Hi there, It’s best to do it yourself – but it’s easy! (1) You’re entitled to one free copy of your credit report every year, which you can request online at www.annualcreditreport.com. Or you can purchase a copy of your report from all three credit reporting agencies here: http://www.equifax.com/3in1-credit-report-score/. (2) For information on understanding your credit report, go here: http://learn.equifax.com/credit/credit-report It’s provided by Equifax and it’s a very straightforward explanation of each item in a credit report. (3) As for improving your credit score, I’m sure you know there's no quick fix for repairing or building your credit. The only way to strengthen your credit is to manage it responsibly over time: Make timely payments on your credit accounts and outstanding debts to establish a positive new track record with handling credit. Pay all bills on time; get current on any payments you may have missed; keep balances low on credit cards, etc. Just like losing weight, strengthening your credit can only happen with time and effort. Again, for more info, check out the Equifax site: http://learn.equifax.com/credit/reestablish-credit **I actually worked with Equifax in the past, so I’m familiar with the online information they provide. And I think it’s really helpful. It’s created for the general public so it’s pretty easy to read. I would definitely recommend it. All the best – I hope this helps!

Doing this will probably hurt your score if it registers as a credit inquiry. You can check your own credit report for free and without hurting your FICO score by going to www.annualcreditreport.com. You'd have to pay for your credit score, but for that I'd advise you to go to www.myfico.com. There are plenty of websites that can help you understand your credit report, as well as information on the reports themselves. Best of luck!