Get your credit report

Ordering your own credit report is a first, basic step in managing your credit history and credit score. It is also a primary component of protecting yourself against fraud and identity theft.

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act gives borrowers specific rights designed to promote accuracy, fairness and privacy of information. Under the FCRA, borrowers must be told if information in their credit file has been used to deny credit. Lenders must give borrowers a copy of the information in their credit file, including a list of anyone who has requested the information recently. They also may have additional rights under state law.

You must be told if information in your file has been used against you. Anyone who uses information from a credit reporting agency to take action against you—such as denying an application for credit, insurance, or employment—must tell you, and give you the name, address, and phone number of the credit reporting agency that provided the consumer report. If you have been denied credit, the party taking the negative action will generally provide a letter that explains the action, lists the credit reporting agency's name that provided the report, and give you the reasons behind the action. You must request the report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action.

For a free Consumer Resources package that can be downloaded, which contains further information on this topic, click here.