Which Credit Bureau Should I Use To Check My Credit Report?

There are three main credit bureaus in the United States; Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. Each bureau collects your personal and financial information which is then sold to lenders such as banks, credit unions, credit card companies, mortgage and auto loan lenders. Your credit report is the product of this collected information. Lending and credit companies use your credit information to determine if they will approve you or not and at what interest rate you will pay.

Many people are recognizing the importance of checking their own credit report to verify its accuracy and to make sure that they know where they stand in the credit world. Until they begin the process to obtain a copy of their credit report, some people do not realize that they actually have three credit reports instead of just one. The three main credit bureaus keep separate credit records from one another and produce their own credit reports. Instead of the credit bureaus working together and sharing information among themselves like some people may think, they are actually competitors. That is why the information provided on one credit report will more than likely be different from the information provided on the credit report from another credit bureau. Therefore, it is recommended to check your credit report from all three credit bureaus in order to see the complete picture.

There are a couple of options to checking all three of your credit reports. You can contact each of the credit bureaus individually to request a copy. Or you can go through one of the many companies that provide a 3-in-1 credit report like http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com. Obtaining a 3-in-1 credit report is usually more convenient and user friendly to the consumer compared to requesting individual copies.

Verifying the data on all three of your credit reports is the only way to know that the information that potential lenders and creditors are evaluating you on is correct. When considering you for a loan, some lenders will pull your credit report from only one or two of the credit bureaus while other lenders will pull your credit report from all three. It is always a good idea to check your credit reports BEFORE applying for your next big purchase. Covering your bases beforehand can often times save you a lot of time and hassle during the application process.

-------------------------
Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the authors bio paragraph at the bottom of this article is included, the article is published "as is" (unedited) and all URL's are made active hyperlinks with no syntax changes.
-------------------------

This article was written by Beth Pardue who has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more about credit reports or to get a free credit report online please visit: http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com

In The News:


BBC News

Ex-Credit Suisse brokers indicted on fraud charges
Financial Times, UK - 6 hours ago
By Joanna Chung in New York Two former Credit Suisse brokers have been indicted on fraud and conspiracy charges related to the sale of auction rate ...
Former Credit Suisse broker arrested in US Swissinfo
Former Credit Suisse broker charged with subprime-linked fraud in ... International Herald Tribune
UPDATE 1-FBI arrests ex-Credit Suisse broker Reuters
Sofia Echo - Reutersall 490 news articles

CEP News

S&P raises Nalco Co.'s credit rating
CNNMoney.com - 8 hours ago
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Standard & Poor's on Friday upgraded its corporate credit rating on Nalco Co., citing bright prospects for the company to ...
S&P puts Fifth Third on credit watch Dayton Daily News
Credit rating soars in District 300 Northwest Herald
Starbucks downgraded to 'BBB' on weakening credit metrics - S&P Hemscott
CNNMoney.com - CNNMoney.comall 106 news articles

Report: $100M in tax credits for $307M invested
Bizjournals.com, NC - 6 hours ago
The report was based on surveys completed by 177 firms in Hawaii that received credits through the state’s Act 221/215 program last year. ...
Design firm helps clients find themselves Bizjournals.com
Life’s obstacles not tall enough for College Inn owner Bizjournals.com
State sets hearings on reforming Medicaid payment process Bizjournals.com
all 64 news articles

Indianapolis Business Journal

Federal housing tax credit has mixed benefits
Indianapolis Star, United States - 33 minutes ago
By Jeff Swiatek At Carpenter Realtors in the Indianapolis area, agents wear lapel buttons proclaiming, "Ask me about the $7500 tax credit. ...
Perk helping home sales Indianapolis Business Journal
all 3 news articles

Methanex to Present at Credit Suisse Chemical and Ag Science ...
FOXBusiness - 9 hours ago
... 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) ----Methanex Corporation (TSX: MX)(NASDAQ: MEOH)(SANTIAGO: Methanex) will be presenting at the upcoming Credit Suisse ...

