What Is the Difference Between a Credit Score and a Credit Report?
Do you know the difference between your credit score and credit report? Learn more about your credit score and how it's different from your credit report today.
Credit reports break down an individual's credit history and are prepared by one of the United States' three major credit bureaus. These detailed summaries of an individual’s credit history contain important information including personal information, account information, and inquiries. Your personal details include information such as your name, Social Security number, aliases or former names, current and former addresses, and sometimes your current and former employers. Account information includes your payment history, credit limits and balances, and the dates the accounts were opened and closed. It also includes bankruptcies and accounts in collections, as well as a list of the lenders and other companies that have made requests to view your credit report, also known as inquiries. Checking your own credit reports is important because the more you know about your credit history, the better you may be prepared for making important financial decisions, such as purchasing a house or car. One should also check their credit reports to make sure the information being reported is accurate and complete and to look for signs of potential identity theft. You can check your free Equifax credit report through myEquifax, Annualcreditreport.com, and you may be entitled to additional free credit reports under certain circumstances at equifax.com/FCRA.
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