Credit report anatomy: How to read, understand reports

Sample credit report shows examples of common features

By David Munns

Credit card tips mentioned in this article
You're entitled to one free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus every 12 months.  Getting your free credit report is easy. We lay out the process and what you'll find on it.
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You can get a free credit report. But do you know how to read and understand it? This interactive guide will help.

One free report every 12 months
Everyone's entitled by law to look at their credit report from each of the three credit bureaus once every 12 months free of charge, or you can buy a credit report from each of the three bureaus if you want to view your report more often.

The three U.S. credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion -- set up AnnualCreditReport.com as a central online resource to request your reports. You can also request your reports by calling (877) 322-8228 or by downloading a request form and mailing it to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

We'll walk you through the process, and then, in an interactive example, show you what you will see.

	When visiting AnnualCreditReport.com, users are asked to select their state of residence, then they are directed to a page to fill out basic personal information. On that page, users have the option of selecting whether they want their entire Social Security number or just the last four digits displayed on the bureau reports.
	After they fill in and submit their basic information, users go to an instruction page telling them that AnnualCreditReport.com will direct them off the central site to each individual bureau site, and to click the "Return to AnnualCreditReport.com" button after they've viewed the bureau's report.
	The next page features check boxes next to the Equifax, Experian and TransUnion logos. Users can select one or all of the credit bureaus by clicking the boxes next to the bureaus' respective logos.

The three credit bureau sites have similar interfaces, each with the same menu bar atop it:

TransUnion

Experian

Equifax

Understanding your credit report
Many consumers have a difficult time understanding their credit reports and piecing the three reports together, so here are examples and explanations of the most common elements that appear in each of the three free credit bureau reports. Roll over the information icon () for explanations:

• Personal information
• Public records
• Adverse accounts, potentially negative items
• Accounts in good standing, satisfactory accounts
• Credit history requests
• Personal statement

Personal information
Name: JOE Q. CONSUMER Other names: CONSUMER, JOSEPH Q. Report number: XXXXXXX Report date: July 4, 2009	SSN: XXX-XX-6789 Date of birth: 04/1965 Date of birth: 04/1965 Telephone number(s): 555-1212
CURRENT ADDRESS: 123 MAIN ST., NEW YORK, NY 12345	PREVIOUS ADDRESSES: 17 BROOKLYN AVE., LONG ISLAND, NY 56789
EMPLOYMENT DATA REPORTED Employer name: CREDITCARDS.COM Location: New York, NY Date reported: 06/2007 Employer name: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS Location: TX Date reported: 08/2005	Position: PROGRAMMER Hired: 05/2006 Position: Hired: 03/1999

Public records
ROCKWELL MUNICIPAL Docket#: 9B004875
5468 MLK AVE., SUITE 300, ROCKWELL, TX 97845	Type: Civil judgment Court type: Municipal Date paid: 07/2004 Assets: $1,089	Date filed: 12/2003 Responsibility: Participant on account Plaintiff: BANK OF TEXAS Plaintiff attorney: RICHARD PERRY Amount: $1,089
Estimated date that this item will be removed 06/2011

Adverse accounts, potentially negative items
COLLECTION RECOVERY SVC #321568
123 CHARLES ST. SUITE 202 CORONA, CA 92877-0137 (909) 898-4424	Balance: $0 Date verified: 06/2003 Original balance: $243 Original creditor: SEARS ROEBUCK Credit limit: $500 Past due: $0 Terms: $72 for 23 months	Pay status: Payment after charge off/collection Account type: Installment account Responsibility: Individual account Date opened: 03/2000 Date closed: 05/2003 Date paid: 05/2003
Remarks: >Paid collection< Estimated date that this item will be removed: 08/2010
DONOVAN & WILSON
1045 MAIN ST., SUITE 105 RIVERSIDE, CA 92501 (909) 781-1248	Balance: $12,745 Date updated: 06/2004 Original balance: $15,243	Pay status: 120 days past due Account type: Revolving account Responsibility: Individual account
Estimated date that this item will be removed: 06/2010
The following item is suppressed pending credit grantor update: DISCOVER FINANCIAL SVC #6053000570658798
123 SMITH AVE. UNIT 55G WILMINGTON, DE 19850-5316 Phone number not available	Balance: $2,145 Date updated: 08/2004 High balance: $25,463 Collateral: 1998 Dodge Ram Past due: $136 Terms: $68 for 260 months	Pay status: 60 days past due Account type: Installment account Responsibility: Individual account Date opened: 11/1994
Loan type: Student loan Remarks: Repossession Maximum delinquency of 60 days in 07/2004 for $400 Estimated date that this item will be removed: 06/2010

Accounts in good standing, satisfactory accounts
GMAC FINANCING #640006137129
78901 JENKINS CIR FLOOR 15 MIAMI, FL 33025 Phone number not available	Balance: $1,145 Date updated: 08/2004 High balance: $31,546 Collateral: 1998 Dodge Ram Credit limit: $24,568 Past due: $0 Terms: $72 for 23 months	Pay status: Pays as agreed Account type: Installment account Responsibility: Individual account Date opened: 11/1994 Date closed: 07/2004 Date paid: 07/2004
Loan type: Automobile Remarks: Paid by insurance Estimated date that this item will be removed: 12/2009

Credit history requests
CALTECH EMPLOYEE FCU
555 W. ADAMS SUITE 202 LA CANADA, CA 91012 (818) 555-1212	Requested on: 11/01/2003 Inquiry type: Individual	Permissible purpose: Credit transaction
SUNSHINE APARTMENTS via RENTPORT
678 MARINE STREET SUITE 999 LOS ANGELES, CA 90210 (818) 555-1212	Requested on: 05/01/2004 Inquiry type: Individual Loan type: Real estate Loan amount: $90,000	Permissible purpose: Tenant screening
CHASE CARD MEMBER SVCS
666 W. SMITH PHOENIX, AZ 87853 Phone number not available	Requested on: 11/01/2003 Inquiry type: Individual

Personal statement
ID SECURITY ALERT: FRAUDULENT APPLICATIONS MAY BE SUBMITTED IN MY NAME OR MY IDENTITY MAY HAVE BEEN USED WITHOUT MY CONSENT TO FRAUDULENTLY OBTAIN GOODS OR SERVICES. DO NOT EXTEND CREDIT WITHOUT FIRST VERIFYING THE IDENTITY OF THE APPLICANT. I CAN BE REACHED AT 917-555-1212. THIS SECURITY ALERT WILL BE MAINTAINED FOR 90 DAYS BEGINNING 07-29-09.

See related: Free credit report