I'm working on an article and was hoping I could get some feedback from a few people on how often your check your FICO scores each year. Free "FAKO" score checks at sites like creditkarma don't count, and neither do generic credit scores you might purchase from the credit bureaus. Just FICO scores, two of which you can purchase from myFICO.com, and you may also receive free copies of your FICO scores when applying for credit products. Those count too, even though you get them for free. Looking forward to reading your responses. Thanks!
I check my credit once a quarter. I usually try and use the free trial periods on different websites such as creditchecktotal.com or smartcredit.com. Thanks! Heather with BoostMyScore.NET
Come on guys, no one checks their credit reports? Even if you check your credit every five years you could respond to Josh's question. Thanks! Heather with BoostMyScore.NET
I usually only check my real credit scores once per year. I used to work in the mortgage industry in the early 2000's. I have one of my old coworkers that has access to pulling "real" credit reports run one for me. I am not in the market for a new house or car, so the "fako" scores are alright for now. Thanks! Heather with BoostMyScore.NET
Lately I have been a bit obsessive by checking my FICO scores at the beginning of the month. My goal is to purchase a home in four years so I think I can afford to lessen my score checking but I do not want anything to slip by me. Perhaps I should follow Heather's lead and only do the once a quarter check.
Remember that checking our own FICO scores does not hurt them in any way. That said, if you've got 4 years ahead of you before purchasing your home, checking your credit scores every quarter will probably be sufficient.
I pulled mine last week from myFICO.com. They have 3 products they sell. I purchased 2 of the three. Im actually pleased so far. You can get all of the info on their website but here is a quick run down: FICO STANDARD *FICO score *Factors affecting your score *TransUnion credit report *Equifax credit report $19.95 SCORE WATCH *FICO score *Factors affecting your score *Equifax credit report *Track changes in credit health *Tools to reach credit goals *Credit change alerts --my favorite! it works! *What-if score simulator $ Free 10 day trial [I think $15 per month after that, unless you cancel before the 10 days] FICO Quarterly Monitoring *FICO score *Factors affecting your score *TransUnion credit report *Monitor credit for threats *Scan web for identity theft *Identity theft insurance *Recover from identity theft $4.95 month
I guess I'll be checking mine quarterly as well. Just went on the creditchecktotal.com website and the smartcredit.com website; interesting and FREE.
Joshua, could you comment on where to get a "real credit score" like the a bank would run, not the "guesstimates" like myfico.com, etc
Mikepink, From my understanding FICO is the gold standard when trusting your credit score. ALL others are FAKO's. Now if there is another kind of credit score I'm unaware of, then Im sure one of the vets will chime in shortly.
I pay monthly for MYFICO.com which on 10-7-12 gave me an equifax score of 695, but the bank ran it the same day and my equfax score was 676. That is a 19 point difference in what MYFICO.COM is telling me my equifax score is and what the bank is telling me. Why are the banks numbers lower than MYFICO.com
Mikepink; I think that even though FICO Scores are the gold standard, some institutes used certain versions of it and some even have their own "in house formula" that they derive based on the score and their model of a scoring system. I've only read a little bit on creditnet but.... i think if you're denied or given unfavorable credit you can request to find out what they used to determine their decision, but i don't think that means you can have their "propitiatory formula" laid out to explain exactly why they have a different score. (someone correct me if i'm wrong here) ------ I'm also wanting to know.... in terms of track your progress... How do you guys check in on increases when items are successfully deleted etc?? Does Myfico.com monthly ($15/$5 fee) provided unlimited Score pulls or just ONE TIME and then the other services "alert services" are provided monthly... Are there any laws that state the CRA's must provide an updated copy of the Credit report when something is Fix/Deleted? (i see that request being put into some DV/Dispute letters being sent to CRA's) I'm about to begin this journey and i'm sure out of the 800+ views this thread got, someone will eventually speak about what system they used THAT WORKS... =) Any more info helps Thanks!
Kameleon, Yes - once you send a notarized request to fix an error on your credit report, by law (under the FCRA) the credit bureau must investigate your dispute w/in 30 days. After that, you are required to receive a letter w/in 5 business days of the conclusion of your investigation explaining the results, plus a copy of your new, corrected credit report. The creditor is then required to notify the other CA's so they can update their records. However, this is only the case if you make a request to fix an error on your report. Basically, you want to be proactive in these instances. To summarize, if you make the request, you WILL be notified, win or lose.
So when you send dispute letters to the CRA disputing trade lines or information in them and they send you a letter that states "the information has been updated" (with no infromation as to what was updated) even then you are suppose to receive a credit report. If you dispute and they Verify the debt /information as valid you still get another copy of you credit report?- if this is true it looks like i wont be needing to worry about paying for another credit report for a very long time =) . So how about Scores, there seems to be nothing in the FCRA regarding them having to give you updated scores, even though removing Neg information obviously affects that too... If there isn't a way to get free SCORE updates via dispute resolutions does the monthly subscription at myfico.com give you monthly Score pulls or is that just a one time thing and it's all the credit monitoring, identity protection this IS what is monthly?? anyone know any tried their services???