Credit Score Check: How to Check Your Credit Score Online

If you’ve ever wondered what your credit score is and whether or not it’s worth your time to check it, you aren’t alone. In fact, many people wonder the same thing and decide that finding out how their credit score stacks up against others isn’t worth their time and effort. In order to better understand your credit score, however, it can be quite helpful to learn more about what goes into it and whether or not it matters if yours isn’t as high as others may be.

Know what factors affect your credit score

There are many factors that affect your credit score. Anything from your payment history, credit utilization, and your debt-to-income ratio to the length of time you've had credit and the types of credit accounts you have can all play a role in determining your score. The most important thing is not just knowing what affects it, but what actions you can take to increase or protect it.

There are four major agencies that track credit scores in the United States: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis. Each agency has a different scoring system which means each one can generate a slightly different score. While this may sound confusing, what matters is understanding how each agency's score influences creditors' decisions about granting you loans or mortgages.

Get a free credit report

I want to buy a car. In order to know how much of a down payment you can afford, it's important that you know your credit score. Luckily, there are many ways for you to check your credit score without paying a dime. One way is by getting your free credit report from one of the three main credit bureaus. The official government website offers a free way for people in the US to get their own credit report.

Check for errors on your credit report

You can check your credit report for errors by visiting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) website and using their online credit report tool. The CFPB is a government agency established by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was put in place after the 2008 financial crisis.

Dispute any errors on your credit report

To dispute any errors on your credit report, you need to send a written request to the credit bureau that has the error. The credit bureau will investigate and have 30 days to fix the error or update your report. You can also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) if you are not satisfied with how the credit bureau handled your dispute.

Monitor your credit report regularly

It can be hard to know your credit score, but it's not impossible. You might have a better chance of getting approved for a mortgage or car loan if you're aware of your credit report. Plus, there are many sites and apps that will let you monitor your credit score and report on a regular basis so you can keep an eye on things.