What Do You Get on Your Credit Report?

A credit report allows you to check your credit history to make sure your report is accurate. Three credit reporting firms issue you a credit report. These firms are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can request a free credit report once each year from each of the companies. Your credit report will not include your credit score.

Identifying Information

Your credit report has a section that verifies your identity. This should include your name and the last four digits of your social security. You should verify that the information is correct. It can also list past addresses on your credit report. When you request a credit report online, you may need to provide information about past addresses and accounts to prove your identity.

Account Information and Payment History

Your credit report includes information on all of the accounts that are currently open and active. Generally, it will list the account type: revolving or credit card, mortgage, car loan or store loan. The report also lists the status as current or past due. It may also list the number of times you had late or missed payments. If the credit line is revolving it may say how much of the available credit you are currently using.

Closed or Old Accounts

The credit report also lists any accounts that are not in good standing, including accounts the creditor sent to collections or charged off. This can include more than just loan accounts. For example, if you were sent to collections for utility bills it can show up on your credit report. If you have medical debts they may also show up on your credit report. These accounts will state if they are still delinquent or if you paid them off or settled. An account that was delinquent, but you settled -- paid less than the amount originally owed -- will state settled rather than paid in full. If you closed the account was, but it remained in good standing the entire time it was open, the report will list it as closed in good standing.

Getting a Free Report

You can receive a free credit report from each of the three major agencies once per year through the Annualcreditreport.com website. You can obtain the reports all at once or get one every four months. When you check your credit report, look for information that is wrong, such as late payments that were on time or for accounts that you did not open. To dispute an incorrect item you must contact the bank or firm that reported it and ask them to fix it and then contact the credit bureau to request them to verify the information again.