Here’s how to get your free annual credit reports & what to look for

Your credit plays a major role when you’re applying for a loan or credit card, leasing or buying a car, applying for certain jobs, shopping for insurance, and renting or buying a home. You can (and should) check your credit report once a year to determine where your credit score stands, spot identity theft early and identify inaccuracies or errors.

When reviewing your credit report, check that the information listed contains items only pertaining to you. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, here are a few things to look for when reviewing your credit report:

• Personally identifiable information: Make sure the name, address, Social Security number, accounts and loans are accurate and related to you.
• Account status: Review last payment, date opened and date of first delinquencies for inaccuracies. Make sure your closed accounts aren’t reported as open and that you are not reported as an account owner for accounts you are an authorized user for.
• Balance errors: Review your current balance and credit limit and compare it to your records to make sure they are accurate.
• Disputing errors: You have the right to dispute any inaccuracies, errors, or incomplete information you notice in your credit report. Visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website for detailed instructions on how to dispute errors.

You can visit AnnualCreditReport.com to get your free annual credit reports from the three nationwide credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Looking for additional support? We can help!

If you are looking for additional support to meet your financial goals, Habitat Orlando & Osceola can help!

Habitat U offers financial literacy courses to Habitat homebuyers and the public to help them with budgeting, saving, and understanding their credit report. Visit Habitat’s U webpage to sign up for one of our upcoming classes. Additionally, our HUD Housing Counseling Program is dedicated to offering assistance in financial management and budget counseling to provide you with the support you need. Please fill out the interest form here to get connected with our certified HUD Housing Advisor team.