Tips for Getting a Copy of Your Credit Report
A Credit Article Contributed by Augusta Wilson
What is a Credit Report?
Firstly, in order to understand how to get a copy of your credit history, you should understand what a credit report is. A credit report is an actual credit history which details your credit payment history. There are millions of American who use various forms of credit to buy homes, cars, or who have active store accounts, and as they pay their bills, credit lenders tend to report such activity to the credit agencies.
Likewise,whenever you are late in your payments for credit card accounts, car loans- and even to hospitals and doctors and in paying your general utilities- this information is usually reported to one of the above credit agencies. Credit grantors are authorized to review your report, as part of your application for credit, in order to determine how long it will take you to repay the loan. This is why you should be concerned with who has access to your report.
Who Has a Copy of My Credit Report?
Today, credit reports are easily obtained, and it is important that you take advantage of the many opportunities to do so. Being aware of what is on your report can be crucial to avoiding identity theft, one of the nation's fasting growing forms of crime. There are three main credit agencies in the U.S.: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The first step to obtaining a copy of your report would be to contact one of these companies.
It is also important to remember that each of these three companies will have a credit report on file for you- so, you need to, in essence, get a copy of each of these reports.
What is the Best Way to Obtain a Copy of My Credit Report?
There are many debt management companies out there, offering their services to concerned consumers. Some will promise you a copy of your report for free, while others will charge a 'small' fee. However, it is important to remember that while an easy approach may seem tempting, you should bear in mind that what these companies can do for a fee, you can do for free, and obtain the same results.
Additionally, just as it is crucial for you to be aware of your credit history to possibly prevent identity theft, you should also remember that you will be trusting a complete stranger with all of your personal details, including your social security number, providing him or her with a ready-made identity theft package.
The safest way to get get a copy of your report is to contact one of the three main agencies. For example, Equifax has a number of programs geared towards consumers, which will provide you with each of your three reports, and for an additional fee, provide you with further information on how your own scores compare with other consumers throughout throughout the country.
Experian also offers similar credit management programs, and you can also manage any credit disputes or misinformation that you may find in your credit history. It can't be stressed enough that while it may seem like a good idea to order an online credit report for free, it is best that you approach one of the three main agencies and work with them directly.
