Check My Credit Report

Why Check Your Credit

Many people want to check their credit report for a variety of reasons.  Some people are just curious about credit and want to educate themselves about their own credit.  Other people are advised to check into their credit by financial counselors and/or advisors.  I check my credit report to make sure there is no unexplained activity or open accounts that I am not aware of.

Because identity theft and credit fraud has grown enormously in correlation with the growth in technology it is more important than ever that we all do what we can to check our credit on a regular basis.  I make it a point to review each of my credit reports with the three major credit reporting agencies every few months.  A few years ago this was an extremely difficult and tedious process but over time it has gotten easier.

Ways To Check Your Credit Report

One way I can check my credit report is by writing and requesting my credit report using snail mail and paying a fee for my credit report.  The cost of a credit report varies depending on the credit bureau you are requesting the report from.  In some cases you might be eligible for a free credit report if you have been recently denied credit.

Regardless of whether or not you have paid it usually takes about a month to get a copy of your credit report when requesting it through the mail.  This might be sooner if you live in the same state as the credit reporting agency.  For example, I live in the Atlanta Metro area and when sending a request to Equifax, which is in Atlanta, I received a copy of my credit report in one week.

Another way I check my credit report is to order the report online so that I can view and print my report instantly.  If you have lived at your current residence for more than a year and are able to verify your identity then you will be able to access your credit report instantly after paying a fee.

In some instances you might not be able to complete verification online which means that the credit report will have to be mailed to you.  That has only happened to me on one occasion and when it did happen the credit bureau’s website allowed me to print out my completed application and expedited my credit report request.

When checking your credit report online you are also able to buy all three of your credit reports at once.  There are several sites in addition to the three major credit bureaus who offer this service which can be a bit more budget friendly when you need to check all three of your credit reports.  These credit reports are exactly what they sound like.  Three of your credit reports presented both separately and in one combined view which makes it easier for you to compare the information on each credit report.

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