I was reading an article about checking your credit score and thought that this subject might be of interest to several people who have been through the recent tornado disasters. This information comes from Bottom Line/Personal.
Best Ways to Check Your Score
John Ulzheimer
By far the most important piece of information about your creditworthiness is your FICO credit score. Today’s lenders and insurance companies rarely dig into the details of a credit report. They typically just check the FICO score -- which can vary somewhat depending on which credit-reporting agency’s data is used -- and judge the applicant based on this score. Even though there are ways to get estimated FICO scores and alternative credit scores for free, there are only two places to obtain your true FICO score, and neither is free...
Fair Isaac, which compiles the FICO score (800-319-4433, www.MyFICO.com. $19.95).
Equifax (866-493-9788, www.Equifax.com, select "Equifax Products," click the "Single Use Products" tab, then select "Complete Report." $39.95).
In May 2010, the US Senate approved an amendment to a financial industry overhaul bill that would give consumers a free look at their credit scores when they are rejected for a loan, credit card, insurance rate or apartment based on their scores.
Meanwhile, several free online credit score estimator tools can give you a reasonable idea where your score likely stands, including...
Bankrate.com (www.Bankrate.com/calculators.aspx, select "FICO Score Estimator" from the "Credit Card Calculators" section).
SmartCredit.com (www.SmartCredit.com, select "Smart Credit Report"). This is the site I work for.
Quizzle.com (www.Quizzle.com).
Be skeptical of "free credit score" offers. Many of these contain hidden costs... and the score provided is unlikely to be a FICO credit score. Each of us is entitled to receive a free copy of a credit report (which does not include a credit score but does give details of your credit history) each year from
AnnualCreditReport.com. To protect yourself from identity theft and incorrect information, scan your report for listings that you don’t recognize or that don’t seem accurate.
Fair Isaac, which compiles the FICO score (800-319-4433, www.MyFICO.com. $19.95).
Equifax (866-493-9788, www.Equifax.com, select "Equifax Products," click the "Single Use Products" tab, then select "Complete Report." $39.95).
In May 2010, the US Senate approved an amendment to a financial industry overhaul bill that would give consumers a free look at their credit scores when they are rejected for a loan, credit card, insurance rate or apartment based on their scores.
Meanwhile, several free online credit score estimator tools can give you a reasonable idea where your score likely stands, including...
Bankrate.com (www.Bankrate.com/calculators.aspx, select "FICO Score Estimator" from the "Credit Card Calculators" section).
SmartCredit.com (www.SmartCredit.com, select "Smart Credit Report"). This is the site I work for.
Quizzle.com (www.Quizzle.com).
Be skeptical of "free credit score" offers. Many of these contain hidden costs... and the score provided is unlikely to be a FICO credit score. Each of us is entitled to receive a free copy of a credit report (which does not include a credit score but does give details of your credit history) each year from
AnnualCreditReport.com. To protect yourself from identity theft and incorrect information, scan your report for listings that you don’t recognize or that don’t seem accurate.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for SmartCredit.com, a credit information Web site, Atlanta. He formerly worked with credit-rating organizations Fair Isaac (FICO) and Equifax.
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