subject: Get Your Credit Score [print this page] It is very important for you to know how to get a copy of your credit report and score. Your credit score is used on a daily basis and it can be useful to know your score before even attempting to purchase large items such as a car or even a house. Knowing this information will give you an idea of what to expect when making a purchase or applying for credit. It will also give you a chance to work on improving your score before making a purchase.
Obtaining your credit score should not be that difficult. You can request it on various websites or go through a company that helps you improve your credit. If you suspect your credit is in peril, you might consider talking to someone from such a company. This can be a great alternative to filing bankruptcy.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act is what makes it possible for you to get a copy of your credit report. The three credit reporting companies are: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. You can do this annually. If you would like to check your reports multiple times throughout the year you can do so by getting a free yearly copy from only one credit bureau at a time. This means you may check your Experian report in February, Equifax in June, and TransUnion in October.
The government sponsored website for obtaining a free yearly credit report is annualcreditreport.com. You will have to pay a small fee here for your credit score. You will have to pay a small fee if you would like your credit score, but your annual reports are free. But it may be worth your while to do this, especially if you need help getting your finances back in order. If you would like to view your credit reports multiple times per year you can pay to do so here.
You can also free credit report any time if you have been turned down for credit in the last sixty days or if you are currently unemployed. Simply write a letter to each credit bureau with your your name, address, and social security number and tell them your situation.
There are other ways of getting your credit score too. The FICO score is a little difficult to get but worth the work. You can sign up for a credit monitoring trial and obtain your FICO score that way. You will have to provide your credit card number. If you do not wish to pay for the service once the trial has expired, you can cancel it. You will still have your FICO score for free.
It is also possible to obtain your TransUnion and Experian scores for free. You will also be able to get these scores without the use of a credit card, unlike the FICO score where a credit card must be used in order to sign up for the trial services like those mentioned above.
You can obtain your TransUnion score directly from them for a fee. You can also get it for free by signing up for a credit monitoring service and cancelling like mentioned above.
You can also obtain your Experian score directly from them and can also sign up for free service at various websites that allow you to access your credit score and free credit report for free. You will also find other important financial information that can be useful.
Remember to be cautious when ordering this information online. This score will be very different from the score you will receive when applying for credit or trying to buy a home or car; as much as 50 points different. Why? All creditors are looking for something different in your credit report.
