How to Check your Credit Report
How to Check your Credit Report
How to Check your Credit Report
We’ve all heard that we should be checking our credit report for accuracy, but how do you do that? I’ll walk you thru the steps of ordering a copy of your credit report. Below are my tips for checking your credit report:
Tip 1: Visit annualcreditreport.com –the official site authorized by federal law to provide your credit report– beware of copycat sites. You’ll know that it isn’t the authorized site if the site requires credit card information. This site is FREE and does not require credit card information.
Tip 2: Be prepared to provide your
- Name
- Address
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
Tip 3: Once you provide that information, you will go through the process of getting your report from each of the three credit reporting agencies separately:
- Experian
- TransUnion
- Equifax
NOTE: You are entitled to one free report every 12 months from each of the three credit bureaus. Consider checking one of your three reports every four months OR check them annually around your birthday.
Tip 4: Each credit bureau site has a similar interface, which includes asking you questions designed to confirm your identity. For example, “You opened a car loan in 2017 – what was the monthly payment for that loan?” – along with multiple choice answers. Sometimes, your identity cannot be verified online. In this case, you will get a screen like this and be asked to mail in a paper form along with a photocopy of some personal documents.
Durham Tech Community, for more personal finance advice or tips, email me at chapmanl@durhamtech.edu
Larry is the Financial Coach at Durham Tech, providing individual coaching services and information to the students and employees of the Durham Tech community.