Looking at your credit report on a consistent basis allows you to quickly uncover inaccuracies and is one of the best ways to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

Option 1

Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, all consumers are entitled to free annual credit reports from the three major credit bureaus:  Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.  To obtain your reports, go directly to the government-mandated site at www.annualcreditreport.com which is run by the credit bureaus.

Using this site can be frustrating and confusing.  So be careful and diligent. The reports do not include your credit score.  Quick tips:  if you’d like to order all of your reports at once, click on all three up front so that you don’t have to go through the site’s tiresome questionnaire three times.  Also, print out the results.

Option 2

Go to www.truecredit.com to obtain your credit reports and your credit score.  This site is operated by TransUnion, one of the three major credit bureaus.  They offer three services:

1.       Free 30-day trail.  Receive your TransUnion credit report and credit score.  After the 30 days, the cost is $9.95 per month.  You will have to give a credit card number for the free trial.

2.       Three bureau credit reports and a TransUnion credit score - $29.95 – one time fee.

3.       Unlimited credit bureau reports and scores - $24.95 first month, then $14.95 per month.  This has unlimited access to all three credit bureau reports and all three credit scores.