Should Credit Reports Be Ordered At Same Time Or Spread Out Over 12 Months?

One good question found at the www.AnnualCreditReport.com website revolves around timing to pull all 3 credit scores:

Great question: I've always wanted to get a "snapshot" of my credit all at the same time to compare the different reports. There could be a blemish in one report which isn't showing up in the other two credit reports, and there's no way to know it until you've applied ... and gotten turned down ... for a new loan. Then it's a pain to tackle restoring that credit report. Wasted time.
My take: better to order all three major credit reports at the same time. Review the reports for accuracy. If you find errors or outdated entries, take steps to dispute the credit reports.
More free tips can be found at http://www.findhow2.com/repair-credit.html
Amazon.com has this unique title available:

Free Credit Report: Credit Reporting Agencies and Credit Repair

Q: Should I order all my credit reports at one time or space them out over 12 months?

A: You are entitled to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies through the Central Source. It is entirely your choice whether you order all three credit reports at the same time or order one now and others later. The advantage of ordering all three at the same time is that you can compare them. (However, you will not be eligible for another free credit report from the Central Source for 12 months.) On the other hand, the advantage of ordering one now and others later (for example, one credit report every four months) is that you can keep track of any changes or new information that may appear on your credit report. Remember, you are entitled to receive one free credit report through the Central Source every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – so if you order from only one company today you can still order from the other two companies at a later date.

Bad Credit Score Limits Job Prospects

With millions of people on unemployment in this country during this Great Recession, struggling to make ends meet, perhaps falling behind on loan payments and mortgage debts, this article from Philly.com shows how bad credit is keeping the unemployed out of work even longer:
Read full article here

It's a shame employers don't consider all the factors in this. But it's the business. YOUR business is to fix your credit history by getting your credit report cleaned up and working diligently to improve your credit score.

Start today by visiting and bookmarking these free web resources:

http://www.findhow2.com/

http://blog.pay-off-credit-cards.com/

http://www.findhow2.com/restoring-good-credit.html

New credit card laws affect credit debt

The Federal Reserve's newly adopted rules for credit card companies have been in place for nearly 2 years. Has this meant that new credit card protections are still in store for you?
Key changes are: more advance notice and real limits on changes, relief from fees, and simpler disclosure.

Credit card relief will best be felt by limits on credit card interest. Credit card apr and balance transfer credit cards will now have real value to you as you try to escape credit card debt.

Credit card offers may keep multiplying in your inbox and your mailbox as this new law keeps affecting us in every walk of life. Business credit card offers and 0 credit card offers might sound tempting. But it's important to select the credit card that's right for you.

You can visit our website for more free advice on credit cards at http://www.findhow2.com.

And check out these two helpful sites, that can help explain the new credit card laws in plain English:


CreditCards.com


FederalReserve.gov

How To Re-Build Bad Credit, Restore Good Credit

You will need to build credit if you do not have a credit history, and you will need to re-build your credit if you've got negative marks in your credit files.
The two things that will improve your credit score is (1) the passage of time, and (2) the practice of good credit habits -- that is, paying your bills and your debts as agreed.
Building or restoring credit is not all that hard. Here are two free articles to get you started correcting your credit report:
"Re-Building Bad Credit" --
http://www.findhow2.com/how-to-rebuild-bad-credit.html
"Restoring Good Credit" --
http://www.findhow2.com/restoring-good-credit.html

Government cracking down on free credit report websites

Government now demanding that 'free credit reports' must be just that: free.

New post at Credit.com to their affiliates warns that all websites offering such products must comply with FTC rules:

Effective April 1, 2010, the Federal Trade Commission's Free Credit Reports Rule will require new prominent disclosures in all online advertisements for "free credit reports." Any site marketing free credit reports will be required to include a disclosure across the top of each page stating:

THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW. Read more at FTC.GOV.
You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com
or 877-322-8228, the ONLY authorized source under federal law.

The disclosures must also include a clickable button to "Take me to the authorized source" and clickable links to AnnualCreditReport.com and FTC.GOV.

