Credit Report Monitoring FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Credit Report Monitoring

I only want to see my credit score. Can't I just pay a one time fee for this?

Yes, it is possible to purchase your credit score one time for a fee. There is no single way to calculate a credit score, but the FICO® Score is the one most commonly used by lenders, and is the best score to purchase if you want to know how lenders view your credit file. The company that creates the FICO® Scores for all three credit bureaus, myFICO, also sells Equifax and TransUnion FICO scores directly to consumers. Because of a dispute with Experian, there is no way to get your Experian FICO® Score. You can buy either one or both of your FICO® Scores for $19.95 each through myFICO's FICO® Standard. Each FICO® Score also includes the corresponding credit report or reports, an explanation of your credit score or scores, and the FICO Simulator, which estimates what your score would be if you took various actions, such as paying down credit card debt.

However, you should take into account the fact that your credit file is constantly changing. This means that your credit score is always changing as well. As such, we recommend that consumers check their credit report and credit scores at least once per quarter and more frequently if you are actively shopping for a loan. We also recommend that you receive your credit reports at the same time as your scores because the information on your credit report is what is used to determine your credit score in the first place, and is generally far more important than the score itself. See our credit report monitoring reviews if you want to keep regular tabs on your credit score and report.

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