Any good free online credit report? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

telekinetic · 04-19-2005, 09:59 PM

Hey guys...are there any good free credit reports you'd trust that aren't too much hassle? I had a bunch of high-balance credit cards and have had three cell phones, and I'm wondering what my credit looks like. I settled two of my credit cards and am paying the other (higher balance/ interest) in full, so I figured my credit would be really bad, but I qualified for 2-line cell phone with no deposit, so maybe not?

Anyways, I'm going to try to qualify for a Yamaha credit card to get financing on a bike, so I'm curious to see what my score looks like to see if it is even worth going down to the dealership and applying.

TIA

jorgelito · 04-20-2005, 12:34 AM

Yes, by law, everyone is entitled to one free report from each of the top 3 credit reporting agencies a year.

Go here: www.annualcreditreport.com

On a side note. I think getting a bike (or at least financing) is a really bad idea for you right now. Take some time and read through some of the threads here. Pay close attention to NoSoup's advice on credit etc. You'll be glad you did.

billege · 04-20-2005, 08:46 AM

d00der, I bought a bike via a Yamaha card, 5 years ago. That sucker will FINALLY be paid off this August. Do not. Charge. A Bike. Repeat: Do not charge a motorcycle. Those bike finance plans that sound so great are freaking credit cards. THere's a reason my wife calls the bike "the money pit."

Pay cash, get a traditional auto/bike loan, or don't get the bike because you don't have the money.

jogelito, thanks for that link. It was mucho handy. Saved me from paying 15/each for this quarter's credit reports. (My wife and I run both of ours every quater.) This time, for kicks, instead of using equifax (like usual) I used TransUnion for me, and Experian for her. The FICO scales are different, that suprised me. TransUnion's goes up to 925. I thought it topped out at 850. Experian tops out at 830. The format that TransUnion uses is the most readable one I've seen out of the three. Very nice catagorization and display. It reads well, and is very usefull. I think I like Experian's report style the least. I mean, all the info is the same, but the Experian people could spend some time designing a visually attractive and useful format. That said, Equifax fits in teh middle for me. Readable, accessable, but TransUnion is better.
Notes: I typed one digit in her SSN in wrong, and TransUnion isn't having it, period. Don't make a type-o on the inital information page, or you're now finished with the online process, and can call them.
I had TransUnion reject 3 correct account numbers when I was verifying my ID. That was annoying. It initially rejected employer info. TransUnion puts up a city, then asks you to put in the name of an employer you worked for in that city. Catch was, I worked for three different companies in that city, and I'm not sure which one of them I worked for in June of 1998. I'm pretty sure I put in the right one, and the only other possible one on try #2, but it rejected both. I bet it was formatting type errors. Like, I put in "Company 1" and it wanted "Company 1 Inc." Who knows?

The account # rejections were irritating, because I have teh statements right in front of me. TransUnion wants two account numbers from the possible 4 they list. Okay, then accept what I type in from the statement. I'd bet there it's also formattting. IE: It wants "XXXXXXXXXX" and I'm typing in "XXX-XX-XXXX." Either way, there was enough error tolerance I got my report. However, it was my last attempt before lockout.

amonkie · 04-20-2005, 10:55 AM

Jorgelito beat me to posting the link - every sector of credit has different criteria and guidelines , but they also consider time and job and current income/debt ratio. Having cards settled and paid in full is a LOT better that having it written off, but you will increase your chances much if you can establish a solid good pay history on other accounts for several months before trying to finance a larger installment loan. A side note, a used bike will rape you in higher interest rates, and it will be harder to pass the OAC guidelines for lower rates without a little more established, at least as current.

And if you DO get a bike, promise me one thing, pretty please: Invest money in a GOOD helmet. If we thought you scary in a car, God help us.

04-19-2005, 09:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
telekinetic zomgomgomgomgomgomg Location: Fauxenix, Azerona	Any good free online credit report? Hey guys...are there any good free credit reports you'd trust that aren't too much hassle? I had a bunch of high-balance credit cards and have had three cell phones, and I'm wondering what my credit looks like. I settled two of my credit cards and am paying the other (higher balance/ interest) in full, so I figured my credit would be really bad, but I qualified for 2-line cell phone with no deposit, so maybe not? Anyways, I'm going to try to qualify for a Yamaha credit card to get financing on a bike, so I'm curious to see what my score looks like to see if it is even worth going down to the dealership and applying. TIA __________________ twisted no more

04-20-2005, 08:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
billege Watcher Location: Ohio	d00der, I bought a bike via a Yamaha card, 5 years ago. That sucker will FINALLY be paid off this August. Do not. Charge. A Bike. Repeat: Do not charge a motorcycle. Those bike finance plans that sound so great are freaking credit cards. THere's a reason my wife calls the bike "the money pit." Pay cash, get a traditional auto/bike loan, or don't get the bike because you don't have the money. jogelito, thanks for that link. It was mucho handy. Saved me from paying 15/each for this quarter's credit reports. (My wife and I run both of ours every quater.) This time, for kicks, instead of using equifax (like usual) I used TransUnion for me, and Experian for her. The FICO scales are different, that suprised me. TransUnion's goes up to 925. I thought it topped out at 850. Experian tops out at 830. The format that TransUnion uses is the most readable one I've seen out of the three. Very nice catagorization and display. It reads well, and is very usefull. I think I like Experian's report style the least. I mean, all the info is the same, but the Experian people could spend some time designing a visually attractive and useful format. That said, Equifax fits in teh middle for me. Readable, accessable, but TransUnion is better. Notes: I typed one digit in her SSN in wrong, and TransUnion isn't having it, period. Don't make a type-o on the inital information page, or you're now finished with the online process, and can call them. I had TransUnion reject 3 correct account numbers when I was verifying my ID. That was annoying. It initially rejected employer info. TransUnion puts up a city, then asks you to put in the name of an employer you worked for in that city. Catch was, I worked for three different companies in that city, and I'm not sure which one of them I worked for in June of 1998. I'm pretty sure I put in the right one, and the only other possible one on try #2, but it rejected both. I bet it was formatting type errors. Like, I put in "Company 1" and it wanted "Company 1 Inc." Who knows? The account # rejections were irritating, because I have teh statements right in front of me. TransUnion wants two account numbers from the possible 4 they list. Okay, then accept what I type in from the statement. I'd bet there it's also formattting. IE: It wants "XXXXXXXXXX" and I'm typing in "XXX-XX-XXXX." Either way, there was enough error tolerance I got my report. However, it was my last attempt before lockout. __________________ I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence: "My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend."

04-20-2005, 10:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	Jorgelito beat me to posting the link - every sector of credit has different criteria and guidelines , but they also consider time and job and current income/debt ratio. Having cards settled and paid in full is a LOT better that having it written off, but you will increase your chances much if you can establish a solid good pay history on other accounts for several months before trying to finance a larger installment loan. A side note, a used bike will rape you in higher interest rates, and it will be harder to pass the OAC guidelines for lower rates without a little more established, at least as current. And if you DO get a bike, promise me one thing, pretty please: Invest money in a GOOD helmet. If we thought you scary in a car, God help us. __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna Last edited by amonkie; 04-20-2005 at 11:36 AM..

04-20-2005, 12:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Yes, by law, everyone is entitled to one free report from each of the top 3 credit reporting agencies a year. Go here: www.annualcreditreport.com On a side note. I think getting a bike (or at least financing) is a really bad idea for you right now. Take some time and read through some of the threads here. Pay close attention to NoSoup's advice on credit etc. You'll be glad you did.