In this MOMINAR, I will explain what is a credit bureau, who the three major credit reporting agencies are, and how to check your credit report at least once a year.
Don’t think you have one?
If you are on the grid at all, you do have a credit score and there are 3 major companies that keep track of your credit information and score you based on your payment history.
They are called credit bureaus or credit reporting agencies.
A credit bureau monitors and rates your ability to pay your bills on time which then determines your creditworthiness.
They gather credit information from lenders like credit cards, mortgages, and other types of loans. And they monitor and rate your ability to pay your bills on time which then determines your creditworthiness.
Even if you think you have great credit because you pay all of your bills on time, you want to check out your credit report at least once a year because mistakes can happen – you paid off a line of credit but it didn’t get reported, or someone may have run up some bills under your name and it is affecting your score.
You have a right to view your credit reports and receive a free one from each of the major CRAs once a year.
It is free, by the way, so why wouldn’t you check it out and make sure it is accurate?
Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to make the request If you find an error, I recommend you contact a credit agency directly to dispute any inaccurate information you’ve found in your report.
By checking your credit reports at least once a year, you can be sure to stay on top of any inaccurate information or fraudulent activity. It’s best to clear up any disputes as quickly as you can, so they won’t negatively affect your credit score.
You can hire companies to fix any errors and/or repair your credit if it is below optimal.
In fact, I did a podcast, Episode 6 with The Credit Medic who talks more about this and offers some great information about how to make sure your credit stays pristine.
Check out my other Mominars on what to do when your wallet is stolen. I have great information to help you stay safe, and protect your credit and good name. There is so much there to help take the fear out of adulting!
Get your FREE annual credit report from all 3 of the CRAs. Head to AnnualCreditReport.com for one-stop shopping.
Or contact each of the bureaus at:
Equifax Phone: 866-349-5191 Mail: P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348
Experian Phone: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) Mail: P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion Phone: 833-395-6938 Mail: P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
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