How to Check Your Credit Score and History for Free

Have you ever seen your credit report? Finding out what this important document contains is simple just contact one of the credit reporting agencies and request your free copy. The report is easy to understand, once you know what you are looking for.

Most companies report to one or more of the major credit bureaus. If you have ever applied for a loan or for credit, you have a file at one of the three major credit bureaus. What this means for you is that to get your credit bureau report, you may need to request a report from all 3 so that you can get a look at your credit bureau “big picture” so you can repair your credit history and score if necessary.

Getting a credit report for free is as simple as contacting the credit bureau. If you have a computer with internet access, you can make the request online. What you have to do is to either make the request online or by mail. The credit bureau will want you to provide personal information to verify your identity. Although some web sites charge a fee for a credit report, you are not required to pay any fee; the credit bureau must give you one free credit report per year.

When you receive your credit report, review each section carefully. Look for incorrect information in the first section. It contains your personal information, such as name and address. If there are any inaccuracies, you can ask the credit bureau to correct them.

After the personal information section, your current bills appear next. Check that the credit bureau report accurately lists your bills, the amounts of your payments and the due dates. This is the spot where any late or missed payments will show up as well.

The credit bureau will list those merchants that use its service, so different credit bureaus will list different merchants and may report a different credit history. It is possible to have an high credit score with two of the 3 major bureaus and a poor rating with the other, for example. Your report will also list any inquiries, or requests to view your information by lenders or other entities. Review your inquiries carefully to make sure no unauthorized persons have requested your report.

Always contact the credit bureau to correct any inaccuracies in your report so they can take steps to correct them.

By keeping your personal credit reports accurate and up to date, you will have financial and personal peace of mind.