Lesson 4 · About 7 minutes
Check Your Credit Without Fear
Reading your own credit reports can help you understand what lenders may see, find unfamiliar accounts, and notice information that may be wrong. Checking your own report is a soft inquiry and does not hurt your scores.
Official source
AnnualCreditReport.com
This is the federally authorized website for free reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A credit report is not required to include a free credit score.
Hard and soft inquiries
Checking your own report is soft and does not affect your scores. Existing-account reviews and some prescreening may also be soft.
A lender may make a hard inquiry after you apply for credit. Most scoring models consider recent applications.
If you are only asking about rates or terms, ask whether the company will make a hard inquiry before you authorize an application.
Prepare before requesting a report
- Use a private device and secure internet connection when possible.
- Have identity information available, but do not share it with anyone offering to “help” unexpectedly.
- Save or print the report securely.
- Review one report at a time if all three feels overwhelming.