Your credit score is a numerical representation of your credit history. It is used by lenders to assess your creditworthiness and determine what interest rates you qualify for. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to get approved for loans and credit cards with favorable terms.
There are many ways to check your credit score, but the most accurate way is to request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can do this online or by mail. Once you have received your credit reports, you can use them to calculate your credit score using one of the many online credit score calculators available.
In the next section, we will discuss how to request a free copy of your credit report and how to calculate your credit score.
How to Check Credit Score
Follow these steps to check your credit score:
- Request credit report.
- Review credit report.
- Calculate credit score.
- Check for errors.
- Dispute errors.
- Improve credit score.
- Monitor credit score.
- Protect credit score.
By following these steps, you can check your credit score and take steps to improve it.
Request Credit Report
The first step to checking your credit score is to request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Online:
You can request your free credit report online at the Annual Credit Report website. You will need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth.
- By phone:
You can also request your free credit report by calling 1-877-322-8228. You will need to provide the same information as you would if you were requesting your credit report online.
- By mail:
You can also request your free credit report by mailing a completed Annual Credit Report Request Form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348 - How often:
You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies every 12 months. You can request your free credit report more often, but you may have to pay a fee.
Once you have requested your free credit report, it will be mailed to you within 15 days. You can also view your credit report online at the Annual Credit Report website.
Review Credit Report
Once you have received your free credit report, it is important to review it carefully for any errors or suspicious activity.
Here are some things to look for when reviewing your credit report:
- Personal information: Make sure your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth are correct.
- Account information: Review your credit report to make sure all of your accounts are listed and that the information is accurate. This includes the account number, the name of the creditor, the type of account, the credit limit, the balance, and the payment history.
- Credit inquiries: Check to see if there are any credit inquiries on your report. A credit inquiry is a record of a company checking your credit score. Too many credit inquiries in a short period of time can lower your credit score.
- Errors: If you find any errors on your credit report, you can dispute them with the credit reporting agency. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail. The credit reporting agency has 30 days to investigate your dispute and correct any errors.
It is important to review your credit report regularly, even if you are not planning to apply for credit in the near future. By reviewing your credit report regularly, you can catch errors early and take steps to protect your credit score.
If you find any errors on your credit report, you should dispute them immediately. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail. The credit reporting agency has 30 days to investigate your dispute and correct any errors.
By following these tips, you can review your credit report and take steps to protect your credit score.