Get Your Credit Scores -- and Then Sit Down to Talk
You need to get your credit reports from the three credit bureaus -- Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Why all three? You need all three reports because each may contain different information. Each credit bureau keeps a file on you with information supplied by your creditors. Some creditors don't report consumer credit information to all three bureaus, so it's possible that what's on one report may not be on another.</br></br>The good news is that under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, you are entitled to a free credit report from each credit bureau. Under the law, you can obtain a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months upon request. There are several ways to get your free credit reports:</br></br>By phone. Call 877-322-8228. You will go through a verification process over the phone. Your reports will be mailed to you.</br></br>By mail. You can request your credit report by mail by filling out a request form (which you can find online) and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, Ga. 30348-5281.</br></br>When ordering your credit reports, also request your credit scores (which are not free). You need all three scores because, just as with your credit report, each bureau generates a different score. You can go to the Web site of each bureau to pay for your score.