Free Equifax Credit Report Info and Tips

Today you can check your Equifax credit report for free every year. Equifax is one of the top three credit report agencies that together maintain information on millions of American adults. Your Equifax credit report shows your past credit history, personal information, and public records about you so businesses can quickly estimate their risk in lending to you.

About the Report
Equifax has been compiling consumer credit reports since 1982. The Equifax credit report contains all your financial information and includes a credit score that is computed from many variables in your history (some only known to Equifax itself). Lenders quickly check your score to see if it's in a range they feel comfortable with. But the Equifax report is also useful for consumers as a valuable tool in managing their financial future. Consumers who order their free Equifax report aand score learn where they stand in relationship to other Americans and if they're likely to be approved for new credit. If there's a problem with the information's accuracy, the consumer should report it to Equifax and the credit bureau will open an investigation into the charge. By law, Equifax must conclude the investigation in a timely fashion or remove the dispute information.

Reasons To View Your Equifax Report
Seeing the report ahead of time can prevent unpleasant surprises when applying for a new home loan, car or even a job as many employers now pull applicant credit files as a matter of course. Current thinking dictates checking credit reports frequently (about twice a year or so) to ensure they are error free.

Like the other two large reporting agencies (TransUnion and Experian), Equifax brings consumers and lenders together and plays an important role in the economy. It maintains and safeguards highly sensitive information on millions of consumers, with privacy a primary concern. One of its primary consumer services is a credit check and monitoring service which allows people to view their report and score and see how they trend over time, as well as guards against identity theft.