Understanding Credit

Credit Report Resources

When it comes to owning a home or planning for your financial future, obtaining and maintaining good credit is critical.
Typically, the higher your credit score, the more likely you are to qualify for a loan at a lower cost, usually in the form of
lower interest rates and fees.

Order your free annual Credit Report and review all the information carefully. If you believe you've found a discrepancy, you should dispute it with
the appropriate Credit Reporting Company. The phone number can be found on your credit report, or you can visit their website:
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/
credit-dispute/www.experian.com/disputes/main.html
https://dispute.transunion.com

If you have attempted to resolve credit report discrepancies and are having issues after working with the Credit Reporting Company, you
can submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Additional Resources

CFPB: https://www.consumerfinance.gov
FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov
Fair Issacs: https://www.myfico.com

Obtaining Your Free Credit Report

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) entitles you to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major
consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies at the same time or separately
by accessing the online link below. Requesting your credit report will not affect your credit score.

Request and review your free report online or via phone.
Online: AnnualCreditReport.com Phone: 877 322 8228
Do not contact the reporting companies directly to order your free report.

A Warning About “Imposter” Websites
There are websites that claim to offer “free credit reports,” “free credit scores,” or “free credit monitoring”. These sites are not associated with the free
annual credit report program. In some cases, these “free” reports may come with strings attached or may try to collect your personal information.

A Note About Varying Credit Scores
There are multiple types of credit scores in the market, and 16 different FICO scores alone! The scores you receive on your own may differ from the
one your lender ultimately uses to qualify you for a loan. To better understand which score is used for your mortgage application, contact your lender.

https://www.creditstrong.com/which-fico-score-do-mortgage-lenders-use/

https://www.creditkarma.com/credit-cards/i/fico-score-vs-credit-score