How to Obtain a Free Credit Report & Score

It is important to regularly monitor your credit report and score. Your credit report helps you catch anyone who steals your identity. It will show you information for all of your accounts. Your credit score indicates the amount of risk you are to a lender. The higher your score the better interest rates you will qualify for. Checking your score will give you the opportunity to raise it before you apply for a mortgage or another loan.

Instructions

Credit Report

1

Go to AnnualCreditReport.com to obtain your free copy of your credit report. You are allowed to pull a free credit report once a year from each of the three credit bureaus. You can do all three at once or stagger them over the year to monitor your credit more closely.

2

Select your state in the drop-down box and then click "Request Report." This takes you to a form to fill out to prove you are the correct person. You need your Social Security number, your current address, your address for the last five years and your account information.

3

Click on the credit report you want. This takes you to another series of questions about your accounts and past addresses or names. Then the credit report opens up.

4

Make sure all your accounts are current and that you recognize each account. You can dispute discrepancies by contacting the credit bureau and the bank that reported the wrong information.

Credit Score

5

Visit creditkarma.com. This website provides a free credit score any time you want. You will receive credit card offers on the site which may lower your interest rates or help improve your score. You do not have to accept the offers.

6

Hit the "Get Started" button to move to a page where you fill out your address, your phone number and other information. Hit the "Submit" button.

7

Verify your identity by clicking the link the website emails you. Enter your Social Security number and check your credit score.

8

Raise your credit score by making on-time payments and reducing your debt-to-credit ratio. The more credit you have available the better it looks for your credit score.