Credit score check

[Tina]

How can I find out what my credit score is? I've looked at a few sites online but I'm wary of giving out my SSN.

[kirtida8]

If you have applied for a credit card or similar recently, and were turned down say - you could then write to the credit bureaus and ask for a free copy of your report. Also, your bank can normally get you a copy, but will charge a fee. Hopefully someone may know other options.

[Tina]

Thanks Kay. No, haven't applied for any credit, so no denials, but did the CD thing with the bank a year ago. We put $5000 into the CD account and have been making monthly payments on that.

[kirtida8]

Try calling your bank and ask them if they can get you a copy and what there charge would be. Otherwise you will have to supply your SSN as it is the only way they can track you.

[Sue]

Can anyone recommend a good online site?

Tina we got a copy when we changed our mortgage with our bank but that was a few weeks ago...

PS my email is working ok;)

[kirtida8]

Try to remember that the more you or anyone checks your credit report - it has a detrimental effect and your score that you have worked so hard to get up, can come down overnight. I am talking from experience here as this happened to me this month while shopping for a refinance deal.

[Kriz1]

I did wonder what happened if you keep looking at your score...
I've yet to hit a problem with credit...a lot to do with living in the same house a long time...and hubby being at the same job for years...I'm not a great one for paying household bills on time...but being late on those have never hurt our score so far...never miss a house or car payment...pay credit cards on time...carrying over a small amount will get you a better rate with the card companies...and better cards...I can't believe friends of ours have been in the USA for years and are still paying high credit rates...they have only one card and pay it every month...but then they can't afford to let it ride...

[chris]

There are 3 main credit agencies, Experian and 2 others. If you Google with credit scorre, they will come up. Most credit reporting agencies will sell you a package where for a monthly fee you can check your score as many times as you like. Under fed laws you are allowed one free credit report from each of the agencies once per year. You will need to supply the details ythey want. It is not impossible to get credit without a SS#, my wife, so by defualt you can have a credit score and thus be able to check it.
If you apply for credit and are turned down, the company turning you down will give you the reason, usually a -ve report from one of the agencies. You are then able to request a copy of your report from that agency which will identify why you were turned down.
Kriz is right pay bills on time, especially the important ones. However, just be advised that all these 0% offers you see splattered about, only a tiny % of people in the US get them becuase there credit isn't up to par. So if you have less than perfect scores, don't worry - you're not alone!
Also remember that each time you apply for credit, the organisation will pull a credit report. Pulling that report can hurt your credit. A crazy, weird scenario but that's America for you.

[McSporran]

Hi,
There is only one official State authorised site to check your credit report (although many sites offer the service), and by law you are allowed 1 free report per year.

A Deputy friend of our suggests, checking each of the 3 credit agencies - one per 4 month period - that way you cover all in the 12 months for free. And chances are that if your score is bad (or something bad has happened - i.e. ID theft) all 3 will pick up on it - so just searching one will show you what you need to know.

Hope that makes sense. I think the site is www.annualcreditreport.com.

[Kriz1]

There is a system where you can stop people looking at your credit report...it can help stop ID theft...you can unfreeze your report if you need credit....we don't have it in MA yet...but it is in FL...I'll have to look up the info...

[Kriz1]

http://www.transunion.com/corporate/personal/fraudIdentityTheft/preventing/securityFreeze.page