It is important to keep on eye on your credit score. If you see changes to your credit rating when your spending patterns have not changed, it could mean that you are a victim of identity theft. This information enables you to take action sooner rather than later to prevent addition damage from occurring. If you are planning to make a major purchase such as buying a house, it is also a good idea to know your credit score, because it can have a big impact on the interest rate that a bank offers to you.

Free Credit Score Report

You can obtain a free copy of your credit report, including your credit scores from the three major credit reporting agencies--Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion--by visiting the website AnnualCreditReport.com. This site is run by the three major credit reporting agencies to satisfy the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires each of them to provide every consumer with their credit scores once a year. You can request your free annual credit score by phone, mail or email. To order a credit report over the phone, call the organization's phone number at (877) 322-8228. They will ask you a series of questions to verify that you are who you say you are before taking your contact information to send you your credit report by mail. It should take two to three weeks. To request a credit report by mail, download a request form from the website, fill it out and mail it to the address on the form. Your free credit report should reach you in two to three weeks. To request a free credit report by email, fill out the secure online form that you find on the AnnualCreditReport.com website. Once the site verifies your identity, you will be able to view your free credit report immediately. To receive your free credit report you will need to provide your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. The agency then verifies your identity by asking personal questions, such as the addresses of the last two places you have lived, or the amount of your monthly mortgage payment. Annualcreditreport.com is the only agency that is officially authorized by the government and the three major credit agencies to give you free credit scores. Various sites and services off to provide you with the same service, but you should treat them with caution and suspicion. At best, they are businesses that profit through advertising, or by offering you a service that is free initially, but will cost you money if you continue using it. At worst, they can be fraudulent companies set up to gather your personal information for the sake of identity theft.

Source:

AnnualCreditReport.com

FTC: Facts for Consumers

Equifax