Improving Your Credit Score: Check Credit Report Regularly

Introduction

Checking your credit report regularly is very important in order to make sure that you are not a victim of identity theft and that no other miscellaneous or erroneous information is on it. Indeed, in this day and age, it is vital -- absolutely vital -- that you check your credit report with regularity

Who Has Your Credit Report

Since everything about your credit gets reported, your credit report can serve to show you a history of everything that has been reported to the three major national credit bureaus. These credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Whenever anyone applies for credit in your name, it will show up on your credit report, so you can see why it is important to check it on a regular basis.

Review Your Credit Report Closely

Once you get your credit report you can review it to make sure that the inquiries and addresses that appear on the report are accurate. You will want to watch for any accounts that are newly opened that you do not recognize. This could be a signal that a criminal has obtained a line of credit using your identity.

Check the Inquiry Section of Your Credit Report

Also, look in the inquiry section of the report to find out what creditors have accessed your credit report to process an application. If you do not recognize the creditor, then you need to check it out for possible fraudulent activity.

Check Addresses on Your Credit Report

The addresses appearing on your credit report are very important. If you discover an address listed that is not yours, it could be someone using your identity trying to get credit using an erroneous address.

Double Check All Information on Your Credit Report

Your credit report shows a lot of information. It will have your name, your current and previous addresses, your telephone number, your Social Security number, your date of birth and it will include your current and previous employers. All this information was derived from previous credit applications that you have completed.

A General Summary of Other Information on Your Credit Report

Information about each account that you have or have had for seven years will be listed. It will include the date the account was opened, the credit limit or loan amount, the balance, the monthly payment and payment pattern over the past several years.

Additionally, public records of bankruptcy records, state and county court records of tax liens and judgments will also be listed.

Any financial dispute that you have had or have will be on the report as well as names of everyone who has obtained a copy of your credit report.

Conclusion

By making certain that you stay on top of your credit report and what is contained in it, you will be able to ensure that you credit score is in best possible shape, that your credit score is as high as it possibly can be based on your actual credit history.