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Knowing your credit score  |
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The credit score. Everyone has one, but how few of us actually know what our credit score is or what items might be on our credit report. Most people don’t discover they even have a credit problem until they are in the process of making a major purchase like a car. But that really is the wrong time to learn that you have a credit problem.
Whether you suspect you have a credit problem or not, you need to know what your credit report says, if only to make sure there are no erroneous entries. You do that by requesting a free copy of your credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies.
Those agencies are:
Experian – 888-397-3742 – www.experian.com
Trans Union Corp. – 800-916-8800 – www.transunion.com
Equifax – 800-685-1111 - www.equifax.com
These agencies are legally required to provide you with at least one free credit report a year. You can also order additional copies of your credit report throughout the year for a small fee. In addition, some special circumstances also entitle you to additional copies, up and above your one free report a year. You can receive more copies of your credit report if you are unemployed and plan to look for a job sometime within the next 60 days, if your report is inaccurate because of fraud, or if you are currently on welfare.
You can also get a copy of your credit report issued by these three credit reporting agencies through Annual Credit Report by calling 877-322-8228 or by ordering online at www.annualcreditreport.com.
Knowing and keeping up on your credit score and credit report is absolutely necessary. Crimes like identity theft and fraud are on the rise and receiving regular copies of your credit report is the only way to keep tabs on what is going on with your credit.
Don’t wait until you’re making a major purchase to learn you have bad credit. Get a copy of your credit report and find out what your credit score is. If you find items in error, contact the credit reporting agencies immediately to contest the erroneous entries.
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