How to Check Credit History

Knowing what's on your credit report is important and can determine how informed you are about your credit history. Checking your credit history and being sure that your payment history is accurately reported is moderately easy and can be accomplished in a matter of minutes.
There are three credit reporting bureaus. Each collects and maintains your credit history. Other sites allow you to gain access to your credit report, but these services can only link back to the credit-report history that is provided by the three credit-reporting bureaus. Creditors only report to TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax; no other consumer credit-reporting bureaus or agencies exist. Other services simply gain access to your credit report through these service centers or link back to their official websites.
Here are the most reliable ways to check your credit history.

Instructions

1

Receive a free credit report under the FACT ACT. U.S. consumers are entitled to one free credit report yearly from each of the three credit-reporting bureaus, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. Visit the Annual Credit Report website for access to your free credit report. (See Resources below.) This option is only available once per year, so if you require additional credit reports, you will need to sign up for a month-to-month service or pay a one-time fee for a new credit report.

2

Visit the TransUnion website (see Resources). Order a credit report and view your credit history online within minutes. Sign up for a free 30-day trial by clicking on the appropriate link. Paid members should click the "Member Login" link to enter the site.
First-time visitors to the site can sign up for the free trial period and gain immediate access to their credit report for 30 days. The service is provided to consumers who are unfamiliar with TransUnion credit-report products, or have never accessed their credit report and want to preview the report before paying for a credit report or credit -score product. The free trial will allow new members to view their complete credit report and dispute any incorrect information. Unless the trial includes access to your credit score, this service will require an additional fee or separate trial offer.

3

Visit the Experian website and click on the "Personal Services" link. View your credit history by purchasing a credit-report product or signing up for a free trial membership with Experian. Check your credit history within minutes and see who has accessed your credit report. The free trial membership will allow you to immediately access your credit report, see who has viewed your credit report and dispute any fraudulent or incorrect information.

4

Visit the Equifax website and browse Equifax products such as Credit Watch Gold or Score Watch; both can be purchased online respectively for $9.95. These and other Equifax products can be purchased online and will allow you to gain access to your credit history. Once your payment is processed, you will use a self-assigned user name and password to view your credit report and verify your complete credit history.

5

Compare credit-report packages and credit-score products across various websites. Check your credit history online through TrueCredit, My FiCO or Credit websites. The three credit-reporting bureaus and other websites that offer access to your credit history require a fee. Most offer free promotional trial offers, but these are marketing tools used to attract new members. Again, the only way to obtain a free credit report is through the Annual Credit Report website.