Every American is entitled to at least three free credit reports a year – one from Experian, one from TransUnion and one from Equifax – giving them a peek into what hurts or helps their credit score.
The sad thing is that 56% of Americans haven’t even checked their credit reports in 2011. This is at least according to a survey from credit reporting bureau TransUnion.
The free credit reports are available from AnnualCreditReport.com and are relatively hassle-free to obtain. They allow you to check if there are any errors or discrepancies in your credit history as well. Credit bureaus may still be reporting a default you made a decade ago or they could be understating your income.
And who knows – somebody may have already jacked your profile and is pulling out loans under your name.
Just be aware to visit only AnnualCreditReport.com when picking out free credit reports, as this is the only government-recognized portal for doing so. You may end up paying a fee if you get your reports any other way, so better safe than sorry.
So if you haven’t taken a peek at your credit reports lately, then why not do it now? In fact, you could help other people by sharing this bit of knowledge with them!
Although by law, you're entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report annually from any of the 3 credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, this free report will not reveal your actual credit score.
To view the actual score that the lenders are seeing, get your score (plus 3 in 1 credit report) from creditreport.com for a free trial.