Free Online Copies of Credit Reports

There are five basic kinds of credit report information contained in free online copies of credit reports:

Personal Identifying Information
This section lists such things as your name, birth date, Social Security number, current and previous addresses, telephone number and where you work.(If self-employed, some credit bureaus may list you as unemployed.)

Credit Account Information
This part of free online copies of credit reports has the record of your credit accounts as reported by the business which granted the credit. The details for each account include such things as when it was opened, how much was borrowed and the all-important payment history. Included with the payment history is how often payments were late and whether the account is currently delinquent.

Public Records Information
Listed in this section of free online copies of credit reports is information related to any bankruptcies, civil judgments or tax liens you've had as shown in public records.

Who Has Requested Your Credit Report
Every time your credit report is requested, it's noted in this section and stays in the report for a year or two years if the request was made by an employer. Note that inquiries from credit card companies who send out unsolicited credit card offers will show up only on your credit report copy. These unsolicited inquiries won't show up on the copy of your report sent to other creditors.

Consumer Statement(optional)
If there is any disputed information in your free online copies of credit reports that isn't resolved to your satisfaction, this is where you can provide an explanation. You're allowed up to one hundred words to fill in details about any negative items.