How Often Should You Check Your Credit Report for Accuracy?

According to Experian, one of the three credit bureaus, you should check your credit report at least once a year. You should check more often if you plan to finance a big purchase in the next few months or if you know you are at increased risk of fraud.

Checking your credit report annually protects yourself from fraud and allows you to review where your credit accounts stand. It’s important to monitor your credit report for changes on existing accounts and see if someone has opened a fraudulent account on your behalf. Disputing entries you believe are wrong and detecting fraud early can save you time and money.

The information in your credit report can also help you take measures to improve your credit score. Check out this article on ways to improve your credit score:

Your credit report contains the information used to calculate your credit scores, and making sure everything is in order is extremely important when you plan to apply for credit to finance large purchases, like a car or home.

Credit Bureau Contact Information

Check your credit report for accuracy for free through the three major credit bureaus by accessing your report at www.annualcreditreport.com or by contacting the bureaus directly:

Equifax
Report Order: 1-800-685-1111
Fraud Hotline: 1-888-766-0008
www.equifax.com

Experian
Report Order: 1-888-397-3742
Fraud Hotline: 1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com

TransUnion
Report Order: 1-877-322-8228
Fraud Hotline: 1-800-680-7289
www.tuc.com