How to Check Your Credit Score Without Hurting It
You’re probably well aware that your credit score is important. But did you know that checking your own credit score can actually hurt it? Here’s how to check your credit score without harming your credit rating.
Checkout this video:
Get your free credit report
You’re entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. Order online from annualcreditreport.com, the only authorized website for free credit reports, or call 1-877-322-8228. You will need to provide your name, address, social security number, and date of birth to verify your identity.
What’s in Your Report?
A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills and whether you have been sued or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide credit reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers and others as permitted by law.
Here’s how to get a free copy of your credit report:
Visit www.annualcreditreport.com
Click on “Get a Free Copy of Your Credit Report.”
Enter your name, address, social security number and date of birth to verify your identity.
Click “request report.”
You’ll receive a confirmation message telling you that the information will be mailed to you within 15 days if it’s available. Otherwise you’ll be told that the request can’t be processed online and will need to be made by mail or phone instead.
You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus every year.
You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus every year. To get your free annual credit report, you can go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Be sure to have your Social Security number, date of birth, mailing address and previous address (if you have moved in the last two years) handy when you call or go online.
If you find errors on your credit report, you can file a dispute with the credit bureau online or by mail. Include a copy of the correct information, along with a note explaining why you believe the credit bureau should make the correction. Also include a copy of your credit report with the errors highlighted.
If you find mistakes on your credit report, don’t automatically assume that it will boost your score—in some cases it may actually lower your score slightly while the issue is being investigated.
