Building a Better Credit Report (Part 1)
What is a credit report?
A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued or have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide credit reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that, in turn, use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a place to live.
Why should I check my credit report?
Some financial advisors and consumer advocates suggest that you review your credit report several times a year. Why?
- The information in it affects whether you can get a loan and how much you will have to pay to borrow money.
- It's important to make sure the information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date before you apply for a loan for a major purchase like a house or car, buy insurance, or apply for a job.
- It helps to help repair possible identity theft. Identity thieves may use your information to open new credit accounts in your name. Then, when they don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate information like that could affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or even a job.
How do I get my credit report?
By law, you're entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—once every 12 months. To order, visitLink opens in a new windowhttps://www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
You may order reports from one, two, or all three of the companies at the same time, or you may stagger your requests. Some financial advisors say staggering your requests during a 12-month period may be a good way to keep an eye on the accuracy and completeness of the information in your reports. If you're getting ready to apply for a loan or job, you might want to check all three reports at the same time.
U.S. Federal Trade Commission. (2014). Building a better credit report. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/