Will a Three Bureau Credit Report Hurt Your Credit Score?

Some credit checks can hurt your score, but it is not always obvious whether a credit pull is this type of inquiry. Applying for an apartment or a loan hurts your credit score, but checking your own score or agreeing to let an employer see it does not. A three-in-one credit report is often advertised as the best way to view your score. Most important for your score, the 3-in-1 report should have no effect on it.

Identification

The U.S. has three major credit reporting bureaus -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each has its own file on consumers with a credit history. A three credit bureau report combines the single reports from all three agencies. Ordering your credit report never hurts your score, even a 3-in-1 report. A credit report that combines profiles from all three major agencies is more of a convenience and no different from ordering each report individually. A 3-in-1 report shows up under "soft" inquiries, which do not affect your score and which only you can see.

Benefits

A three bureau credit report may make it easier for you to assess your own credit situation. Most 3-in-1 reports, such as those from Equifax, give a side by side comparison of the data from each bureau. Since credit profiles vary among the national agencies, this might help you catch more errors or unlisted accounts than if you purchased a report separately from each bureau.

Disadvantage

Using a 3-in-1 credit report often leaves out the more detailed information you would find in a single report, according to A Good Credit Score. A single credit report and 3-in-1 are about the same length, so the three bureau report leaves out information a single report would include, like each monthly payment on a particular account. Also, a 3-in-1 report uses up your one free annual report from each bureau in one shot. By taking separate reports, you can spread them over a year to monitor your credit profile for free.

Tip

When you request a 3-in-1 or any report or credit application, always ask the lender or service provider if it will run a "hard inquiry." A hard inquiry occurs when a lender is making a decision as to whether to extend you credit, and it could negatively affect your score. Also, further investigate any 3-in-1 report that requires you to sign for any trial service as it could end up costing you more money than it's worth.