Your credit report shapes more of your life than you might expect. Landlords, lenders, insurers and some employers may look at it. Yet many people go years without seeing theirs.
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Checking it is free, takes about 15 minutes, and doesn’t affect your credit. Here’s how to do it and what to look for.
Where to get your free reports
The three nationwide credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. All three now offer free credit reports every week through one official website: AnnualCreditReport.com. Weekly access started during the pandemic and became permanent in 2023.
You can also request reports by phone at 1-877-322-8228.
Watch out for look-alikes. Plenty of websites advertise “free credit reports” but sign you up for paid monitoring or collect your information. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only site authorized by federal law to provide your free reports. Type the address yourself rather than clicking a link in an email or ad.
Credit report vs. credit score
These get mixed up all the time.
- Your credit report is the detailed record: your accounts, balances, payment history, and who has checked your credit.
- Your credit score is a three-digit number calculated from that report.
AnnualCreditReport.com gives you the reports, not a score. That’s the more useful half. The score is the summary, but the report shows the reasons behind it, and the report is what you can correct if something’s wrong.
What to look for
Pull all three reports. Each bureau may have slightly different information, so an error might show up on only one. Go through each section:
- Personal information. Check your name, address, Social Security number and employers. Old addresses are normal. Ones you’ve never lived at are not.
- Accounts you don’t recognize. An unfamiliar credit card or loan could be a reporting mistake. It could also be a sign that someone opened an account in your name.
- Payment history. Look for late payments you know you made on time.
- Account status. Look for accounts you closed that still show as open, debts you paid that still show a balance, or the same account listed twice.
- Balances and credit limits. Make sure they look about right.
- Inquiries. “Hard inquiries” appear when you apply for credit. Make sure you recognize them.
Keep a copy of each report so you can compare it next time.
How to dispute an error
You have the right to dispute inaccurate information, and it costs nothing. The CFPB recommends contacting both the credit bureau that shows the error and the company that supplied the information.
- Gather documentation. Collect anything that supports your case: a bank statement showing an on-time payment, a letter confirming a closed account. Send copies, never originals.
- File with the credit bureau. You can dispute online, by phone or by mail with each bureau that shows the error. The CFPB offers a free sample dispute letter.
- Contact the company that reported it. Let the lender or company know about the error, too.
- Wait for the results. The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate, sometimes up to 45, and must tell you the outcome.
If your dispute doesn’t resolve it, you can add a brief statement to your file explaining your side, or submit a complaint to the CFPB.
You don’t need to pay anyone to do this. Some companies charge to dispute errors for you, but you can file the same disputes yourself for free.
If you spot something you didn’t open
An account you never opened can be a sign of identity theft. USA.gov points you to the steps to report it. You can also place a free credit freeze with all three bureaus. A freeze makes it much harder for anyone to open new credit in your name, and you can lift it whenever you need to apply for something.
How often should you check?
Weekly reports are available, but most people don’t need them that often. A good rhythm:
- A few times a year as routine maintenance
- A few months before a big application, such as an apartment, car or home, so you have time to fix errors
- Right away if you think your information was exposed or you see a charge you don’t recognize
One easy habit is to put a reminder on your calendar to check one bureau every four months. That way you’ll see a different report each time and cover all three in a year.
Get your credit score and report through Liberty Savings Bank
You don't have to go searching for your credit score. Liberty Savings Bank customers can access their credit score and credit report for free through online banking.
It's a convenient way to keep an eye on your credit, understand what's affecting your score, and stay informed about changes to your credit profile.
Simply log in to your Liberty Savings Bank online or mobile banking account and look for the credit score and report feature. From there, you can review your credit information and make checking your credit part of your regular financial routine.
Not banking with Liberty yet? Stop by any Liberty Savings Bank financial center to learn more about our banking services and how we can help you stay on top of your financial well-being.
This article is for general information only and isn’t financial or legal advice.
