How To Get A Free Copy Of Your Credit Report
If you’re going to apply for a credit card, a mortgage, a loan or any other source of finance, one thing any potential lender will check is your credit report. This will tell them about any previous unpaid debts or legal judgments against you, and help them assess whether you are creditworthy or not.
There are three three nationwide consumer reporting companies in the US: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. All keep different information about you, and all or any of them may be referred to by a potential lender.
If you are thinking of applying for credit, therefore – and especially if you have ever been turned down in the past – it is important to find out what these companies have on their records about you. And because all three companies are independent, you need to check on all of them.
The good news for consumers is that as from September 1, 2005, everyone in the US is entitled to a free copy of their credit report from each of the consumer reporting companies once a year.
To get free copies of your credit report, you should not apply to the three companies directly. There is...