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How to get your free credit report and score from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion

Articles on Credit Scores and Reports From Major Bureaus Equifax, Experian, TransUnion

It is a good idea to obtain a copy of your credit report from the three main credit reporting agencies, before you apply for your next loan. You can get a free report once a year from AnnualCreditReport.com, which is a great way to check for any errors or incorrect information. But, if you want to get more than one report a year, there are numerous companies out there offering a free credit score with credit monitoring if you sign up for their service.

If you are not sure which company is best, fear not! We've done all the homework for you. You can check out our complete comparison chart. Or, if you already have your credit reports and are not sure what it all means, we have articles to answer all of your questions.

How to Obtain Your Credit Reports

• Getting and Reading Your Credit Report - This article will help you order your credit reports and after you have them, how to figure out what it all means. Annualcreditreport.com - This site is sponsored by the big three credit bureaus and you are legally allowed a free credit report once a year. Video on Credit Reports - Episode 3 in our 12-part series of Credit Repair Videos, talks about how to get of copy of your credit report and how to get a credit score. Free Advice on Credit Reports and Scores - Learn not to focus on your credit score but rather what information is on your credit report.

General Information About Credit Reports

• Who Can Pull Your Credit Report? - Find out what entities can legally pull your credit report and who can't. E-Oscar - The computer who handles your credit disputes. How Do Collections Get on My Credit Report? - Learn the steps taken by creditors to get a collection on your credit report. What is a Charge-Off? - A creditor may show your account as a charge-off but you still owe them money. What Information Should I Provide When Requesting a Report or Disputing an Item on My Report? - If you are requesting a report or filing a dispute, make sure to send them the appropriate information. How Long Do Negative Items Stay on My Credit Report? - Every wonder how long a bankruptcy, charge-off or judgement will stay on your credit report? We have all that info for you. Can I Get an Account in Which I'm Only the Authorized User Off of My Report? - See how to remove an authorized user account from your report. Decoding and Interpreting Your Credit Report - Now that you have your report, let us show you how to read it and what it all means to you. Risk Factor Reason Codes - Lenders look at these risk factors to determine your credit worthiness. Here is a chart to interpret these codes. Who is Responsible for Correctly Reporting Your Credit History? - Ever wonder how all the information gets on your credit report - we will let you in on all their secrets. Three Worse-Case Senarios When You Don't Check Your Credit Reports - Checking your credit reports at lease once a year will prevent these worse-case senarios: ID Theft, Erroneous Negative Information, and Zombie Debts. Seven Red Flags on Your Credit Report - We have a list of the seven biggest red flags on your credit report. These are the ones that do the most damage to your credit score. Signs of Fraud Found in Your Credit Report - All of us are worried about identity theft and identity fraud. We have some signs to look for in your credit report that can tip you off to possible fraud. What If You are Mistakenly Declared Dead on Your Credit Report? - It happens more often than you might think - you are declared dead by mistake. Learn what to do if this happens to you or someone you know.

Credit Bureaus and Credit Reporting Agencies

• CFPB Reports on the Credit Reporting System - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently published a white paper addressing the gathering of data by the credit reporting agencies. See what they uncovered in this report. 100 Word Statement - Should you provide this statement to the credit bureaus to explain away a negative item on your credit report? Contact Information For the Big Three Credit Bureaus - Here is the all contact information for Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Credit Reporting Agencies - This article explains who these agencies are and how they come up with your credit score. What to do if a Credit Bureau Refuses to Investigate - If you disputed a negative item on your report and they refused to investigate it, we will show you how to agressively pursue the matter. Other Credit Bureaus - More Than Just the Big Three - There are more information gathering bureaus than just the big three. How the Credit Bureaus Investigate Your Disputes - See how the credit bureaus are suppose to investigate your dispute. How to Place a Security Freeze on Your Credit File - There are times when you need to freeze your credit file, so that no one has access to them. See how to freeze your files. The Work Number Database - There is a new database owned by Equifax called The Work Number. This is a database containing information on your employment and salary which is available to employers and creditors.

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