Free Credit Report

A free credit report in one that is offered to the consumer without a fee. A credit report contains very important information about the credit status of the consumer. When ordering such a report, it is best to request a 3-in-1 credit report. Because there are three national credit bureaus which do not share or exchange information, a person has three separate credit histories. Therefore, requesting just one will provide only part of the desired credit history.

A credit report allows the consumer to determine the accuracy of the recorded credit history. This is important, as the credit report is what lenders rely on in making their decisions. In addition to the consumer's identifying information, which includes name, nickname, current address, previous address, Social Security number, date of birth, current employer, and previous employer, the free credit report contains valuable credit information. This information includes all of your credit accounts, the dates these accounts were opened, credit limits, balance, payment patterns and whether or not there is a co-signer. In addition, anyone else who has received a copy of the credit report.