Credit Report Monitoring Services
Frequently Asked Questions about credit report and score services.
If I get a copy of my credit report, or sign up for credit monitoring, does it hurt my credit score?
You are entitled to one credit report per year from each of the three credit bureaus, which you can get for free at www.annualcreditreport.com, without a credit card. While getting one report from each bureau once a year is nice, we don't believe it is all that useful. Negative information getting posted to your report or identity theft can happen at any time and you will suffer the consequences unless you are notified and can act immediately. There is no way to get your credit score for free.
If you wish to purchase a credit report or subscribe to a credit monitoring service online, you will generally need either a credit card or debit card. Using debit cards to make purchases online is riskier, though, since the money is coming directly out of your account. If you plan on making any purchases over the Internet, having a credit card is essential.
Search our blog archives and frequently asked questions for more information about Credit Report Monitoring Services
Recently answered questions about Credit Report Monitoring Services:
Will a reduced credit card limit hurt my credit score?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: My bank is lowering my credit card limit, even though I always pay on time. Will this hurt my credit score?
A: Unfortunately, [...]
Why do I have different credit scores from TrueCredit and Experian?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I have a 3 score report from True Credit and one from Experian. They have totally different scores. Why would this be? [...]
Reader Questions: Is there a free on line credit report service that has no ...
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Is there a free on line credit report service that has no trial or any other hidden fees?
A: Thanks to [...]
If LifeLock requests reports on my behalf, do I still get my 3 free reports p...
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Each person is entitled to a free credit report from each of the 3 bureaus each year. If LifeLock requests the [...]
Do credit reports show the drop off dates for delinquent loans?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Do the credit reports from Equifax with Score Power show the approximate drop off dates for delinquent cards or loans?
A: The credit [...]
Why does my credit score fluctuate?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Why does my credit score fluctuate by 3-5 points from one month to the next when I have paid accounts on time, [...]
Do the Virgin Islands use seperate credit reporting practices and bureaus?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Do the Virgin Islands use seperate credit reporting practices and bureaus?
A: No. The U.S. Virgin Islands use the same [...]
I am trying to select the best credit report monitoring service for my needs ...
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: I am trying to select the best credit report monitoring service for my needs and have questions. Can I call [...]
I just applied for a loan and was told my FICO score is 856. How is that pos...
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: In looking at information about FICO scores, the range seems to be from 300-850. However, I just applied for a [...]
Can I print my credit report?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question. To maintain the integrity of the original question, we do not edit or change reader questions in any way.
Q: Can the Equifax report be printed? About how many pages will it be? I have an ink jet printer and am worried [...]
