Credit Report Basics

What You'll Learn

Your credit report is the foundation of your financial identity. In this lesson, you'll discover how to read your credit report like a pro, identify potential errors that could be hurting your score, and understand what lenders see when they evaluate your creditworthiness.

Key Topics Covered

• The Three Credit Bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion - what they track and why they matter
• Reading Your Report: Personal information, credit accounts, payment history, and public records
• Credit Inquiries: The difference between hard and soft inquiries and their impact
• Spotting Errors: Common mistakes that can damage your score and how to identify them

Action Steps

By the end of this lesson, you'll know exactly how to obtain your free annual credit reports and perform a thorough review. You'll also have a checklist for identifying discrepancies and understand your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Remember: Knowledge is power when it comes to credit repair. The more you understand about what's in your report, the better equipped you'll be to improve it.