Want to check credit score, Whats the cheepest way to get your score?

fake_usa · #1 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 11:59 AM

I know there are three places to get your score from but I've see websites that get your score from all three places for a discount.

Does anyone have any recommendations on where or how I should get my credit score checked.

Will getting it checked by all three places effect my credit?
Should I maybe only get it scored by one creditor?

thx

sweeps · #2 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 12:25 PM

How about getting a 30-day trial from MyFico "Score Watch" then cancel before the month is up.

Another (more honest) route would be to get their "Standard" score report for $16 which includes scores from the big 3 creditors.

I wouldn't choose just any place to pull your score. There are a lot of scammers out there.

poundwise · #3 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 12:26 PM

Not the cheapest route but smooth and comprehensive...

myFico.com
FICO Deluxe, $47.85
All 3 credit scores and credit reports from each bureau

link

autoxer · #4 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fake_usa

Will getting it checked by all three places effect my credit?
Should I maybe only get it scored by one creditor?

Don't get it checked by a creditor. That will put an inquiry on your credit report and that will lower score temporarily. The only place to get your true FICO score is from MyFICO.com. The CRA's (equifax, transunion & experian) will sell you FAKO scores, which aren't nearly as accurate.

If you want to check your credit report, but don't care what the score is, then get your reports for free from www.annualcreditreport.com.

Are you preparing for a specific loan?

sweeps · #5 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 12:48 PM

Oh, if you do end up buying through MyFico (and not going the free trial route), search Google for MyFico coupons. You should be able to get a 10 or 20% discount.

Ima saver · #6 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 01:33 PM

I only paid about $7.95 for my score. I got mine thru equifax.

fake_usa · #7 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autoxer

Are you preparing for a specific loan?

Well I plan to buy a home within the next year, so I'm preparing a little ahead. I just don't want any surprises. I've never seen or checked my credit score so I'm just interested.

fake_usa · #8 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 01:41 PM

thanks everyone for all the great advise !!

scfr · #9 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 04:11 PM

If you live in a state that qualifies for free credit reports, as mentioned above, you can get your reports for free from annualcreditreport.com. If you pay a little extra (around $6-8 per credit company, I believe) you can add your credit score.

Here's a little "learn from my mistake" advice: Be sure to get all 3 reports & scores! When we bought our first home many years ago, I started checking my credit reports & scores. At the time, there were no free reports, and we had to pay for them. When the first two reports came back identical, I decided to save a little $ and skipped the 3rd report. Of course, that 3rd credit report was the one our lender used and it included one of my mother's credit cards that had an outstanding balance. [She had added me to one of her cards when I was studying abroad, to be used for emergencies only. She never had me taken off of it. And, she was carrying a balance on it ... tsk, tsk.] It delayed our loan process by a couple weeks, which was quite nerve-wracking.

Good luck to you!

fake_usa · #10 (**permalink**) 09-25-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scfr

Here's a little "learn from my mistake" advice: Be sure to get all 3 reports & scores! When we bought our first home many years ago, I started checking my credit reports & scores. At the time, there were no free reports, and we had to pay for them. When the first two reports came back identical, I decided to save a little $ and skipped the 3rd report. Of course, that 3rd credit report was the one our lender used and it included one of my mother's credit cards that had an outstanding balance. [She had added me to one of her cards when I was studying abroad, to be used for emergencies only. She never had me taken off of it. And, she was carrying a balance on it ... tsk, tsk.] It delayed our loan process by a couple weeks, which was quite nerve-wracking.

Good luck to you!

great advice, thanks!

vsjhoc · #11 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 10:59 AM

Everyone can get a free report annually from each bureau at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Residents of some states such as Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey can get an ADDITIONAL report for free or at a reduced rate. See the table at http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20010223c.asp.

In addition to the annual report, if you have been denied credit, insurance or a job you have a right to a free copy of the report they relied on. Also if you are receiving public assistance or are unemployed you can get free reports in addition to your annual reports (conditions apply). Ditto if you're a victim of fraud.

