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Where to get your Credit Report/Score for Free

I use Credit Karma to get my Free Credit Report. 

It is really easy to sign up.  They present the sections of my credit score clearly.  They have a few articles that give suggestions on building credit. 

I get into my Credit Karma account about once a week.  It is easy quick and it will tell me if anything has changed. 

I take a quick look at all of my account balances and check if any new accounts were opened---that would mean someone has hacked my identity.  

My Changing Credit Score

I have watched my score change with changes in my situation and credit card balances.  I have said this elsewhere, I have spent a lot of money on my cards for business.  The changes in balances on cards can make a significant change in my score.  Even with my overall credit card usage under 15% if one of my cards is at 70% it will bring down my score by 30-40 points.  


Update My Credit Report March 2023.

I recently spent $8,500 on one of my credit cards. I will pay it off when the payment is due. However this spending hit my credit report and it knocked my credit score down by 28 points. Expect your score to change as your statement balances change.

Four weeks later. The payment went through and my credit score jumped right back up by 28 points.


What is a Good Credit Report/Score?


The Credit Scoring is usually done on a scale from 400 to 850.  The average credit score in the United States is usually around 700.   

  • 400-579: Poor.

  • 580-669: Fair.

  • 670-739: Good.

  • 740-799: Very good.

  • 800-850: Excellent.

It will take an excellent credit history that has multiple lenders over six or seven years to get over an 800 credit score.


However in just a couple of years if you develop a clean credit history with a couple of different credit sources you can easily get well over a 700 credit score.

Three Major Credit Bureaus in US

The three major credit bureaus in the United States are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. 

Federal law requires each of these bureaus to provide consumers with a free credit report once per year upon request. Here are the steps to get your free report from each bureau:

Equifax: You can request your free Equifax credit report online, by mail, or by phone. To request it online, visit the Equifax website and fill out the required information. To request it by mail or phone, visit the Equifax website for instructions.

Experian: To request your free Experian credit report, visit the Experian website and fill out the required information. You can also call the toll-free number or mail in a request form.


TransUnion: To get your free TransUnion credit report, visit the TransUnion website and fill out the required information. You can also request it by phone or mail.

I regularly use Credit Karma to check my Credit Report rather than going direct to the credit bureaus.  

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