Your Credit Score

Date Posted: Jan 08, 2009

Your credit score may be used by lenders, employers, insurance agents among others.  The credit score is used as an indication of how responsible you are with your money and can be used if you apply for credit, insurance or a job.

To obtain your credit score, go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com.  This is the official site and preferred over the heavily advertised http://www.truecreditreport.com. 

Federal law requires that you be allowed one free copy per year of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies.  Georgia law allows you to get one free also, so you may obtain additional copies.  HOWEVER, your credit report does not include your score.

To obtain your credit score you will have to pay -- a fee of about $6.00.  It is easy to do this online with a credit card number.

Closing your credit cards accounts (especially more than one at once) may negatively affect your credit score.  However, it is also viewed negatively if you open up many credit accounts.  So don't let a store talk you into opening an account to save 10% on your purchases.   If you want to close some accounts, close those that have the lowest credit limits.

If you have questions about credit reports, get more information. One site offering information is:  http://ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit/reports.shtm