Credit History: Find Out Yours

Many banks and apps offer free credit score monitoring. But a credit score alone is just a three-digit number that doesn't give you much information. If you want to find out why your score is up or down, it's essential to look up your credit reports. Your credit reports contain the information that your credit scores are based on.

How to get your free credit reports

You're entitled to a free credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. However, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, all three credit bureaus have offered consumers free weekly access to credit reports, a service they'll continue through the end of 2023.

The only website that's authorized to provide you with the credit reports you're entitled to is AnnualCreditReport.com. You can request your annual credit reports by doing one of the following:

• Visit AnnualCreditReport.com
• Call 1-877-322-8228
• Complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Even once free weekly credit reports are no longer available, you're entitled to a free credit report, regardless of how long it's been since you received one, in the following scenarios:

• You've been denied credit, employment, insurance, or another benefit or had unfavorable action taken against you based on information in your credit reports. If this occurs, you'll receive what's known as an adverse action notice. You'll have 60 days to request a free credit report from the bureau that provided the report.
• You're out of work and plan to begin searching for a job within 60 days.
• You receive public assistance.
• Your report contains inaccurate information due to identity theft or fraud, or your report includes a fraud alert.

What to look for on your credit report

Once you've obtained your credit report, it's essential to verify that all the information is accurate. Here's what to look for in each section:

• Personal information: Make sure your name is spelled correctly and that your address, phone number, Social Security number, and date of birth are accurate. Also check that your employment history and marital status are accurate and up to date.
• Public records: This section will include records obtained from courts, such as lawsuits, tax liens, bankruptcy, criminal records, and judgments, as well as any accounts that have been sent to collections. Make sure any records listed here actually belong to you and that the statute of limitations hasn't passed, in which case the bureau must delete the information.
• Credit accounts: This section should include any credit accounts or loans where you're the primary or joint owner, as well as accounts that list you as an authorized user. Look out for any accounts you don't recognize, payments that were incorrectly reported as late or missed, and inaccurate balances. Any adverse information in this section should be removed after seven years.
• Inquiries section: The inquiries section contains a list of everyone who accessed your report in the past two years as part of a credit application. Creditors can't pull your reports without your consent, so look for any hard inquiries you didn't authorize.

How to dispute inaccurate information

If you find inaccurate information in any section, dispute it directly with the credit bureaus. Some mistakes may be due to a simple error, but if you see accounts or activity you don't recognize, it may be a sign of identity theft or credit card fraud.

If you contact the bureaus in writing, provide a statement detailing the errors as well as any supporting documentation. Here's how to contact each bureau.

Equifax

Online: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute/

By mail: Download the dispute form and mail it with your letter to:

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30348

By phone: 866-349-5191

Experian

Online: experian.com/disputes/main.html

By mail: Use the address provided on your credit report or mail your letter to:

Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013

By phone: 888-397-3742

TransUnion

Online: dispute.transunion.com

By mail: Download the dispute form and mail it with your letter to:

TransUnion LLCConsumer Dispute Center
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

By phone: 800-916-8800

Other types of credit reports

The main credit reports you should monitor are your reports from the three major bureaus. But these aren't the only records of your financial history that may affect you. Here are a few examples:

• Checking account reports: Checking account reports contain information about your bank account and transaction history. Banks and credit unions may use them to decide whether to offer you an account. Companies that provide checking account reports include ChexSystems, Early Warning Services, Certegy, and Telecheck. You're entitled to a free report from each checking account report company every 12 months, but you'll have to contact each company individually.
• Tenant screening reports: Many landlords use tenant screening services to decide whether to rent to you. If you're denied housing because of a tenant screening service, the landlord must provide you with the name of the screening company and information about how to get a copy of the report.
• Insurance records: Insurance companies maintain records about consumer claims. If you're denied coverage due to information in a third-party report, you're entitled to a free copy of that report.

No single number or report will give you a complete picture of your financial health. But if you're ever denied credit or other financial services due to information in a credit report, investigate further by requesting a copy.