How Do I Order, Read and Understand My Credit Report?

Your credit report contains a great deal of information about your financial past:

• Your current and past debt balances
• How often you’ve missed payments
• Where you’ve applied for credit
• Information on bankruptcies and tax liens
• How far behind you are on child support
• Your previous addresses
• Previous employers and more

Since your credit report contains all of the above information, you can understand why it’s so important to review it regularly to verify its accuracy.

With others accessing your report from time to time — when you apply for loans, credit cards, employment, insurance, rentals, etc. — it’s critical your report be accurate.

If it’s not, you can risk job, housing, or financial opportunities or face potentially higher rates.

Additionally, you’ll also want to check your credit report frequently to help protect yourself from identity theft. If your credit report shows accounts you didn’t open, you’ll know someone is committing fraud.

Keep reading to learn how to request, read, and understand the information you’ll find in your credit report.