You can check your credit by requesting a report from the three main credit reporting companies (also sometimes referred to as “credit bureaus”). Note: Be aware that these are private companies, not government agencies.
And the best starting point for requesting your credit report is www.annualcreditreport.com. Don’t bother with that other service. While they may give you the first credit report for free, you will end up paying $15.00 a month until you cancel with them. Guys playing guitars know little about credit. That’s why they are in commercials.
Or you can send a written request by mail to:
Free Annual Credit Report
PO Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Or call the toll-free number at 1-877-322-8228
The three credit reporting companies are Equifax, Experian and Transunion.
Each of these companies not only keeps track of data related to your credit, but they also report the information and credit scores to various creditors upon request. They tend to have their own systems for calculating credit scores which they keep guarded very closely. However under current law, they are required to provide you with a free credit report once every 12 months upon request.
A clever strategy for keeping on top of your credit score and credit history is to request a credit report every four months. That is, start with a credit report from Equifax, then four months later request one from Experian, and then four months later, request one from Transunion.
Information on you from the companies may vary, but for the most part they are very similar. So you should be able to consistently get a ballpark sense of how you’re doing credit-wise. Don’t bother buying credit scores or other items from the bureaus as that is where they will make a great deal of money from you. Just get the facts of what the creditors are saying about you.
If you have additional questions about credit scoring, credit history or how bankruptcy affects credit scores, or if you are contemplating filing for bankruptcy in Connecticut, please feel free to contact me for a free initial consultation.
Contact Attorney Melchionne
Eugene S. Melchionne, Esq.
27 First Ave.
Waterbury, CT 06710
(203) 757-3437
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