HOW CAN I ASSESS MY CREDIT HISTORY?
Do you need to know what your credit looks like? Fortunately, conducting the research is easy. Once a year, you should assess your credit history and clear up any misrepresentations. The “big three” –Equifax, Experian and Transunion—credit bureaus share your credit information with lenders and creditors when you apply for a loan or a credit card. They keep track of your address, your employment and every payment and account you have.
Article: Maintain a Good Credit Rating
Requesting a Report
As of September 1, 2005, free annual credit reports are available in all states. To learn more about annual credit reports, visit http://www.annualcreditreport.com, or call (877) 322-8228.
Each report is usually less than $10 a piece; but they are free if you’ve been turned down for credit, employment or housing in the past 60 days. Monitoring your credit for accuracy is always a good idea, and we’ve included contact information for you.
Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
(888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)
Equifax, Information Service Center
P.O. Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
(800) 685-1111
Trans Union Corporation
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
(800) 888-4213
Credit Report Errors and Their Impact
Look for inaccuracies. The bureaus are required to investigate and correct them. Also look for items that could lower your credit rating, such as open lines of credit or credit cards you never use. Keep in mind that when borrowing money, lenders look at how much you owe, as well as how much open debt you have available. You may want to consider consolidating your credit into one easy to manage account.
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