|
||
What is in a Credit Report?
Credit reports contain detailed information about your credit history. Credit reports may be obtained from the three major credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. It is like a grade card for your financial history, and how you currently are handling your finances. Lenders request a copy of your credit report each time you apply for a loan to see whether or not they want to loan money to you. They may get a copy of your credit report or they may request one from all of the big three credit reporting agencies. The information in your credit report is used to generate a credit score number which is between 300 and 850 with the lower number being the worst and the high number being the best.
Should I Check My Credit Score?
Yes, you should check your credit score at least once a year. The Federal Trade Commission makes it possible for every consumer (you and me) to view a copy of your credit report, just for requesting it from the credit bureaus. Many people think it will be too difficult or too expensive to obtain a copy of their credit report, but with advances in today's technology, neither is the case. You can view a free copy of your credit report once a year.
If you are still uncertain about obtaining a free online credit report once a year, we'll give you a few more reasons why you should.
1. Check your credit report for Identity Theft and Fraud.
When a criminal uses your personal information for their gain, they have stolen your identity. Checking your credit report annually will allow you to view what transactions have been reported to the credit bureaus so that you may see if there is fraudulent activities going on and negatively affecting your credit score.
2. Avoid Being Turned Down for Credit.
If you don't want to be embarrassed when turned down for a loan or other financial transaction, take the time to know what is in your credit report. Knowing what your credit score is will help you to decide what types of loans you will apply for and help you to make better decisions overall.
3. Correct Inaccurate Information.
It has been reported that approximately 25% of credit reports contain serious errors, many bad enough to impact the consumer's eligibility to obtain a loan. Though credit reporting agencies follow very strict and precise credit reporting procedures, they still frequently make mistakes. Some of these mistakes are in the form of outdated pieces of information which should have been removed from your report. By obtaining a free online credit report, you are able to scan over your report and detect any of these old unwanted 'hanger-ons."