Why do you need to check both your reports and scores?
It is essential to familiarize yourself with your two reports and credit scores if you have a complete understanding of what your credit looks like. Checking your credit reports is only half of the puzzle. You see, while your credit reports provide you with all your credit history and are used to help determine your credit score, it is the scores who effectively determine your creditworthiness. This means that lenders use scores to decide whether or not you qualify for a loan or credit card and the interest rate you will pay on the loan or card. By having higher credit scores, you will usually get better credit card offers and approved for the lowest interest rates. And since you never know which of your three scores (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) lenders might use, you want to be sure to know all three of them.
How can you get your three free credit scores?
Although you can not ask your three bureau credit scores for free every year as you can with a three-bureau credit report, you can always check your scores without paying a dime. Indeed, a number of credit report monitoring services offer free trials that give you access to your credit scores during the test period. If you like the service, you can continue to allow it to monitor your credit. And if you decide to cancel, there are no hard feelings. Either way, you still get to see all three of your credit score for free!
Here are some credit report monitoring services that provide you with your three bureau credit scores instantly when you sign up for a free trial:
Identity Guard
The global monitoring service credit report top-rated offering a free 30-day trial and give you access to all three credit scores instantly after signing. If you like the service, which also provides extensive protection against identity theft, you can continue for only $ 14.99 / month (with a 25% NextAdvisor.com), and your scores will be updated every three months .
FreeScoresAndMore
As Identity Guard, FreeScoresAndMore offers a free 30-day trial and instant access to your three bureau credit scores after signing. Similarly, you can continue the service for $ 14.99 / month (with a 25% NextAdvisor.com). Better yet, your scores will update each month if you decide to keep the service after the end of your free trial.
TrustedID
What distinguishes TrustedID apart from the rest is its fantastic family plan that allows you to protect your entire home against identity theft. You and your spouse will receive your three bureau credit scores after signing up for the free 14 day trial. If you decide to keep the service, your Equifax credit score will be updated monthly and your Experian and TransUnion scores will be updated every year.
LifeLock Ultimate Plus
This well-known service offers a free 30-day trial that allows you to access your three bureau credit scores without paying a cent. After the trial period, your TransUnion credit score will update every month while your Equifax and Experian scores will be updated each year.
Other ways to get some of your free credit scores
Credit Karma's also worth taking a look at, as its entire service is free and provides you weekly updates of your Equifax and TransUnion credit score - even if the service does not provide Experian credit scores. A number of credit card issuers, such as Barclaycard and Discover, you will also provide with a free monthly credit score with your return. While the updated score of an office is a nice feature, there is currently a credit card issuer that offers all three of your credit scores for free.
Want to know more about tracking your reports and credit scores? Visit our credit report monitoring examinations to compare a number of services that provide you with your credit score at the signing.
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