like to check my credit report. Is it safe to do this on-line? Also, I noticed there area lot of choices on the Internet. Which one or which group of 2 or 3 credit report companies do I pick? There are a few options costing anywhere from $25.00 to $35.00.

Checking your credit report now, and at least annually, is a good idea. By doing so, you can monitor your personal financial information to for accuracy and completeness.

In reference to your question about whether it is safe to check your report online, the keys to doing anything online activity safely are the same:

Use a secure browser. Industry standards dictate that purchase information you send over the Internet is 'scrambled' which helps to secure your information.

Watch for signs of security software: When providing any personal or financial information while online, look for a locked padlock, an unbroken key or a lock icon at the bottom of your computer screen to make sure you are providing your personal financial information to a web site using security software.

Use a credit card to pay for your credit report or other purchases. Credit transactions are protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. This gives you the right to dispute questionable charges and withhold payment while they are under investigation. If you find unauthorized charges on your account, your liability is limited to the first $50. In some circumstances you will not be liable for any amount.

Your observation that there are many choices for reviewing your credit report online is an understatement. As more and more consumers are using the Internet, and concerns about personal identity theft have continued to rise, there has been a rapid increase in the options being made available. Your best, and least expensive option, for checking your credit history online are the three credit reporting agencies themselves. Each national agency - Equifax https://www.econsumer.equifax.com), Experian (http://www.experian.com) and Trans Union (http://www.truecredit.com) provides consumers with a similarly priced opportunity to order and review their credit history via the Internet. Each national agency provides consumers with a similarly priced opportunity to order and review their credit history via the Internet. Fair Isaac (http://www.myfico.com), creator of the FICO credit score - a tool some lenders use to determine your creditworthiness - is also a reliable source. Each vendor gives you the option of ordering just one vendor's report or all three. You will also have the opportunity - for an additional fee - to request your credit scores.

Another option is the Credit Report Review service that Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central New York offers. The cost: $40 for one vendor or $50 for all three, which are a bit higher than the $25-$35 you mentioned in your email, but in addition to receiving a copy of your credit report and a FICO score, you get the added benefit of a certified counselor walking you through all of the information and then guiding you through the steps to take to improve, or - if need be - dispute your credit history information.

One final note: Avoid the temptation of all those 'free credit report' sites out there. Read their information very carefully. In many cases you are actually being 'pitched' to purchase a credit report monitoring service for around $90.

Eileen Muhlig is the director of education and public relations at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of CNY,

500 S. Salina St., Suite 600

Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: 315-474-6026 X2125