March 9, 2022
There are ways to get a free credit report to keep on track. Whether you’re looking about buying a house or just want to check your credit score, there are several things you should know. It’s important to know where to look and how to get the proper info, and learning where to check is half the fight
The goal is to match you with the best local advisor possible. Since there is so much conflicting knowledge out there, running to a consultant is the best first move.
How would you know which is the strongest, and are they all the same? According to Botma, “One could be more user-friendly than the others. Experian is known for being a convenient way to receive your annual credit report.”
“Be careful when receiving your free credit report,” Botma advises. There are websites that capture your sensitive information and enable you to buy a product or subscribe to a tracking service in order to gain access. Experian, according to Botma, is the most user-friendly website. Experian requires you to register directly with them in order to obtain your credit report. Once you’ve registered, you’ll have instant access to your ranking.
Related: Ways to Improve Your Small Business Credit Score
If you want to use all three, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, the Stewardship Mortgage team will assist you in going to each site individually and registering with an all-access website that pulls all three at once. If you’re looking for a reliable location, contact the Stewardship team. If you go to a scam site, this will save you time and probably money.
What your financial adviser should be telling you about your free credit report:
1. Which companies furnish your free annual credit report.
2. What your credit report means and how to improve it if needed.
3. When to pull your credit report and what each inquiry means.
4. Where to obtain your annual credit report by website or mail.
5. Why it is a good thing to check your credit report annually.
Related: How to Maintain a Good Credit Score?
You can still request your free credit report by post if reading it digitally isn’t your thing. Your trusted advisor would be able to point you in the right direction for filling out the US Mail Request Form and sending it in. While ordering by mail may tend to be more convenient, there are still some risks involved.
Risk Factors of ordering by mail:
Private details could get lost in transit and end up in the possession of a third party who doesn’t want it.
If you order your free credit report by post, it can take several days to obtain it.
It can be challenging, if not impossible, to keep track of where your personal data has gone.
If submitting your Social Security number or other personal details online makes you anxious, mailing it in might be a safer choice. Because of phishing schemes and scammers on the internet, submitting personal details online can be dangerous. It’s understandable if you’re afraid to post your highly confidential information on the internet.
According to a 2019 poll, the number of cases of identity fraud in the United States is in the hundreds of thousands. In each group, the number of crimes reported is staggering, with credit card fraud being the most common. The number of claims per theft form in one year is shown in the graph below.
The easiest way to protect yourself from identity fraud is to be informed. The more information you have about your own credit score, the better. This entails maintaining a close eye on your credit reports and asking questions. Investigate if you don’t remember a creditor or an inquiry from the previous 12 months.
You’ll need to get your final score after you’ve had your free credit reports. Most lender inquiry companies can measure your score using the FICO scoring system. A premium service or a credit card that provides your FICO credit score on a monthly basis is another alternative. Your credit report reveals how well you repay your debts, bills, and loans, while your credit score provides an average score based on the relevant factors.
Tips for Boosting Your Credit Score:
Make sure to pay your debts and bills on time
Pay the highest interest debt first and pay it off as soon as possible
Then pay the rest working on them one by one
Try to keep your debt balances as close to zero as possible.
Talking with a reputable financial advisor will dramatically improve your chances if you know your credit is bad and want to improve it. When it comes to raising your credit score, most financial advisors have a strategy. It’s usually a step-by-step method that can save you time and money if you follow it.
Able to connect with an advisor is the perfect way to get started on your path to debt repayment and improving your credit score. You may not be aware of what you’re looking for while reading your credit reports. You can get assistance from a mortgage broker, an independent insurance provider, or a financial advisor.