This will help end the confusion, since consumers have complained that they log onto websites seeking a free credit report and/or credit score, and they must pay for 3-in-1 credit monitoring or pay for other services to actually GET the freebie adverised.

You can get free information on downloading, reading, disputing and cleaning up your credit reports from the Big 3 credit reporting agencies - TransUnion, Experian and Equifax -- by visiting our totally-free, no-fee website, http://www.findhow2.com

How to check your credit score for free

There's a lot of questions you'll ask yourself when you are attempting to restore your credit score: What's my credit score? How to I check my credit report? Can you check your credit score at the free website like www.annualcreditreport.com?

Online credit scores can give you a ballpark credit rating. But the best way and the cheapest way to get a free credit score is simply to drive over to your local bank branch and apply for a home loan. No, you don't want to buy a new home; don't tell them this, but you simply want to get your free credit score in the real world.

Sometimes, your bank will charge you a fee to get your credit report and scores. It's often less than $50. If it's more than that, try another bank.

Is this free credit score check wrong? No. Look at it this way: in the event that you view credit report as your first step toward building your wealth portfolio, you could likely be back at this bank once you find a valuable investment property. The right deal could pop up next week. Since you now don't have to ask the bank "Check my credit" to see if you qualify for the deal, you can focus your time and energy on negotiating the best terms and the lowest price.

At that time, your bank will be more than happy you chose them to check your credit score when you did!

If you find you need to fix your credit score, learn the free tips on how to improve your credit yourself at http://www.findhow2.com.

Amazon.com offers more advice on how to improve your credit rating yourself:

How To Repair & Improve Your Credit Score In A Few Simple Steps Without Credit Repair Companies

101 Simple Ways to Easily Improve Your Credit Score: Quick and simple ways to get started immediately.

Your Credit Score, Your Money & What's at Stake (Updated Edition): How to Improve the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future

Good credit depends on proper credit reporting

Don't think good credit is important? Wrong. Good credit is essential if you want to qualify for loans to buy a business, a new auto, a new home. Bad credit costs. Getting your free credit report is of little value if you don't know how important correct credit reporting methods are to your financial health.

Hear what these three credit expert resources are saying on the subject of credit reporting:

From www.Experian.com:

Credit Check: Why Should I Care?

Why is it important to check your Experian credit report regularly? Many people frequently pay attention to their credit scores when they buy big-ticket items such as a new car or a home. While these are some of the most familiar reasons consumers monitor their credit reports, credit scores and reports actually are used for many other reasons as well. A good credit score can get you better rates on common necessities such as car insurance premiums, cell phone contracts and apartment rental agreements. Some employers even check prospective employees’ credit reports before making final hiring decisions. In addition, despite increased public awareness of identity theft, the crime continues to grow. Therefore, monitoring your credit report and score has never been more important.

From the FTC:

Having a good credit report means it will be easier for you to get loans and lower interest rates. Lower interest rates usually translate into smaller monthly payments.
Information about you and your credit experiences, like your bill-paying history, the number and type of accounts you have, late payments, collection actions, outstanding debt, and the age of your accounts, is collected from your credit application and your credit report. Using a statistical formula, creditors compare this information to the credit performance of consumers with similar profiles. A credit scoring system awards points for each factor. A total number of points — a credit score — helps predict how creditworthy you are; that is, how likely it is that you will repay a loan and make the payments on time. Generally, consumers who are good credit risks have higher credit scores.

From the website www.debtworkout.com:

Many of those unfamiliar with credit reports share a mistaken belief that credit reports display a near perfect accuracy. In reality errors on a credit report occur with alarming frequency. Reporting agencies rarely verify or cross check information unless they have a specific reason to do so. Therefore it becomes the obligation of each individual to verify the accuracy of their own credit report and begin the process of correcting inaccuracies of the credit report.

Learn more with these resources available from Amazon.com and take action to fix credit and boost your credit score as soon as possible:

The Road to 850: Proven Strategies for Increasing Your Credit Score

You're Nothing but a Number - Why achieving great credit scores should be on your list of wealth building strategies

Credit Report and Score: Secrets of the Credit Reporting Agencies