Online credit reports?

[aigel]

Anyone used this service:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/

Any other online services that are free and legit? Or should I just go the old fashioned (and safe) way and ask my banker?

Thanks,

George

[EdT82SC]

That site is legit. My understanding is it is jointly run by the three credit reporting companies to fulfill a requirement mandated by the feds. I used it once, and I thought it was a great value for the price (free). You don't get a credit score though. You have to pay to get that.

[aigel]

Ed,

That's helpful. I'd like to get my score - a report alone won't cut it. The site will supply the FICO score but for a fee?

Thanks!


George

[EdT82SC]

George, I really don't remember. I think annualcreditreport.com just lists all your accounts, collections, etc. I think you have to go to the web site of any of the three reporting agencies, and you can get a report with a score for a fee.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I've used it (every year). It's legit.

[schamp]

I have used free credit report .com but must warn you that most of these companies are selling the "watch you report service" and charge you for it. You can't get the report unless you give them a credit card number and then you can download you credit report. They will watch you credit for 3 months free then start charging you if you don't cancel the service. I call up after the download so I don't forget. You then get a big sales pitch. You would think your local bank could run you one.

[cashflyer]

The FACT Act established the free annual credit report program. Everyone is entitled to a free copy of their credit report once per 12 month period.
Go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp and fill in the blanks.

Yes, it's legit. Check the FTC website to confirm.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre34.shtm

And this one is not a "watch your credit" site - it's a site set up jointly with the FTC to enable the reporting bureaus to comply with the FACT act.

[LeeH]

Yes, the credit reports are free, but you have to pay to get the score. Be aware if you do pay for a score that you might be buying your Vantagescore and not your FICO score.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VantageScore

[Steve Carlton]

That's the right one to use for a free report, as said above, it's the one coming from the three bureaus. The FICO score they sell you is unreliable for the purposes of mortgages, though. Typically it's higher than the score a mortgage lender will pull.

[Hugh R]

Yes, the site you mention is legit. I used it last week to check all three. They won't give you your score, but it does give your payment histories back several years. With absolutely no dings, lates, nothing, I know my credit is about the same as the last time I got a score 5 years ago when I joined Disney. Then, all three were 790 to 800+.

[masraum]

I've used annualcreditreport.com several times. During the process of looking at your report, I think it's Equifax that will sell you your score for about $7-9.

[rick-l]

How do they figure your credit score.

Why isn't mine perfect? I owe some money on a house but no other debt (5 years into a 15 year). I have 2 credit cards paid up each month. I have never missed paying a bill.

p.s. I got experian for free because someone lost my bank info.

[Steve Carlton]

There should be up to four "score factors" indicating why your score wasn't higher. 805 is really about as high as I see them; you got nothing to worry about. It's like if I had to say something bad about you and the worst thing was a freckle on the back of your neck.

[TerryH]

All 3 of the major reporting houses give free reports once a year. You don't need to give your info to a 3rd party. Like others said, no actual score without a fee.

[Gogar]

+1 rick, 805 is as close to perfect as you will ever get. Credit scores are not a reflection of your "performance", they are an indication to financial institutions of HOW GOOD OF A DEBTOR you are.

Being a GOOD DEBTOR means that you can generate "income" for the institution with a minimum of risk. for example:

One of the major factors in determining your credit score is your debt/available credit ratio in your revolving credit. (Credit Cards.) You will typically score better if you utilize (carry a balance) equal to about 20-25% of your available revolving credit.

So, if you have let's say, one credit card with a $10K limit, you will typically score better if you ALWAYS carry about $2500 on it, and occasionally pay it off, then throw $2500 back on it a few months later.

If you never ever carry a balance on your credit card, the bank will never collect any fees, which makes you less attractive of a DEBTOR in their eyes, hence the lower score.


Silly, isn't it? Yes. But don't worry about it. 805 is fantastic.

The "equifax" report does have a nice section that shows some of these ideas, which I think is cool.

[aigel]

Just wanted to report back. I used the site and it came back with 3 very nice reports from all bureaus. Yes, they try to sell you a lot of additional stuff and you do not end up with a score, but all the information is there. It is very impressive (in a scary way) how much stuff is logged. All is in excellent shape though, so the score will be no problem.

Cheers, George

[RWebb]

YOur credit union or bank can get your score for you for free -- if they want to.

Ask ...

[turbo6bar]

Originally Posted by RWebb

YOur credit union or bank can get your score for you for free -- if they want to.

Ask ...

But, as far as I know, they should not give you a copy of the credit report. That's goes against credit agency regs and may be law??? Anyone know for sure?