free credit checks

Free Credit Checks

Information in your credit report can influence most every aspect of your life. You have the right to know what is being reported about you to others.

By staying informed and updated you will be able to maintain constant vigilance of your credit history. This in turn will provide you a head start on identifying potential fraud or errors that could prevent you from getting the credit you deserve.

Keep track of new entries on your credit report so you can quickly react to fraud or inaccuracies. However, you would not wish to have to request a new report every time you want to apply for credit. You can apply for free credit checks once you find any malicious information on your report.

The best way to determine if you have negative information in your credit report is to order a copy and check it carefully. For a thorough review, you should check with all three credit reporting agencies since there may be some variations in the file each bureau maintains on you. This should be done at least once a year. Because the crime of identity theft is on the rise, we recommend that you check at least one of your credit reports each six months.

What you can do if there are errors in your report?

There is no denying that errors can and do appear in credit reports. The July 2000 issue of Consumer Reports cited a study where more than 50% of the credit reports checked contained errors.

There are two main reasons errors may appear on your credit report. One is when you have been mistaken for another person with a similar name and their information ends up in your file. The other more serious cause of error is fraud. Someone may have intentionally gained access to your personal information and obtained credit in your name. Instances of identity theft are increasing. Take advantage of the free credit checks being offered online. Once you find an error in your report, rush a complaint to your credit bureau.