Credit Reports
Received a private message asking where to go to obtain free copies of one's credit reports. Figured I'd respond here for use by all:
You can visit annualcreditreport.com
This website used to suck, and I'm pleased to report that it has been much improved in recent years, and now gets the Traceroo stamp of approval. Be careful what you agree to through the click-throughs, however! Each website belonging to the three major credit bureaus will try to get you to sign up for their paid service for credit monitoring. You don't need to do that -- but your eyes may need to hunt a bit on the page for the "No, thank you, just gimme my free report" option. Equifax is particularly sneaky about this, I find.
If that does not float your boat, here are the direct phone numbers for each of the three big bureaus:
Equifax: 800-685-1111
Experian: 888-397-3742
TransUnion: 800-888-4213
You will need to know your precise mailing addresses, including Zip Code and apartment numbers, for the past five years.
While we're at it, here is the telephone number to opt-out of prescreened random credit offers for the next five years:
888-567-8688
It's worth Googling "free credit report" and the state where you currently reside. Residents of most states are eligible for one free copy of your credit report every 12 months. You don't need to wait until you're denied credit to receive this, it's totally free for residents of most states. Georgians, you're entitled to two free copies each year, so I used to make it a point to run mine every six months. Texans, Equifax is particularly sneaky implying that we do not get the one free report each year, but we do. Just keep trying.
I should also note, if you don't know, that checking your own credit report does NOT damage your credit. If you heard that it does, you heard wrong. You can always check your own credit report as often as you like, 10 times a day if you want, willy-nilly forever, and it never ever adversely affects your credit. I promise. Google this, too -- it's easy to double-check this fact.
Lastly, as further explanation, your credit report and your credit score are not the same thing. Your credit score is derived from information on your credit report so naturally they're related, but they're different things. You can receive your credit report for free once per year. To the best of my knowledge, there is no free method of obtaining your credit score. If you want to check it for $15 per credit bureau that monitors your score, go to www.myfico.com. If you plan to finance something large like a car or a house in the next year, you need need needity need to know your credit score. NEED.You want to check your credit report at least once a year to check for mistakes and identity theft. That's mainly what you're looking for. Accounts that don't belong to you, mistaken identity (especially common for people with the same first and last name as their parents), outright identity theft, and various more innocent mistakes.
Any other questions, and your friendly neighborhood personal Suze Orman is happy to help!
Traceroo
You can visit annualcreditreport.com
This website used to suck, and I'm pleased to report that it has been much improved in recent years, and now gets the Traceroo stamp of approval. Be careful what you agree to through the click-throughs, however! Each website belonging to the three major credit bureaus will try to get you to sign up for their paid service for credit monitoring. You don't need to do that -- but your eyes may need to hunt a bit on the page for the "No, thank you, just gimme my free report" option. Equifax is particularly sneaky about this, I find.
If that does not float your boat, here are the direct phone numbers for each of the three big bureaus:
Equifax: 800-685-1111
Experian: 888-397-3742
TransUnion: 800-888-4213
You will need to know your precise mailing addresses, including Zip Code and apartment numbers, for the past five years.
While we're at it, here is the telephone number to opt-out of prescreened random credit offers for the next five years:
888-567-8688
It's worth Googling "free credit report" and the state where you currently reside. Residents of most states are eligible for one free copy of your credit report every 12 months. You don't need to wait until you're denied credit to receive this, it's totally free for residents of most states. Georgians, you're entitled to two free copies each year, so I used to make it a point to run mine every six months. Texans, Equifax is particularly sneaky implying that we do not get the one free report each year, but we do. Just keep trying.
I should also note, if you don't know, that checking your own credit report does NOT damage your credit. If you heard that it does, you heard wrong. You can always check your own credit report as often as you like, 10 times a day if you want, willy-nilly forever, and it never ever adversely affects your credit. I promise. Google this, too -- it's easy to double-check this fact.
Lastly, as further explanation, your credit report and your credit score are not the same thing. Your credit score is derived from information on your credit report so naturally they're related, but they're different things. You can receive your credit report for free once per year. To the best of my knowledge, there is no free method of obtaining your credit score. If you want to check it for $15 per credit bureau that monitors your score, go to www.myfico.com. If you plan to finance something large like a car or a house in the next year, you need need needity need to know your credit score. NEED.You want to check your credit report at least once a year to check for mistakes and identity theft. That's mainly what you're looking for. Accounts that don't belong to you, mistaken identity (especially common for people with the same first and last name as their parents), outright identity theft, and various more innocent mistakes.
Any other questions, and your friendly neighborhood personal Suze Orman is happy to help!
Traceroo