Get a Credit Check-Up

I never thought about my personal credit until we refinanced our first property and had to get a credit check. Seeing my credit history in black and white was sobering. Did I really own seven credit cards in college that I was only paying the minimum balance on?! Luckily I had closed all those accounts and paid them off, but the stench of being financially irresponsible still lingered on my report.

There are many reasons to get a credit check-up, but you shouldn't wait until you are buying a house or car to get one. There could be errors or fraudulent accounts on your report and the time it takes to resolve the issue will delay your loan approval process. When was the last time you checked your credit history? Do you know you credit score?

If you answered "not sure" to either of these questions it's time to get a credit report. By law, you are entitled to a free credit report once a year, but these reports do not provide the entire picture. They do not include your credit score. Knowing your credit score is important. That little number affects not just your financial status when qualifying for loans or insurance rates, but can also impact your eligibility for employment opportunities. You can get a free credit score from a number of resources online so what are you waiting for?