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Free Credit Report

From the time you open your first credit account, the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and Transunion -- keep an invisible paper trail of all of your account activity when it comes to credit and loans. Up until recently, many consumers did not know what information was contained in their credit report unless they were turned down for credit, and requested a copy from one of the major credit bureaus.

However, in 2005, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) mandated that consumers were entitled to one free credit report a year from the three credit bureaus. You can get your free credit report by going to www.annualcreditreport.com, a free website that was set up jointly by the three major credit bureaus.

If you have ever applied for a credit card, mortgage, or auto loan, then you probably know that your credit history, as reflected in your credit report, makes a big difference it the interest rates you qualify for, or whether you qualify at all. Get your free credit report and make sure your credit profile is the best it can be.