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Credit Reports 7 min read

How to Read Your Credit Report

Your report is the source of truth behind your score. Here's a section-by-section guide to reading it with confidence.

Personal information

Check your name variations, addresses and employers. Errors here aren't scored, but they can signal mixed files or identity issues worth correcting.

Accounts (tradelines)

Each account shows its opening date, limit or original amount, balance, status and payment history grid. Confirm every account is yours and every status is accurate.

Collections and public records

Collections list original creditors and balances. Public records today are generally limited to bankruptcies. Verify dates carefully — negative items have legal time limits.

Inquiries

The inquiry section shows who has pulled your credit. Unrecognized hard inquiries deserve investigation, since they can indicate fraud.

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