Make sure you get only a FICO score. You can get a free estimate of your FICO score (expressed as a range) at http://www.bankrate.com/brm/fico/calc.asp?lpid=BKRATE29.

rickatheslicka · #12 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 11:45 AM

Yeah, definitely get all 3 reports for free now through www.annualcredit.report.com Clear up any errors. Then, when the new year gets here, you can stagger your 3 free reports throughout the year like Jeffrey recommends.

I didn't know that only the FICO score was correct... Now I'm wondering about the score I paid $7.95 for from Equifax...

It's great that you are looking into these things now. We started about 9 mos in advance of buying our house. There was a negative error on my account that took all 9 mos to correct.

Best wishes!

KellyJef · #13 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsjhoc

You can get a free estimate of your FICO score (expressed as a range) at http://www.bankrate.com/brm/fico/calc.asp?lpid=BKRATE29.

thanks for posting this site!

Hope it's really fairly accurate: mine came out 780-830

vsjhoc · #14 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KellyJef

thanks for posting this site!

Hope it's really fairly accurate: mine came out 780-830

Woo hoo, you are golden! Keep up the good work to keep it up there.

autoxer · #15 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickatheslicka

I didn't know that only the FICO score was correct...

I knew something was up when Experian told me my plus score ranged on a scale of 330 - 830 & Transunion told me the range was 400 - 925. They aren't going to be the same scores that the creditors will see, becuse the credit reporting agencies don't want to pay FICO to use their scoring model. The bankrate calculator could be just as accurate as the CRA's guess.

vsjhoc · #16 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autoxer

I knew something was up when Experian told me my plus score ranged on a scale of 330 - 830 & Transunion told me the range was 400 - 925. They aren't going to be the same scores that the creditors will see, becuse the credit reporting agencies don't want to pay FICO to use their scoring model. The bankrate calculator could be just as accurate as the CRA's guess.

Exactly, and the CRAs are very sneaky -- they make it look like you are buying FICO when in fact you are not. The bankrate calculator is "powered by myFICO" so it should be somewhere in the right FICO neighborhood.

fake_usa · #17 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 08:06 PM

Did the free reports today thru www.annualcreditreport.com
...everything came back good except for one hospital bill, it says I never paid it when in fact I know my insurance company did, I just have no way to prove it since it was like 3 - 4 years ago..

rickatheslicka · #18 (**permalink**) 09-27-2006, 04:45 AM

Maybe your insurance co will have the records... or you once you contest the charges, they might realize the mistake.

If you cannot clear it up, think twice before paying them to get rid of the charge. Paying it now will renew it, so the negative info will stay on your credit report for another 7 years. If you just let it go, it will be off your report in a few years.

When you do apply for a mortgage, you can include a letter explaining that you are aware of that negative charge, but that it is incorrect and you are in the process of contesting it. You might point out that the other 2 agencies show that account paid in full. But do be upfront about it, it shows you are informed and working to correct it.

That's great that there was only the one mistake. You are way ahead of the game!

fake_usa · #19 (**permalink**) 09-27-2006, 05:17 AM

cool thanks for the good advise.

vsjhoc · #20 (**permalink**) 09-27-2006, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fake_usa

Did the free reports today thru www.annualcreditreport.com
...everything came back good except for one hospital bill, it says I never paid it when in fact I know my insurance company did, I just have no way to prove it since it was like 3 - 4 years ago..

One important part of the reports that people often skip over is the inquiries. Check how many "regular" inquiries you have. There is generally one for every time you have applied for credit in the past 2 years. You want to have as few of these as possible -- ideally one or two.

Disregard the "promotional inquiries" -- these do not count against you.

Potential lenders get nervous if you have been applying for credit all around town. I read a statistic somewhere (so it must be true) that people with 6 or more inquiries are 8 times more likely to file for bankruptcy than people with zero inquiries.