Secrets You Don’t Know About Credit Reports…But Should

What do millions of other people know about credit reports that you don’t? The secrets in this article don’t have any strings or gimmicks so rest assured there will be no surprises.

You will learn how to get a completely free credit report from each of the major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. The only downside with the free annual report site is that they give you everything but your credit score number.

Here’s the nitty-gritty to getting a report regularly. Everyone is entitled to a free annual credit report from each credit bureau. It was actually signed into law by the F.T.C. (Federal Trade Commission). The official website to get a free credit report is www.annualcreditreport.com When I first found the site I was a little skeptical because it looks just like a normal business website. To calm your suspicions do a search on Google for "federal trade commission free annual report". Look for the website that starts off with "ftc.gov". This is the official Federal Trade Commission’s website. They will give you a link to the website I mentioned above.

Once you get to annualcreditreport.com you will notice that you have the option to get a free credit report from all three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. Misguided people will get all three reports at the exact same time (why not right?). The clever person will spread their requests overtime. For example, in April they get a report from Experian. In August they get their report from Equifax. Then in December they get another report from Trans Union. Then when April comes around again they will be eligible to for another report from Experian. These people get a free credit report every four months. By using this technique you can monitor your credit for free!

Getting a regular credit report will help you avoid major problems. Identity theft is a common problem. A credit thief will open lines of credit in your name and max them out. If you aren’t diligently monitoring your credit you might find out too late about the new debt. It is a terrible situation to be in, but the good news is that it’s preventable. By checking your credit on a regular basis you can catch these thieves before they do any real damage.

The other major benefit to a regular credit check is to find errors. Errors are very common and can cause major problems when you apply for a loan or financing. Look through your credit report thoroughly to detect any errors. Things like misspellings, unfamiliar facts, or major lines of credit not showing up can all adversely effect your credit.

Time helps your credit grow. Know exactly where you stand by using the technique described above and fix problems today.