When Is the Best Time to Check My Credit Report?

Regularly monitoring your credit report can help you to detect potential fraud, identity theft and errors that could harm your credit. To avoid delays and disappointments, check your credit right before you make a major purchase, try to rent an apartment, or apply for a job. Don't worry: You won't damage your credit score by checking your own credit.

Checking Your Credit Report

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to check your credit and other specialty consumer reports (such as tenant screening or comprehensive background reports) as often as you like. While it is true that credit checks done by potential creditors can affect your credit score, checking your own score won't damage your credit and potential creditors won't even be able to see your inquiry on your report.

Scheduling Credit Report Checks

In addition to regularly monitoring your reports by checking it ever few months, you should check your report right before you think someone else will. For example, if you are applying for a new job, check your report. Many employers base their hiring decisions on what your credit report says. If you are an identity theft victim, check your reports on a monthly basis.

Free Credit Reports

The FCRA entitles you to one free credit report over a 12-month period from the three major credit bureaus. You can get your free reports by visiting annualcreditreport.com and making your request online or by phone or postal mail. Under the FCRA, you can get another free report if you are unemployed or on welfare and plan to look for work, or if you've been turned down for credit based on something in your credit report. To get your free reports under these circumstances, you need to contact the credit bureaus directly through their websites.

Correcting Errors

If your credit report contains errors, you have the right to dispute them. Under the FCRA, the credit bureaus that issue your reports must investigate any errors and must remove negative information if they can't verify its accuracy within 30 days of your dispute. You can dispute inaccuracies online through the credit bureau's websites, or by postal mail.