The information in your credit report has a huge impact on whether or not you qualify for a mortgage loan and what interest rate a lender will offer. Therefore, it’s important your credit report reflects a positive image of the way you manage your money. If you're getting ready to buy a home, checking your credit report is the best way to ensure you get the loan and interest rate you deserve.

The easiest way to see what’s in your credit report is to contact the three national credit reporting agencies and request a copy from each. That’s because the three agencies are independent of each other and the information may differ on all three reports. In addition, you may not know which agency your lender will use to check your credit, so it’s best to verify that all three have correct information about your credit history.

If you've been denied credit, insurance, or employment because of information in your credit report from any of the three agencies, you can obtain a free credit report by contacting the agency within 60 days of receiving a denial notice. In addition, you're entitled to a free copy of your report each year when you certify in writing that (1) you're unemployed and looking for a job within 60 days, (2) you're currently on welfare, or (3) your report contains errors due to fraud. Otherwise, the agencies charge a fee for a copy of your report.

For additional fees, each agency may offer you different report variations, such as:

• A credit report with or without your credit score.
• A three-in-one credit report that lets you see a side-by-side comparison of records, from all three agencies, with or without scores.
• Notification services when your credit history is requested.
• Routine notification changes to your file.
• Subscriptions that allow you to access your report on a regular basis.

New law promotes free access to credit reports
Soon you'll be able to get your credit report for free regardless of your employment or financial situation. A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) mandates that each agency provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every year, from www.annualcreditreport.com. 

Free reports will be phased in during a nine-month period, rolling from the West Coast to the East beginning December 1, 2004. By September 1, 2005, free reports will be accessible to all consumers.

Here is a breakdown of eligibility for a free credit report:

Beginning December 1, 2004 - Consumers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

Beginning March 1, 2005 - Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin

Beginning June 1, 2005 - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas

Beginning September 1, 2005 - Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia – the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all U.S. territories.

Whether you are thinking of buying a home or simply curious about what’s in your credit report,  it’s important to correct any errors you discover as soon as possible.  You don’t want errors in your credit report  affecting your eligibility for credit in the future. 

***** www.AnnualCreditReport.com *****

 This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

 

AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report.

Equifax 

To order from Equifax a single bureau without their scoring for $10.00 click:

https://www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/

Dot the circle on the right side of the page that says 'Get only your Equifax Credit Report™ for $10.00'. Uncheck 'Add Equifax Credit Rankings for only 8.95'(not needed).  Then Click 'BUY NOW'.  I don't recommend upgrading for an extra $19.95, so click the 'Continue' for just $10.00.

Equifax Homepage:

http://www.equifax.com

Experian

To order from Experian a single bureau without their scoring for $10.00 click:

http://www.experian.com/consumer_online_products/index_b1.html

I recommend clicking the yellow 'Order Now!' under the 'Experian Credit Report' for $10.00 column.  Again, the Score upgrade for $5.00 is not recommended.

Experian Homepage:

http://www.experian.com

TransUnion

To order from TransUnion a single bureau without their scoring:

http://annualcreditreport.transunion.com/entry/disputeonline

free if not personally pulled for free within the last year, otherwise I believe its a $10.00 charge.

TransUnion Homepage:

http://www.transunion.com/