Check Your Credit Report

Periodically, you should check your credit report. The three big credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion) are required to give you information about what they have in your credit report once per year. They are not required to give you your credit score. However, checking the rest of the information in your file is helpful -- you should check it to make sure that the information is accurate and to make sure that no one has stolen your identity to get credit using your name and information. One way to maximize your ability to check your information more frequently is to pick one of the agencies, say Experian, and get your info. Then, four months later, try Equifax. Then four months later, try Transunion. This way, you won't have to wait a full year to potentially catch a problem. (Generally all three agencies have the same info, with slight variations). Generally, when you go to get your report, the agency will try to sell you your credit score, and other services. I say, save the money and just get the free report. Go to the following website to get started:

www.annualcreditreport.com