Did you know that all residents of the US have the right to obtain one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus per year? Since your credit score is more important than ever due to today’s tightening credit standards, it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of this benefit.
But Beware…
Although you see commercials offering free credit reports, many companies actually charge a fee or require enrollment to qualify for the free report. That’s why one of your best resources is www.annualcreditreport.com for a free report of your credit history. This report of your credit history can help you check the accuracy of the information in your report. However, it does NOT include your credit score. If you want to know your number, you can pay an add-on fee from the service or simply contact me for help determining your actual score.
Stagger Your Reports
Remember, you are only entitled to receive one free report from each bureau per year, so consider staggering the requests. For example, make a note on your calendar to order a report from TransUnion® one month, then one from Equifax® a few months later, and finally one from Experian® a few months after that. In essence, this will allow you to order three credit reports per year…and provide you the ability to monitor your credit throughout the year.
Keith Cloak, Summit Home Mortgage
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