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There are Several Ways to Get Your Credit Reports & FICO Score
So, I know you are asking...how can I get a free copy of my credit report? Well, there are actually several ways to get your
three credit reports and FICO credit score. Some will give you one
free but charge for the other. With most providers, you can purchase
a single credit report from one of the three credit bureaus, or pay
more for all three. Same for the FICO score, which is also available
separately, usually at a lower price. There are also packages that
bundles it all up, so you get all three credit reports AND the FICO
score.
The government has a program that
gives you access to the free credit reports once a year, but
keep in mind that the FICO score is NOT free, and you will have a
chance to purchase it separately during the sign-up process there.
The government-backed website is
annualcreditreport.com in case you want to check it out.
You Really Need BOTH Your Credit
Reports AND Your FICO Score
The fact is, you really do not want
your credit report without your FICO score. The 3 credit reports contain
details of your loan and payment history, for identifying anything
inaccurate or negative so that you can contest it quickly. The
FICO score on the other hand,
is the bottom line number lenders look at to determine your
creditworthiness (they don't have the time to look at your long
report). You want to review BOTH at least once a year so you know
where you stand. Credit rating which is summed up in the FICO score
will determine what interest rates you qualify for, and can result
in hundreds of dollars per month in interest payments!
So How Do I Get It ALL
for Free?
Now, knowing that you need both the 3 credit reports and the FICO
score in order to know where you stand, we have found that the best
way to get BOTH the 3 credit reports & your FICO credit score, is to
sign up for a trial membership with one of the quality
credit monitoring services available. With most of these credit monitoring
services, upon sign-up, you will have immediate access to your 3
credit reports and your FICO score. The credit monitoring services
are very beneficial for staying on top of what's on your credit
report for as long as you feel like you need it. This is especially
crucial if you have been a victim of identity theft. And if at
anytime you feel that the monitoring service isn't for you - simply
cancel it (even during the trial period), and the FREE 3 credit
reports + FICO score are yours to keep for FREE no matter what,
so it's risk-free. For more information on credit monitoring
services, click here.
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