Free 3

Merged "3-in-1" Credit Reports

These three credit reporting agencies work with each other and with other companies to provide various types of 3-in-1 reports.

These merged reports show items from each of the three bureaus. Each company provides a little different version of a merged report. Some provide a one-time merged report while other companies provide a view of your report as it changes over time.

The best thing to do is to look at several sites and their offers and determine the best "deal" that satisfies your needs.

Truth About Free Credit Reports

We appreciate your desire to obtain a free credit report. The fact is that maintaining credit histories and providing reports to people is a business. No business that survives can give away its products for free.

Every web site providing "free" credit reports works with the three credit reporting bureaus. These sites can only offer you a brief review of your report. Most offer a free 3 day or 30 day view of your report from one of the three credit reporting agencies.

Creditors may not send reports of your credit transactions to all three bureaus. Thus, reports from each credit reporting bureau may differ. It's to your advantage to see your complete credit history in a "3-in-1" type report.

To see your full credit history from the three reporting bureaus you'll have to pay. To view your report over a period of time as your credit history changes you'll have to pay.

There is no way for any web site to provide your credit history outside of the three reporting bureaus. And the three credit reporting agencies are businesses; they charge for their services.

Credit Report Scores - Computing Then

Your credit report scores are based on factors that appear in your credit reports:

• Bill payment history (Good: on time and for the full amount)
• Total outstanding debt (Good: non-mortgage loan payments less than 5% of gross income)
• Types of debt (Good: mortgage, car loans, Bad: high credit card debt)
• Length of credit history (Good: 3 or more years of on time payments)
• Credit inqueries (Bad: many rejected applications)

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) prohibits certain factors from being used in determining your credit report score:

• Personal details such as sex, marital status, age, race, national origin, or because you receive public assistance income
• Sources of income such as regular alimony, child support, or separate maintenance payments

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act provides actions for you to take if suspect unauthorized factors are being used to deny you credit.

If you've found this site useful, please link to it so that others can benefit. Use the following in your link:

Link text:	Credit Report Scores - See and Improve Them
Description:	Credit report scores affect your ability to get a loan, buy a home, and even get a job. Find out how to see and improve your score.
Link to:	http://www.credit-report-scores.us