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How to read your credit report (and fix errors for free)
Your credit report decides your loan rates, apartment applications and sometimes job offers. Checking it is free, and errors are more common than you think.
A credit report is the history lenders look at before saying yes, no or "yes, at a higher rate". You have the right to see it and to fix what is wrong.
Get your reports for free
Go to AnnualCreditReport.comthe site authorized by federal law. You can get reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and the FTC explains that free weekly online reports are available.
Check all three. Not every lender reports to every bureau, so the reports can differ.
What each section means
- Personal information: name, addresses, employers. Wrong addresses can be a sign of identity theft.
- Accounts: cards and loans, balances, limits and payment history.
- Inquiries: who pulled your report. Hard inquiries come from applications you made.
- Public records and collections: debts sent to collection agencies.
The CFPB has a plain-English guide to what a credit report contains.
Errors worth looking for
- Accounts you never opened
- Late payments you actually made on time
- The same debt listed twice
- Closed accounts shown as open
- Wrong credit limits, which can make your usage look higher
How to dispute a mistake
- Gather proof: statements, payment confirmations, letters.
- File the dispute with the bureau that shows the error, online or by mail.
- Also contact the company that reported the information.
- Keep copies of everything you send.
The FTC dispute guide has sample letters. The bureau generally must investigate within 30 days and send you the result.
Frequently asked questions
Is checking my own report bad for my score?
No. Checking your own report is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score.
Where do I get my free reports?
At AnnualCreditReport.com, the only site authorized by federal law to provide free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
How long does a dispute take?
The credit bureau generally has 30 days to investigate after receiving your dispute.
Does the report show my score?
Not necessarily. The report is the history; scores are calculated from it and may be shown separately.
The report is the raw data. The score is what lenders build on top of it.