Credit scores are important and can be crucial for anyone trying to borrow money from a lending agency. Whether it is to purchase a new car or put a down payment on a house, consumers need the most accurate credit score in order to receive the maximum amount of credit from their lending agency.
In a 2012 study, the Federal Trade Commission revealed that more than 20 percent of consumers who took the time to check their credit reports identified errors that might affect their credit scores. This study might partially explain why, according to Time magazine, 56 percent of Americans have subprime credit scores.
In order to avoid any errors or miscalculations, consumers should start taking advantage of their free credit report authorized by Federal law. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, all consumers are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months upon request from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This will help you ensure that the information on all of your credit reports is accurate and up to date.
Consumers can request a copy of their credit report from each of the three agencies and review them online at annualcreditreport.com. Consumers also have the right to dispute any errors they may find by writing the agencies directly.