Get Your Own FREE Credit Report

In today's world...the most important thing you can do for your financial well being is always staying on top of your personal credit situation.  It has never been easier to stay abreast of changing credit, and fix problems that may occur before they become a factor in your credit "worthiness".  With the availability of credit information on the web...and a slew of other credit monitoring services available to the common consumer...there is no reason you should be left in the dark when it comes to information which is so vital to your well being.

So...you are probably wondering how to go about doing this.  Lucky for you I have done some research and here is what I have found.

One of the most common ways you can get a hold of your credit report for FREE is by opting in to any number of websites who offer your personal credit report.  These sites include freecreditreport.com, annualcreditreport.com, experian.com, transunion.com, and equifax.com.  (I would normally link sites I use as resources, but due to the lack of shown ethical standards of these companies, I don't feel right about linking directly to them, sorry.)  You fill out some general information and you can receive your report in a version that is consumer friendly.  The kicker is this...you can not get your FICO score without paying for it.  Now, this is really not a bad deal.  The reason we need to utilize these sites is to correct any changes that are made and make sure the personal and account information is true. 

The other option is Costco.  Yes I said Costco.  For a fee of around ten or fifteen dollars, you can get a copy of your credit report with scores.  I have seen the reports given by Costco and I must say I was impressed.  I compared the report to a Tri-merge report I pulled on one of my customers and the accuracy was surprising.  I would endorse going the Costco route over the Internet for several reasons...but if you just want the info, the Internet is a good way to go.

There is one caveat to using these sites though that needs to be addressed.  When you register for the service...you are likely put on a mailing list for any number of companies who utilize credit bureau's to locate potential customers.  But, there is a silver lining.  Once you have registered to get your credit report, preferably only one credit site...register at www.optoutprescreen.com. This will take you off all lists of companies which use credit bureau information for mailing campaigns.  And the best part about this is your credit score will improve by as much as 20 points in some cases just by registering.  The credit agencies view this as you taking control of your financial portfolio and give you credit by increasing your scores...BONUS!

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