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What To Look For On Your Credit Report
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, you should review your credit report for the following:
- Items about you only
- Inaccurate or incomplete information
- Accounts that do not belong to you
- Addresses of places you have never lived
- Employers you have not worked for
- Information that should no longer be on your credit report, such as negative information that occurred more than seven years ago.
In particular, review your credit report for items that lenders typically look for:
What’s Not On Your Credit Report: Your Credit Score
Your credit score is not included in your free annual credit report. Many credit card companies today provide free credit scores on billing statements or online as a way to attract and retain your business.
Many mobile banking and personal finance apps will tell you your credit score for free, but keep in mind that lenders use different versions of your credit score. For example, there are
dozens of different versions of your FICO score, used for different types of credit inquiries.
When you’re checking your free credit report, you may be asked if you also want to see your credit score. Before you agree, be sure you understand the terms of the offer.