How to Monitor My FICO Score

Monitoring your own credit scores ensures that you are accurately informed of your eligibility for new credit, loans and other goods and services that depend on you carrying a positive credit rating. Not all credit scores are the same. Because most lenders use the FICO score, developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation, to judge credit applications, it's important that you monitor your actual FICO score rather than an "educational" credit score such as that provided by the credit bureaus. You can monitor your FICO score either manually or through the Fair Isaac Corporation's credit monitoring service.

Instructions

Manual Review

1

Visit the Fair Isaac Corporation's website at myFICO.com, and select the option to purchase your FICO score.

2

Check the box for the appropriate credit bureau. Because your credit reports differ, your FICO scores do as well. You can only purchase your FICO scores from TransUnion and Equifax. Experian does not permit the Fair Isaac Corporation to use its reporting data when providing FICO scores to consumers.

3

Create a profile on the website by providing the Fair Isaac Corporation with your personal information, such as your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. You must also select a username and password. Doing so allows you to log in quickly on following visits.

4

Enter your credit card information. The Fair Isaac Corporation will charge your credit card a fee for each FICO score you purchase.

5

Answer several random questions about information currently on your credit report. This helps the Fair Isaac Corporation verify your identity.

6

Print your credit scores when they appear on your screen. Put the scores and accompanying information in a safe place.

7

Repeat the process periodically when you want to monitor changes to your FICO scores. It's up to you whether you want to monitor your FICO scores on a monthly or semi-annual basis.

Score Watch Monitoring

8

Visit the Fair Isaac Corporation's website at myFICO.com. Select the option "FICO Scores and Credit Reports" located at the top of the screen. This takes you to the Fair Isaac Corporation's Score Watch credit monitoring program.

9

Select the payment option that best fits your budget. You can opt to pay for Score Watch monthly or twice each year.

10

Create a profile with the myFICO website to allow you to log in to the service more quickly. This process is the same whether you opt to subscribe to Score Watch or manually pull your FICO scores throughout the year. You must include a valid email address in your profile so that myFICO can send you updates whenever your score changes.

11

Enter your credit card information when prompted. Verify your identity by correctly answering the series of questions regarding information already present on your credit report.

12

Log in to the service using the username and password you selected to check your FICO scores whenever you wish.

13

Check your email regularly for email updates from the Fair Isaac Corporation noting changes to your FICO scores.