What's the least invasive way to find out my credit score?

[Cresent City Kid]

I don't need one of those credit score monitoring services, I just want to know what it is. I don't mind paying something for it. Is there a way to get it without endless spam e-mails and a monthly bill?

[MercutioATC]

1. Go here:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Unlike "Free Credit Report Dot Com", this one is actually free.

[xchrom]

3. thanks. nt

[Cresent City Kid]

5. Thanks

Don't get me started on "Free" credit report.com. I'm only starting to get their cornball songs out of my head. I don't fall for that "free with purchase" bs.

[SmileyRose]

14. I 2nd -- you will pay a small fee for the FICO but the reports are free

MercutioATC's site is the one run by the reporting agency's themselves to comply with Federal mandate to provide it free once a year.

If your state gives you 2 a year, like Georgia, then you'll have to contact the 3 agency's directly to get the 2nd one. -- although my state has it's own website to request a free credit report.


You requesting the report from the agencies themselves does not ding your credit.

[lib2DaBone]

23. Thanks..but I'm not giving out my B'Day. SS# ..and phone number

..this site is a recipie for disaster....

[NoodleyAppendage]

24. Agreed. Not a safe way to go. n/t

J

[MercutioATC]

25. You can also request it by phone or by mail from that site.

The links to the info are right on the home page.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

26. How the hell else is it going to confirm who you are?

I've been using this site with success for quite a while now, and it works really, really well to keep track of what these bastards have on me.

[Poiuyt]

27. AnnualCreditReport.com is legit

What is AnnualCreditReport.com?

AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY authorized source to get your free annual credit report under federal law. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to a free credit report from each of the three nationwide reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every twelve months. The Federal Trade Commission has received complaints from consumers who thought they were ordering their free annual credit report, but instead paid hidden fees or agreed to unwanted services. Don’t be fooled by TV ads, email offers, or online search results. Go to the authorized source when you request your free report.

more -

http://www.ftc.gov/freereports

[SmileyRose]

32. Call your credit card bank - they'll confirm the site is legit

This site is OWNED and run by the credit reporting agencies. You won't be giving the database the website uses any information it doesn't already have - all you are doing is telling the database what keywords to look for since they file your credit report under your social security number and birthdate.

The phone number is just in case their system kicks it out for human review before they respond and they need to contact you to verify you are the one making the request.

Call your credit card company and ask. They will know this is the legit site to request your credit report.

[dipsydoodle]

2. The problem is

that finding out will require a search and that search if subsequrntly added to others will lower your credit score.
That's one of the issues involved.

[xchrom]

4. really? -- explain please.

i'd really like to know.

i have been a good cc customer -- but now i am one of those who has seen his interest rates go up.

i'm very confused.

[pkdu]

11. Not exactly...its a little more complicated than that but..

see here...

http://www.bcsalliance.com/creditscore_checking.html

YOU checking your score doesnt lower it but taking out a credit offer ( loan etc.)...the check done for that DOES lower your score by 5 points each time.

Cheers
P

[xchrom]

20. thank you so much -- please keep us all informed. nt

[dipsydoodle]

15. Experion and Equifax are the world's largest

in that industry. I have no cause to believe that their criteria differs between here in the UK and the USA. They establish the ability and willingness of a credit applicee ? , whatever ? , to pay.

Willingness is established by absense of non satisfied judgements for non payment and ability using income, fixed telephone line, proof of permanent fixed address and less than 3 max searches. There is the additional issue of unused lines of credit on credit cards - if any are unused its better to cancel them. The foregoing isn't for me to judge - it's a fact of life.

I'm off out dancing now for 4 or 5 hours. Any Q's I'll get back to to you later. In the meanwhile don't ever just provide a mobile telephone number on a credit application.

Richard.

[Davis_X_Machina]

18. In US...

...unused lines adversely affect the credit used/credit available ratio, so canceling unused LOC's can actually hurt your FICO score.

[dipsydoodle]

22. The answer then

is to use the lines and pay them off each month negating any interest. However - the MD of one of the main two companies, on TV last night here in the UK last night, said to cancel the unused cards and just use one. :shrug:

[xchrom]

19. thank you -- the more detailed info you can give me/us -- really helps. nt

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. Not necessarily...

...since multiple hard queries -- where you give a party permission to run your score -- in the same time frame -- 30 days, usually -- count as a single hard query. You're expected to shop your money before buying a car, e.g.

And soft queries -- one that you initiate -- don't count at all.

[SmileyRose]

16. no it does not.

You making a request for yourself does not ding credit - only APPLYING FOR CREDIT and giving them the OK to run a check for the purpose of issuing new credit affects your report up or down.

[Dreamer Tatum]

30. Not true by a longshot nt

[MrsBrady]

6. you can get your credit REPORT

one a year free, through the gov't website, in association with the big 3 credit companies.

You will have to actually pay for your credit SCORE.

Once or twice a year I will check all three.
All have different "programs" for purchase...but essentially you can get your score with your report.
I go to each company separately, and buy my score that way.
Just get it from each.
Don't buy all three from one.

[Cresent City Kid]

7. I'm thinking about buying a car

I don't have credit cards, or buy anything on credit, so good or bad, my score is likely to be unchanging over time. I did have an issue with AOL where they think I owe them money. They charged me for 120 days when I cancelled after one month after they charged my debit card during a "90 days free trial." Much like a witchcraft accusation, this will probably hound me, even though it's only $100.

[napoleon_in_rags]

8. Whatever you do, avoid free credit report .com

research whoever you go through. I went through some other site, and it turned out to be a front for freecreditreport.com. They charged me $15 a month for nothing, and they charge you like $45 extra to access your credit reports, which then disappear. Its a very expensive proposition.

[Fresh_Start]

10. Try MyFICO.com

they have a 30 day free trial AND they actually send you a reminder before the 30 days is up so you can cancel.

[SoxFan]

12. Kidnap Pirate Boy and waterboard it out of the little bastard

[Cresent City Kid]

13. Maybe not water boarding, but you're on to something

I play metal, so maybe I could subject him to my music until he talks. Even if he doesn't, I'd still get some payback.

[SmileyRose]

17. OK - That was just funny. LOL

[handmade34]

21. we should all refuse to play the game

experian / transunion / equifax

All huge scams to make money and control us. I can't even begin to express how repulsed I am by the 'ploy' of credit reports and scores!! No defense for big business.

[Statistical]

28. How should we "refuse to play" other than paying cash for everything including a home?

[handmade34]

29. out of the box thinking...

local economies, cooperatives, intentional communities... not easy and not readily accepted or implemented. But, a whole lot more humane

[Cresent City Kid]

31. That's what I'm up against

I need the car sooner than I can accumulate the full price, or the end of all economic injustice. I would love nothing more than to slap a pile of cash on the table and tell them where to stick their financing, but I'd have to blow off my rent and live in the damn car to do that.

[lumberjack_jeff]

33. ... or buy a used car. n/t

[Cresent City Kid]

34. I could, but

A used car is what I have now, which is giving me problems. I have a long commute, and I am the only source of income at my household currently. More to the point, the cash I would need for a dependable enough used car to suit my needs is similarly out of reach. I'm hoping that my tax return will be a sufficient down payment, it's not enough for a good used car. I'm not trading in my old car because my wife needs it to work. It's good enough for short trips, so she will look for a job close to home.