When making a large purchase like a car or home, your credit history and score play a major role in obtaining financing. But, knowing your credit history and score are important for everyday finances as well. Checking your credit history throughout the year can uncover any fraud on your accounts and knowing your score can help you take steps to improve it if necessary. In a basic sense, your credit score gives a numerical value to your creditworthiness and is based on a number of factors, according to the My FICO website. Three major credit reporting agencies offer services that let users track credit history and view their current credit score.
Experian
Offering credit reporting services for individuals, corporations and small businesses, Experian also operates marketing and decision analytics departments, according to the Experian website. Experian's website provides free credit education with videos, articles and online workshops that help customers learn how to use credit wisely and improve credit scores. Products include credit monitoring, identity theft protection, credit checks and access to credit scores and history, all beneficial to protecting and improving personal finances. Experian also offers a free online dispute center for users who find discrepancies in their credit report and want to make the corrections.
Experian
475 Anton Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-830-7000
experian.com
Equifax
Catering to individuals looking to track credit histories and improve personal finances, Equifax features a large line of credit reporting services. According to the Equifax website, Equifax offers a free personal finance blog that features advice from professionals on credit, insurance, taxes, retirement and real estate. Customers can choose from several personal finance products like Debt Wise, a step-by-step system for paying down debt and saving money and ID Patrol, which consistently monitors your credit and alerts the user to changes. Free resources include an online dispute center and a mortgage lender database.
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-800-685-1111
equifax.com
TransUnion
Started in the 1960s as a railroad company, TransUnion has expanded to offer credit reporting, marketing services and fraud and identity management for individuals and businesses, states the TransUnion website. Operated by TransUnion, the True Credit website features free helpful articles and resources on topics like credit and medical bills, teaching kids about credit and financing a home. TransUnion also operates ZenDough.com, a website that users can use to check and monitor their credit scores and history, learn how to improve scores and discover ways to avoid identity theft. Other products include identity theft protection and credit dispute services.
TransUnion
2 Baldwin Place
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
800-888-4213
transunion.com
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