It's easy to get "distracted" from keeping close track of our finances during the busyness of the holiday season. Plus, with holiday spending behind us and summer vacation spending just around the corner, January is a great time to regroup financially. One way to do that is to pull your FREE credit report to check for changes or inaccuracies.
Contributing writer for The Balance, LaToya Irby, advises the best way to access your free credit report.
By law, you are typically entitled to receive one free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), so a total of three reports each year. However, due to the pandemic, all three bureaus are offering free weekly online reports.
You can request a copy of your annual credit report in 1 of 3 ways:
2. By phone: call 877-322-8228
3. By mail: print a
request form and mail it to the address listed on the form.
Review these four key areas of your credit report for accuracy:
1) Personal information
Your name, address history, social security number, date of birth and employment history.
2) Credit history
This is the largest section of your credit report, and will contain information on all the credit accounts you've either opened or co-signed for, including accounts you've closed.
3) Credit report inquiries
Whenever someone inquiries about your credit, such as a landlord, lender, or insurance company, this information is recorded and remains on your report for up to two years.
4) Public records
Any public information, such as bankruptcy, late child support, or unpaid taxes, can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years.
Comb through each of these sections and make sure that all the information is correct. If you need assistance, contact us. We can assist you in reading your credit report, disputing any items, and provide advice for building or raising your credit score.
