asked:


Is there a way to get a free credit report?I tried but they only offer a “Free Score”,then money to see

Tyrone

nakisha asked:


I’ve been to the website to order my free credit report but it always tells me to pay. How can I order my free credit report online?

Thomas

Dave Joa asked:


Instant Online Access.

Today in the UK you can now have instant access to get your free credit report online.

But what are the benefits of being able to see this record of your credit history and the other details that the credit reference agencies hold about you on your personal credit file.

In order to look at every potential benefit that your credit report could give you, we need to look at what your credit report is used for.

Who Uses Your Credit Report And How?

Your free credit report in the UK will be used by financial institutions whenever you apply to them for credit cards, loans or mortgages and by other companies when you apply for any product or service that requires you to sign up for some form of credit, such as a mobile phone contract.

All these companies want to know your current credit rating and they will determine this using your credit score, which they calculate with their own company formula using information on your credit history and current credit status from a copy of your credit report.

This credit check will involve checking your credit report from one of the three credit reference agencies in the UK all of which gather relevant credit and personal ID information about you to create your credit file.

Failed A Credit Check?

If you fail a credit check and don’t get the loan or credit you applied for, you usually won’t be told why or which credit reference agency was used.

However, the details held on your credit report can help you find out what is causing your application to be refused.

The reason may not even be a valid one as it is very easy for a mistake, typing error or old inaccurate information to be held on one of your three credit reports.

Such errors may relate to your credit history or the other personal data on your credit record, which is used to confirm your identification and what you put on your application form.

Major Benefit

A higher credit score will help ensure that you get the loans or credit you want and that you will get a better rate of interest than if your credit rating were lower.

To ensure that your credit score and therefore your credit rating is as high as it can be you need to make sure that everything on all three of your credit reports is accurate and up to date.

You therefore need to get a copy of your credit report from each of the 3 credit reference agencies. Don’t assume that if one is correct that the others will be!

Fortunately you can get instant online access your credit report at each agency for free as all agencies are currently offering a free trial of their UK credit report service.

You should take advantage of this to check all three of our credit reports and fix them if you find any problems. Just talk to the relevant agency about how to get issues with your credit report resolved.

Remember however that this could take time so start as soon as possible, especially if you are planning to apply for a loan or other credit some time soon.

Other Benefits

Your credit reports are a great asset and should be checked and maintained just like you check you bank statements. If you don’t check them they could easily become your greatest liability.

Effective management of your credit report could save you a lot of money over time and ensure that you are not refused credit when you need it.

If you are going to apply for a loan or mortgage then it makes sense to check you credit reports before applying as failed applications will be recorded on your credit file and can lower your credit score making your next credit application even more likely to fail.

When you fix your credit reports and get your credit score to be as high as possible you will be able to borrow more money from lenders and get more credit and all at lower interest rates.

Checking you credit report regularly is a great way of making sure that your identity has not been stolen and used in fraud to steal money or pay for products and services using your personal details and your money.

Compare reports from different credit agencies to make sure that they are all the same because when you apply for credit you have no way of knowing which credit reference agency your potential lender will use.

So What Next?

It is very easy to check your UK credit reports and you can do this online for free.

So do it now before you forget to make the most of this opportunity.



Terry

PORKY asked:


I need to find out about free credit reports without having to give credit card infomation online.

Tammy

buckrockfish87 asked:


www.annualcreditreport.com offers 100′s of listings, all requiring credit card information/activation, and the 30 day free use. Of course, I’ve learned that the report isn’t provided during the 30 days of free use!

Jessie

♥countrygal♥ asked:


The gov. sent out mailings with peoples social security numbers typed on the front. They then sent out letters to everyone giving them a free site to check their credit because of identity theft. I can’t find the letter and need the web site. Also was there a specific code or anything you needed to use so they knew you were one of the people to receive the error mailings?

Beatrice

Joe Maruca asked:


The offers are everywhere! Commercials with catchy jingles, free offers, scare tactics about identity theft and poor credit, it’s hard to miss them. So what’s the real deal? Is everyone allowed to give away free copies of your credit report?

There are many websites that offer a free copy of your credit report but most of them will only do it if you sign up for other services like “credit monitoring.”  The only place recommended by the Federal Trade Commission is “annualcreditreport” dot “com” which is set up by the three credit reporting agencies.  You can also call them at 1-877-322-8228.

If you’ve already gotten your free credit report for the year, you can get an additional copy of your credit report if you have been denied credit (by a credit card company, loan, etc.) within 60 days.  You can also purchase a copy if you need to for about $10. For More information and FAQ, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at “ftc” dot “gov”

Why is it a good idea to check my credit? It’s a good idea to review your credit report and score on a regular bases for several very important reasons including: Identity theft, inaccuracies, unauthorized activity and to see who has been checking your credit aside from you. The information in your credit report can affect your ability to secure a loan (car loan, home loan, student loan and more) and can also determine what type of interest rate you receive from your credit card company.

So remember, you can receive a free copy of your credit report without signing up for any additional services and it’s a good idea to review the information in your credit report on a regular bases. 

To learn more about good personal finance practices visit www.creditcardinfohub.com where you’ll find this and other articles including 5 Easy Steps to Financial, Credit and Debt Relief.

 



Sharon

simone asked:


I keep getting on web sites that ask for payment for a credit report. And some sites look like scams… I live in IL and thought I was entitled to 1 FREE report per year from each of the reporting agencies. But how do you contact them to get a FREE report.

Debra