The three major credit bureaus TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax are required by federal law to provide you with a free annual credit report. You have the option of getting all the three credit reports at the same time, or you may also order them individually as per your need. If you choose to order all three reports at the same time, you have the opportunity to compare them all and verify information. Be aware that, if you order all three at the same time, you may not order your free reports again for a full calendar year.
Those choosing to order the free reports in a staggered manner will be able to track and verify new information like accounts and loans being added to the reports. Once you receive your credit report, look out for these details:
Personal information
Check if your social security number, birthday, employment address and status etc are correct.
Inquiries
This lists everybody who has reviewed your credit report in the past two years. Check for its accuracy. A credit check by a lender or a landlord is called Hard Inquiry, this also shows up on your credit report.
Credit information
See whether details about bank and credit accounts, credit limits, loans, balances and credit history are correctly mentioned.
Public records
Collection agency action, bankruptcies, foreclosures and lawsuit details are mentioned.
Account history
The bureau would have mentioned your payment history, the status of all real estate, installment and revolving credit accounts.
If any of the information is incorrect, as a borrower, you may reach out to the credit reporting company or the concerned business. In case of any discrepancies, provide the credit bureau with a written statement pertaining to the information under dispute. The bureau then opens an investigation with the particular creditor and upon completion of the same, a report of the outcome along with an updated copy of your report is provided. In case the dispute is found to be favorable to you, the creditor provides updated information to all three credit bureaus.
Ordering your free credit report also allows you to identify if you have been a victim of identity theft. In that unfortunate case, file a police complaint.
If your request for a free credit report is denied, contact the credit reporting agency (CRA). Often times, they require a missing information from you or rectification for an incorrect one on your application to provide you with a free credit report.
Getting your free credit report and knowing your score, is the first step towards building a good financial health.
There are companies that work on collecting and maintaining credit information of consumers. These are known as credit reporting agencies (CRAs). There are three such major CRAs in the country, namely Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Apart from these, there are other smaller-scale agencies too that specialize at the job. If you’re worried about “where to get my credit score?,” the larger CRAs are the most reliable bets.
These major CRAs obtain information from companies that you hold business and transactions with. People or companies that lend you money regularly report to these CRAs on your repaying status. There is also detailed information on the amount you are indebted and whether you have ever defaulted on your payments. Aside from the reports obtained from lenders, these companies also tally your general records based on certain other aspects. Some of these aspects are your public records from the local and state judiciary. These include your tax records and bankruptcy information. This information makes up an important chunk of your credit score and its report.
Equifax
Present in 24 countries, Equifax is an agency that offers consumers protection against identity theft and credit fraudulence. They also sell credit reports and credit monitoring assistance to businesses.
Experian
Experian started off in London and is now a trusted agency in 39 different countries. It provides you with a credit score, credit report, and even credit tracker on subscription. The agency uses FICO 8 system of credit score calculation. Experian was a part of Forbes’ “World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2018.
TransUnion
Based across 30 countries with a database of over 1 billion consumers, TransUnion is another CRA giant. The agency, like the other ones, will provide you with your credit score and your credit reports. In case you decide to freeze your TransUnion credit report, it will also go the extra mile to notify Equifax and Experian, which frankly is a big help especially in case of identity theft and credit fraud.
So, the next time you are sat wondering “where to get my credit score?,” think of these three giants that provide you with an annual credit score and credit report for free once each year. However, if you are looking for more frequent updates, you can subscribe to their services and receive your monthly updates.
Did you know that you have more than a single credit score? Agencies calculate your credit score based on the data in your credit reports. If you are wondering, “where to get my credit score?,” there are three main credit reporting agencies. These can have different credit scores for you if your information on each of their credit reports is different. Also, these agencies charge a fee to reveal your credit score.
Recently, it has become easier to track and get hold of your credit score without paying any fees. You can get it from your credit card company, your loan provider, and even from a non-profit counselor. Here are a few tips you can use to check your score.