How to Read a Credit Report, and Why You Really Need To
Your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion contain important information about your debts and credit-seeking behavior that lenders can use when making decisions. You can obtain a copy of your credit report for free, and reading your credit report regularly can help catch errors and identity theft before it affects your ability to borrow money.
There are three major credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion -- that maintain credit reports for American consumers. In theory, the same information should appear on all three bureaus' reports, but in practice, there is often some variation. For example, a single late payment may have only been reported to two of the three bureaus.
Image source: Getty Images.
Source: Fool.com
