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