Pulling credit reports

kelley198721 · July 2014

Hey all, it's been about a year since I pulled my credit reports from all three bureaus. This year, I was thinking maybe pull from just one bureau today and the next three months later and so on.

So I guess I'm just asking how y'all would rank the bureaus from best to worst. I'm trying to decide which bureau to pull from today.

Oh and the website to use is annualcreditreport.com, right? Or do y'all recommend anything else?

hoffse · July 2014

There is no "ranking." Each bureau calculates your score independently. Different lenders, credit card companies, etc. look at different ones. Therefore, all three matter. Some look at only one, some look at all three when extending credit. I keep my credit frozen for security purposes, and I only unfreeze the one(s) that my prospective lender will be looking at.

Yes, that's the website.

emily1004 · July 2014

In my opinion they all suck. Meaning they need massive overhauls to how they do business, but that is my own personal crusade. So currently they are a necessary evil. But Hoffse is right, they are all independent.

Every once in awhile information on one report is not reported on another. That's okay, as long as it's accurate information. Creditors can pick and choose which company they report to, and which company they pull when checking your credit. Sometime it's one, sometimes it all three. That being said I would recommend you pull all three at the same time. Also, the sites for the bureaus can get a little glitchy if you are pulling different reports at different times. (I don't know why, but they do.)

When you do pull them make sure all the information is completely accurate. If it's not, dispute it! Have as much information to show them as possible in your defense. Cancelled checks, letters from creditors that mark a paid if full balance. This is why I never throw that stuff away. It is also your right to dispute inaccurate information.

Keep a note in your calendar when you pull, so every year you know when your eligible again.

The ONLY site to do this is annualcreditreport.com. DO NOT PAY FOR YOUR CREDIT REPORT! EVER. You get one free a year from each company. You also are entitled to a free report if you are denied credit.

als1982 · July 2014

I'm a fan of regular monitoring through Credit Karma, although it's my understanding they only report Trans Union.

We have several cards, and are frequently closing and applying for new ones (for the points and miles) and their information has always been quick to update and accurate.

Of course you'll want to check the other reporting companies too.

emily1004 · July 2014

als1982 said:

I'm a fan of regular monitoring through Credit Karma, although it's my understanding they only report Trans Union. We have several cards, and are frequently closing and applying for new ones (for the points and miles) and their information has always been quick to update and accurate. Of course you'll want to check the other reporting companies too.

Credit Karma is not a complete and accurate credit report.

hoffse · July 2014

emily1004 said:

als1982 said:

I'm a fan of regular monitoring through Credit Karma, although it's my understanding they only report Trans Union. We have several cards, and are frequently closing and applying for new ones (for the points and miles) and their information has always been quick to update and accurate. Of course you'll want to check the other reporting companies too.

Credit Karma is not a complete and accurate credit report.

This. And if you want to be sure there isn't fraudulent activity going on, just freeze your credit. It's the safest way to prevent identity theft.

Obviously you still want to check your credit once a year to make sure your lenders/credit card companies haven't goofed up when reporting something to the bureaus... but there's really no need to pay for active credit monitoring if you keep your credit frozen most of the time and you get your free credit report once a year.

emily1004 · July 2014

Credit Karma also sells your information and tries to sell you third-party products, in turn they get a kickback. This is how they make their money, this also includes the advertising space they sell on their website.

Edit: Each click you make on their site makes them money. While there is nothing illegal about this, I just think it's a little shady to profit of others vulnerability.

als1982 · July 2014

emily1004 said:

als1982 said:

I'm a fan of regular monitoring through Credit Karma, although it's my understanding they only report Trans Union.

We have several cards, and are frequently closing and applying for new ones (for the points and miles) and their information has always been quick to update and accurate.

Of course you'll want to check the other reporting companies too.

Credit Karma is not a complete and accurate credit report.

Yes, I know. My post mentions that specifically.

ETA: And I don't pay Credit Karma, nor do you have to give a CC number when pulling their standard report (though they may offer some paid services I just don't utilize).

Xstatic3333 · July 2014

als1982 said:
I'm a fan of regular monitoring through Credit Karma, although it's my understanding they only report Trans Union.

We have several cards, and are frequently closing and applying for new ones (for the points and miles) and their information has always been quick to update and accurate.

Of course you'll want to check the other reporting companies too.

I like Credit Karma too, just because I don't care much for having the exact score and it's easy. I haven't noticed an increase in spam mail or junk mail since I made an account.

kelley198721 · August 2014

Thanks everyone. I decided to pull a report from Equifax for now. Three months from now, I'll pull TransUnion or Experian.

When I looked at Equifax's report, I didn't really see any surprises or anything. It was pretty much what I expected to see so that's good, I guess. I just hope that three months from now, there will be some improvement on the next credit report.

kelley198721 · August 2014

Oh I forgot to add, I already do have a CreditKarma account. I like it but I wish the credit score was more accurate. Oh well though.

Pulling credit reports

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