Free Instant Credit Reports – Score

Matthew Keegan asked:




Yes, it is true: free credit reports are available for you, the consumer. Thanks to an act of Congress, you can get copies of your credit reports annually. This means that Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union – the Big 3 credit reporting agencies – must furnish one free copy of your credit report to you every year. No, you can’t get your free credit reports sent to you automatically: you must take action. Let’s take a look at how you can get copies of your credit reports sent to you today.

Annual Credit Report – By visiting AnnualCreditReport.com you can sign up through the government approved site that will give to you your free credit reports. Each of the three credit reporting companies is listed therein, so select one and provide your personal information to the company of your choosing. Once your information has been verified, a report will be generated for your review. Take a close look at it: if there are errors you need to follow the company’s procedures for contesting mistakes.

Your Credit Score – Not included with your free credit reports but available for a small fee at the same time is your credit score. This is the score whereby members of the credit industry rate your creditworthiness. The higher your score, the better for you and the lower your borrowing rates will be.

Competing Sites – Some consumers prefer to pay for what otherwise are free credit reports. By signing up with companies who offer this service, you can automatically have your credit reports run and sent to you on a periodic basis. Again, you will pay a fee for something you can get for free. In any case, you will pay for your credit score no matter whose service you use.

As with any report, check your free credit reports for errors. Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax all have procedures listed outlining how you can challenge errors. Make certain that you follow their directions to have wrong information expunged from your report. It could save you money on your next credit card loan, car loan, or home mortgage.

Certainly, there aren’t many things that are absolutely free in this life. Congress has seen fit that free credit reports are offered to American consumers in all 50 states. Run each report at least once annually and check it for mistakes as they commonly occur. Who knows, but those free credit reports could reveal identity theft issues too saving you much grief and aggravation if caught in a timely fashion.

Rodney

Chris Whelan asked:




So the New Year has arrived. And with it comes all the new challenges. Take credit rating as an example. There are so many people that are not aware of the fact that they can check credit rating for free. And you can do it online today.

But let’s take a step back and understand why it is so important for you to know about your credit rating and what it can do for you in your everyday life.

Your credit report is your statement to the world of how good you are with your personal finances. It might sound a bit unfair to the ones that have a bad rating but has just been unlucky, but still, this is what your report will tell the world. Can this man or woman be trusted with a new credit card, loan, cheaper insurance etc, etc. Your credit rating is much more important than many understand. So be sure to know the why and you will be much better off.

As stated above you can check your rating for free online. All of you have the right to one free credit report pr year, or a free one each time someone has checked you out. As you know it has been more and more common for future employers to check you out before they decide to hire you or not. So being on top of your credit report and understand why your credit rating is what it is, is very important.

If you have a really good personal finance record and you don’t do much it might be enough to just getting your one free credit rating pr year. But if you have a bit of a shady personal finance record I would recommend you to get a paid service. That way you can keep a much closer eye on what’s going on in your report. It is your report that is the foundation of your credit rating. Do not forget that.

In closing, check credit rating for free if you only need it once a year. And be on top of it all.

Greg