Credit report
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Your money history on paper: every card, every loan, how much you owe, whether you paid on time, who’s been checking. Companies called credit bureaus keep that file on you.
Your credit score is a number worked out from it: “Your credit scores are calculated based on the information in your credit report.”
- US: AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site, free every week.
- Canada: Equifax and TransUnion, both free online.
Looking at your own report is a soft check: “Checking your own credit does not affect your credit scores.”
From FILE 005: credit report vs credit score.
Sources
Official and government data first. Every quote is word for word; follow the link to check it yourself.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · “What is the difference between a credit report and a credit score?”
“Your credit scores are calculated based on the information in your credit report.”
consumerfinance.gov (opens in a new tab)Federal Trade Commission · “Free Credit Reports”
“check your credit report from each once a week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com”
consumer.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab)Financial Consumer Agency of Canada · “Getting your credit report and credit score”
“You can access your credit report online for free from Canada’s 2 main credit bureaus:”
canada.ca (opens in a new tab)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · “What happens when a mortgage lender checks my credit?”
“Checking your own credit does not affect your credit scores.”
consumerfinance.gov (opens in a new tab)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · “What is the difference between a credit report and a credit score?”
“Your credit scores are calculated based on the information in your credit report.”
consumerfinance.gov (opens in a new tab)Federal Trade Commission · “Free Credit Reports”
“check your credit report from each once a week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com”
consumer.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab)Financial Consumer Agency of Canada · “Getting your credit report and credit score”
“You can access your credit report online for free from Canada’s 2 main credit bureaus:”
canada.ca (opens in a new tab)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · “What happens when a mortgage lender checks my credit?”
“Checking your own credit does not affect your credit scores.”
consumerfinance.gov (opens in a new tab)