Free Credit Report
Every consumer is allowed one free credit report from major bureaus each and every year, so that they can stay accurately apprised of their financial standing. The 3 major reporting agencies in the nation are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and as such, they are the institutions used by virtually every landlord, lender and employer to obtain accurate credit score information. Therefore, you would be wise to make sure that you get your free report from one or all of these popular bureaus. There are 3 main reasons that you should take up the offer to get a free credit score online, from one of the bureaus that lenders use most. First, it will allow you to form realistic financial expectations. Second, it will help you to discover and address problem areas in your fiscal history. Third, it will allow you take action to correct any mistakes on your reports that may be unjustly painting you in a negative light.
The best way to fix a problem is to first identify it in no uncertain terms. Getting a free credit report report online can help you to see clearly the areas where you are to be commended for your fiscal responsibility and also the places where you will need to work towards repairing damages done. Since free reports from major bureaus give you detailed descriptions to explain your scores, you will be able to accurately decipher both your strong and weak financial points and to work towards bringing them into a healthy balance. Once your score is repaired, lenders and landlords alike will likely throw their door wide open for you to walk through at your convenience.
Things that can really harm your credit are not paying your bills on time, failing to pay off your credit cards, having too many credit cards, and making a very low income. One type of credit card you should really avoid is the department store cards. These do nothing for your credit, but harm it. The more debt you have, the worse it is for your personal credit. If you have not done so yet this year, go ahead and request a free credit report and credit score. This way you will have an idea of where you stand in regards to credit for purchases. This is also a wonderful way to keep track of your credit, and make certain no one is messing with your identity.