Credit Reports & Credit Scores from all 3 credit agencies - Experian, Equifax & Transunion

Personal Credit Reporting Topics for Consumers

Free Credit Reports

Information about ways to obtain a report free - your right under Federal law to get a free report once a year from each of the 3 national credit reporting agencies. Topics include ordering a free report online, by mail, and by phone.

• Free Annual Credit Report - Follow this link on how to receive the free report you are entitled to each year under Federal Law.
• Free Annual Report by Mail or Phone - Follow this link for info to order your free report by mail each year if you do not have a secure computer to order your report, or you just don't trust computers with transmitting your personal information. There is also a phone number to call on how to receive you yearly report.
• Free Report but no Credit Card? - Follow this link if you do not have or want to use a credit card to get your free annual report as specified by Federal law.
• Fair Credit Reporting Act - Rights to a free credit report - Follow this link if you have been denied credit in the last 60 days, are unemployed, receive public assistance or are a victim of fraud, because you may qualify for a free report under the FCRA.

Credit Scores

Here are some topics to help you understand your score. Scores are used to approve loans and to set the terms and interest rate of your loan. They are used for credit cards, home and auto loans, apartment rentals, and insurance.

• What is Credit Scoring all about? - Link to topic - We list some general points that may help you understand credit scoring.
• Are all Scores the same? - Link to topic - No, they are not. The "recipes" for Scores are proprietary, like the recipes for your favorite cola products. Sometimes, given the variety of scores that are available to you on the web, it may be better to just pay attention to why your score is lower, and take steps to raise it.
• Keys to a better Score - Link to topic - We have six initial suggestions on how to begin working toward a better score, such as disputing inaccurate information, paying off collections and paying down loan balances. Also includes a "What else can I do?" section.
• FAQs about Scores - Link to topic - To-the-point answers to frequently asked questions on Scores.
• What is a Fico Score? - Link to topic - A product of the Fair Isaac Company, the FICO score is one of the best known and most widely used credit scores in the country.
• What is a Vantage Score? - Link to topic - This score was developed by the 3 national credit reporting agencies and offers scoring for consumers and businesses that use the same calculation models spanning the three companies.
• What are Mortgage Scores? - Link to topic - A good score will have a large impact on your monthly mortgage payment, so knowing what they are and ensuring they look as good as they can before you shop for mortgages will help in keeping your monthly charge down.
• Authorized Users- Does this help your Score? - Link to topic - Does this help your Score? - Being an authorized user can help your score. But the opposite is also true. Read this section for historical and current information on authorized users.

ID Theft & Identity Fraud

How do you help prevent theft of your identity? What do you do if you are a victim of identity fraud? Here is some guidance that you may find useful, including a consumer identity theft help kit.

• General Facts on Identity Theft - How do perpetrators of fraud gather your most personal information and use it to their own gain. Be informed on steps you can take to protect your personal information. More
• What is Identity Theft? - Identity theft occurs when your personal information is made available to others who use your good name to open credit cards and accounts. More
• Preventing ID Theft - Easy to follow steps for prevention. This informative section gives you important tips on being aware on how to guard your personal information so that it stays with you and only you. More
• Victim of ID Theft? - Some things you should do. Did you know there are Fraud Units of each of the national credit bureaus that will forward you a free copy of your current report? When you receive the report, you will carefully read through it and report all items that are inaccurate or incomplete. More
• ID Theft on the Internet - Be careful of websites collecting sensitive information. It may be difficult to believe, but unscrupulous people create websites designed to steal your personal information. Be careful! We provide information you can use to determine whether a site is safe or unsafe. More
• Resource Center for ID Theft - Helpful links and resources for consumers. If you are a victim of identity theft, here are steps you may wish to take to report your status and begin rebuilding your good credit. More
• Free Identity Theft Consumer Help Kit - Offers information, links, dispute form and affidavit. What is ID Theft? What do thieves want of yours? Best and most importantly, what can you do to protect yourself? More
• Credit Security Freeze - In general, security freezes, also called credit freezes, allow consumers to notify the credit reporting agencies to block access to their credit from potential creditors and insurance companies. Helpful information includes FAQ's and state requirements and fees. More

 Credit Reports

Learn ways to make your report look as good as it can. This is not credit repair. This is common sense.

• General Ways to Build Your Credit - Read about how you can begin to build a good credit record. Read article.
• Credit Disputes - How to dispute inaccurate or incomplete items on your credit file. We include a sample dispute form. Read article.
• Gain control of your Credit  - We list valuable tips on ways to begin understanding your report right now. Read article.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

We provide a summary of the Act and explain it, note your rights under the act, and provide the answers to FAQ's.

• Summary of FCRA - For consumers, read about the FCRA and how it was designed to assist you regarding your personal credit history - Complete article.
• Your Rights under the FCRA - What's on your credit record and who has seen it? If you have been denied credit, why? The answers to these questions and more are contained in this article - Complete article.
• Frequently Asked Questions - Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about the FCRA - Complete article.
• Complete FCRA Law - We provide you with a layman’s guide to each section of the FCRA - Complete article.