Put simply, maintaining all three of your credit reports is the only way to ensure that the credit information used by future lenders is accurate. At the very least, all consumers should review all three of their credit reports once a year, which can be done for free online at AnnualCreditreport.com.

The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies every 12 months. UPDATE: Starting in 2020, everyone in the U.S. can get 6 free credit reports per year through 2026 by visiting the Equifax website or by calling 1-866-349-5191.

Check Your Credit Report You can get one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). All three credit reporting companies collect credit information, but different things may show up on the different credit reports.

You are entitled to one free copy of your three credit reports once a year. You can get these reports – one each from Equifax, TransUnion and Experian – by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.

What is the Most Accurate Credit Score? Although there are many different scores and scoring models, there is a light at the end of this confusing tunnel. Among all the credit score models, the FICO credit score is used by more than 90% of major U.S. lenders.

Federal law gives you free access to your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Using the government-mandated AnnualCreditReport.com website is the quickest way to get them, but you can also request them by phone or mail. Checking your score does not damage your credit.

annualcreditreport.com

AnnualCreditReport.com is a highly respected service offering credit and identity theft information. Trustworthy: AnnualCreditReport is maintained by Central Source, LLC and is sponsored by the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

www.AnnualCreditReport.com

seven years

On AnnualCreditReport.com you are entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies. These agencies include Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

You can get a free FICO® Score from hundreds of financial services companies, including banks, credit unions, credit card issuers and credit counselors that participate in the FICO® Score Open Access program and offer free scores to customers.

WHERE TO GET YOUR FICO ® SCORE

1. www.experian.com.
2. www.equifax.com. FICO ® Scores are only provided on Equifax ® products that specifically state a FICO ® Score is included, including the Credit ScoreWatch ® product and the Score Power ® product.
3. www.myfico.com.

Reduce the amount of debt you owe

1. Keep balances low on credit cards and other revolving credit: high outstanding debt can negatively affect a credit score.
2. Pay off debt rather than moving it around: the most effective way to improve your credit scores in this area is by paying down your revolving (credit card) debt.

5 Best Credit Score Monitoring Apps of 2021

• Credit Karma.
• Credit Sesame.
• Mint.
• CreditWise by Capital One.
• myFICO.

IdentityForce also has better credit monitoring and credit reports from all three bureaus, making it our top pick for both identity theft protection and credit monitoring over LifeLock. Learn more about IdentityForce’s plans to find the right one for you.

Checking and Savings Account Application Alerts Continuously searches for your personal information in new bank account applications at national banks, local banks and credit unions from coast to coast. † LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.

LifeLock protection plans start at $9.99/month for your first year (plus applicable sales taxes). If you worry about the cost of identity theft, consider LifeLock Standard™ or LifeLock Ultimate Plus™. It’s easy to compare plans to find which one is best for you. Plus, LifeLock promo codes can save you extra money.

As noted, you pay $149.99 per year for Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, reviewed here.

LifeLock plans and LifeLock services. Like all of LifeLock plans, it includes Social Security number and credit alerts†, lost wallet protection, and a service guarantee for lawyers and experts.

LifeLock offers three programs that can protect your identity as well as a plan for the younger members of your family, and you can pick and choose from those programs to create your own family plan.