Mortgage - Credit Tips

You can get your credit report once every 12 months for free from AnnualCreditReport.com. In addition to obtaining your credit report, you can also purchase your FICO score and credit report through any of the 3 national credit agency Web sites. You may be able to get all 3 agencies' reports for a higher fee on any of their Web sites.

Keep in mind that you can also check your credit report for free at any time if you are turned down for a loan or a credit card. The lender is required to send you a statement explaining why you were turned down and which reporting agency they used in making the decision. Within 30 days of receiving this statement, you can request a free copy of your report from that particular credit reporting agency.

If you would like to learn more about the regulations that govern credit reporting practices, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has provided the text of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), on their Web site.