Reuters

Credit cards battered amid 'tsunami' warning
Financial Times, UK - 6 hours ago
Credit-card groups were among the key casualties as fears grew of rising defaults. American Express fell 5.3 per cent to $38.75 after Lehman Brothers ...
Bear Returns to Wall St. as Major Indexes Plunge New York Times
all 152 news articles

Mexican Banking Group Ixe In Credit-Card JV With JPMorgan
CNNMoney.com - 7 hours ago
(JPM) to set up a credit-card joint venture in Mexico . In a filing with the Mexican Stock Exchange, Ixe said its bank subsidiary Ixe Banco SA and CMC ...

When the Bank Closes Your Credit Account
Washington Post, United States - 11 hours ago
By Joan Goldwasser Q I received a notice from Capital One that it is closing my credit card account because of inactivity. If the company closes the account ...
Capital One Spurned Mortgages For Credit Cards - CFO CNNMoney.com
all 3 news articles

Bankers: Tighter regulations contribute to credit crunch
Bizjournals.com, NC - 8 hours ago
To the list of culprits behind the credit crunch, you can now add one more: stricter exams by banking regulators. Bankers and their attorneys say that ...

Fear factor: Obama, McCain and the credit crunch
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 hours ago
... John McCain nor Barack Obama -- was dare to say how they will solve the most serious economic problem facing the country: the deepening credit crunch. ...
Obama, McCain, Fannie and Freddie: A Troubled Love Story Wall Street Journal Blogs
all 3 news articles
credit - Google News

Opting For A Credit Card? Check Out Certain Terms

You've just received a "pre-approved" credit card offer in your... Read More

Saving Money with Credit Cards

Having a credit card is a wonderful convenience for those... Read More

Its Your Credit - Take Care of It!

Thanks to the Fair and Accurate Credit Act, American consumers... Read More

Dont Fall for Credit Repair Scams

We've all seen the ads on television or in magazines,... Read More

Good Credit Is Not A Good Reason To Borrow More Money After Youve Achieved Financial Freedom

The most important thing for you to remember is that... Read More

Practical Suggestions for Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft

It's no surprise that thousands of Americans are victimized by... Read More

What is a Bad Credit History?

A bad credit history can sometimes seem like a curse...... Read More

Tired Of Being Broke?...Learn How To Force Banks To Give You Money!

Imagine...obtaining credit that's incredibly easy...opening doors of opportunity you never... Read More

How to Get Credit Reporting Agencies to Help You

The process of clearing credit can be laborious and frustrating.... Read More

Finding What is on Your Credit Report

A credit report is basically a file about you kept... Read More

Maximizing Credit Card Rewards

In their quest to get you to sign up for... Read More

Student Credit Cards 101

Almost all students have and use student credit cards. Some... Read More

How did a Thief get my Name? Don?t be a Victim of Identity Theft

How do these people get my name? If you have... Read More

The Right Way To Credit Repair

If you have a bad credit rating, then you might... Read More

Credit Card Expenses Are Killing Your Budget!

Do you know the costs associated with your credit card?... Read More

What You Need to Know About Credit Reports

You hear people talk about credit reports all the time... Read More

7 Surefire Ways To Repair Bad Credit

Do you have a poor credit rating? If so, you... Read More

Big Brother Knows Whats in Your Credit Report - How About You?

Whether you are aware of it or not, credit bureaus... Read More

How To Establish Great Credit

Building a good credit history is important. If you have... Read More

10 Simple Steps to Manage Your Credit

By far the greatest invention the banks have ever come... Read More

What is Credit Card and Debit Card Blocking?

Have you ever been told you were over your credit... Read More

Comprehending a Credit Report

Obtaining a credit report is an excellent way to begin... Read More

Credit Cards For People With Bad Credit Scores

Sometimes life lands you in a situation that causes your... Read More

How To Boost Your Credit Score

Years ago your credit score was a big secret, known... Read More

FREE Credit Report Offer - Careful, It Might Carry Hidden Charges

FREE credit checks or free credit reports. What are they... Read More