Official Site
Did you know you can access your credit reports for free every week? The three major credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—offer this service through a single, website:
www.annualcreditreport.com
⚠️ Important Tip: Be cautious when searching online—many imitator sites may appear in search results. Using the exact link is recommended.
Why Check Your Credit Report?
Reviewing your credit report regularly is the best ways to:
- Understand your full credit picture
- Review the status of accounts
- Monitor for signs of identity theft
Credit Score vs Report
Free credit scores are available through various platforms, but not all scores are the same. FICO and VantageScore models come in many different versions. The free scores available to consumers may differ from the scoring models lenders use when evaluating loan applications. Additionally, credit reports provide much more information than just a numerical score.
Hard vs. Soft Inquiries
- Soft inquiries (like checking your own report) do not affect your credit score.
- Hard inquiries (like applying for a loan or credit card) can impact your score.
- Your report will list both types of inquiries from the past 25 months.
Need Help Reviewing Your Report?
You don’t have to navigate your credit alone.
Schedule a free one-on-one educational credit analysis session with an Accredited Financial Counselor®. Contact Lisa Leslie at lmleslie@ufl.edu to get started.
Microsoft Copilot was used in this article to help with grammar, structure, and readability.
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