The problem with credit is that it can go bad very quickly and easily and often turning it around takes significant time and effort. What surprises me most is how little attention most people pay to their credit reports especially in these days of identity theft. Much like a doctor recommends yearly checkups for early detection of disease, keeping an eye on your credit reports is crucial to your long-term financial health.
Three different reporting agencies each maintain their own reports which can (and tend to) contain different information so it is recommended that you monitor all three. They will each charge you a fee to obtain a copy of your report.
Equifax – www.equifax.com
Experian – www.experian.com
TransUnion LLC – www.transunion.com
HOWEVER, if you have a guitar, grab it and start playing that song while you make your way over to freecreditreport.com! (You know you’re singing along with me!) In all seriousness, at a minimum we should all be taking advantage of the free report option. Everyone is able to get one free credit report a year from each of the three agencies. I always go through www.annualcreditreport.com and have never had any problems. You may also qualify for a free copy of your report if you have recently been denied credit, you believe you have been a victim of identity theft or if you are unemployed and looking for work.
More great info is available at the credit education center on myfico.com. Read more about your FICO score in Credit 101.
Thanks for sharing. It is useful for me.