do you check your credit score?

[Dancing Fire]

how often?

 

[Maisie]

Do you? Why don't you ever answer your own questions?

 

[TooPatient]

Yes.

I subscibe to a service that monitors my credit and sends alerts to me when any activity happens (score change, credit check, new or closed account, etc). I look at my report from one of the agencies every month and my triple report every three months.

Same for SO.

 

[sonnyjane]

You're entitled to one free report from each of the three agencies once a year, so I spread it out and use one free report every four months or so. I don't typically pay extra for my FICO score unless I need it for something.

 

[wildcat03]

No, but I check my credit report three times a year (once a year from each of the agencies, since it's free that way). If anything unusual showed up, I would check my other two credit reports at the same time. If there were something fraudulent on there, I'd make sure to get it removed before actually checking my credit score - since a score based on incorrect information wouldn't be very useful.

I'd check my credit score if I applied for something and got turned down. I don't apply for new credit very often, though. I've had the same primary credit card since 2005, my backup credit card since 1999, and one store credit card.

 

[vc10um]

My DH checks his credit report every year because he had his identity stolen when he was 15. We both just got all three of our reports at the beginning of the year so we could check them before applying for our first mortgage this month. Mine were all correct, one of DH's showed one erroneous report and another had some of his personal information (like DOB) completely incorrect. We managed to repair everything and our loan officer gave us our scores when we got our preapproval...we were both quite satisfied and we will continue to monitor our reports, but not worry so much about our actual scores, since they shouldn't change much as long as our reports are clean!

 

[isaku5]

I check yearly.

 

[stargurl78]

Once a year.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Do you? Why don't you ever answer your own questions?

is that a PS policy?..

btw; i did check mine 3 months ago and my score was 803.. but 6 yrs ago it was 821 ..

 

[Dancing Fire]

You're entitled to one free report from each of the three agencies once a year, so I spread it out and use one free report every four months or so. I don't typically pay extra for my FICO score unless I need it for something.

you mean like online? are they safe?

 

[mary poppins]

You're entitled to one free report from each of the three agencies once a year, so I spread it out and use one free report every four months or so. I don't typically pay extra for my FICO score unless I need it for something.

you mean like online? are they safe?

Yes and yes. Prudent not to use a shared/public computer to make your request.

Information from Federal Trade Commission:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/freereports/index.shtml


Also, this info from TransUnion regarding additional circumstances to receive free report:

FACT ACT
Under the FACT Act amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you are entitled to one free annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting companies in a 12-month period.
TransUnion encourages consumers to exercise this right and contributes to a dedicated website that is designed to help with the fulfillment and management of the free annual credit report initiative.

Additionally, you can learn more about other circumstances that may entitle you to a copy of your personal credit report at no charge. You may be eligible for a free credit report in addition to your free annual report if:

* Within the last 60 days, you have received an adverse action notice (i.e., you have been denied credit) based on information in your TransUnion Credit Report.
* You are unemployed and plan to seek employment within 60 days.
* You receive public welfare assistance.
* You have reason to believe your TransUnion Credit Report is inaccurate due to fraud.

http://www.transunion.com/personal-credit/credit-disputes/credit-reports-disclosures.page


Plus more info at Equifax:

http://www.equifax.com/answers/request-free-credit-report/en_cp

 

[vc10um]

DF, you can also request them in writing, which is what we did, again b/c of my husband's identity theft issues he is a bit wary of very personal information being transmitted through the interwebz.

We received most of our reports within about 10 days of sending out the paper request form. Experian was a bit of a pain to deal with and wouldn't send my husband's report, but we finally got it, and good thing, because it had a car loan on it from before he was old enough to drive.

 

[Dancing Fire]

DF, you can also request them in writing, which is what we did, again b/c of my husband's identity theft issues he is a bit wary of very personal information being transmitted through the interwebz.

We received most of our reports within about 10 days of sending out the paper request form. Experian was a bit of a pain to deal with and wouldn't send my husband's report, but we finally got it, and good thing, because it had a car loan on it from before he was old enough to drive.

me too.. that's why i go through the bank.

 

[diamondringlover]

No, but mine was recently checked when I was thinking of refinancing my house, and I know mine is good so I dont worry about it.

 

[Jennifer W]

No, but I'm sure it's awful - I don't use credit, so I think that means it's somewhere around zero. I haven't had a loan or credit card etc in at least ten years, so yeah, probably zero.

 

[kenny]

No.

I doubt I'll ever use credit again.

Over a decade ago my mortgage banker said I had the highest credit score he'd every seen - especially with my relatively small income.

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Yes! Monthly

My bank gives me my score monthly and I run a report on myself every month as well. I want to know the instant something goes awry. Luckily I've never had anything happen, but I will know within a few hours if something does.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

The realtor who ran our rental application checked it last July and told me approx what range it was in but I personally haven't looked up my exact score in a few years. We don't have any loans or owe any CC debt so I'm not sure if it's just sitting at the same number...guess I should look it up?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

No, but I'm sure it's awful - I don't use credit, so I think that means it's somewhere around zero. I haven't had a loan or credit card etc in at least ten years, so yeah, probably zero.

Yeah, I'm not using credit either. I was trying to use one card to keep my account active but it's just one extra bill to hassle with...maybe my cell phone bill is tied to credit? That'd be my only chance that any activity is showing up on my credit report!

 

[Christina...]

I check my score once a year. Last year two surprises came up. 1.Several years ago my brother opened an account with a department store, and had them issue me an additional users card (long story), evidently he stopped paying on the account and the default was listed on MY report! 2. An ex boyfriend had used my SS# to obtain an utilities account and then moved away without paying it off!

so yeah, I should probably be checking my credit report more than once a year!

 

[parrot tulips]

I have e-mail alerts set up with Equifax, so I check mine any time there's a change in my credit (balance increase/decrease, inquiries, etc.) and/or score. I had to deal with identity theft years ago, so it's made me a little more...wary than the average person.

 

[Fly Girl]

I haven't checked it in years. We use several credit cards regularly and pay in full every month. We get so much junk mail wanting us to apply for more and more credit cards, that I figure our credit score can't be all that bad.