Be Money Wise: Check Your Credit Report

Your credit report provides a history of your bill paying practices. Potential lenders, employers, and landlords consider it indicative of your future fiscal responsibility. Credit reports depend on other's record keeping. As a "Money wise" consumer, you are smart to review the contents of your credit report for accuracy and completeness every year or two and before you apply for new credit, a job or life insurance. If your application for credit, employment, or insurance has been denied (based on credit report information), you may obtain a free copy of that report if you request it within 60 days of receiving notice of the action.

To obtain your credit report, you will need to provide the vendor with identifying information. The exact information required may vary from one organization to another. Typical information requested may include:

Full name (include generation; Jr., Sr., III, and any nicknames commonly used)
Current and previous addresses with zip codes
If married, Spouse's first name.
Social security number
Current employer
Birthdate
Telephone number
Signature

Credit reporting agencies may require proof of current address and / or identity. They will stipulate the forms of proof that are acceptable.

There are several options available to you to obtain a copy of your credit report. Contact any one of the nation's three credit data agencies: Experian; Trans Union; or Equifax.

If you would like to obtain a copy of your credit report and would like help interpreting it meaning, simply call 1-800-479-6026 and ask to schedule an in-person appointment for a confidential Credit Report Review.