Knowing your credit score is important — but your credit report gives the full picture. It shows your open accounts, payment history, and any negative marks (like missed payments or collections).

You can access your credit report for free — no strings attached.

Here’s how:

1. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com
2. You’re entitled to one free report from each bureau every year:
   • Equifax
   • Experian
   • TransUnion
3. Check for:
   • Accounts you don’t recognize (could be fraud)
   • Errors in balances or missed payments
   • Late payments or collections you want to address

Tip: Set a calendar reminder to check your report once a year — or space them out every 4 months (1 bureau at a time) to monitor year-round.