WASHINGTON -- People in 12 Midwestern states can request free copies of their credit reports starting Tuesday, under the second phase of a new program.

It entitles consumers to one free report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.

Consumer privacy legislation that President George W. Bush signed into law in 2003 created the program, and it's being introduced in stages. The Midwest is now the second region where the service is being offered; the West was the first, starting last December.

Consumer Reports publisher Consumers Union points out that the recent breach at ChoicePoint is another reminder of the importance of checking your credit reports on a regular basis.

Criminals gained access to the company's records on thousands of consumers, making them potential targets for identity theft.

A credit report details consumers' lines of credit, if they pay their bills on time, whether they've filed for bankruptcy and even whether they've been sued or arrested.

Creditors, employers, landlords and insurers buy the information from credit bureaus to make judgments about an applicant's reliability.

Consumer advocates say errors can be corrected. If a consumer wishes to dispute any information, he or she can call the credit bureau or file a dispute online.

The free credit report system began Dec. 1 with residents on the West Coast.

Here's the roll-out calendar:

• Dec. 1, 2004: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
• March 1, 2005: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
• June 1, 2005: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
• Sept. 1, 2005: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and all U.S. territories.

Under state law, consumers in Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont already have free access to their credit reports.

How To Access Free Credit Report

• Online: annualcreditreport.com
• By Phone: (877) 322-8228
• By Mail:
  Annual Credit Report Request Service
  P.O. Box 105281
  Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Applicants are required to provide their name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. Requests should be processed within 15 days.