Finding my Credit Score *NOT SPAM*

[Commander Quan]

Anyone know the best way for me to go about finding my credit score, can it be done without purchasing a credit monitoring program or paying $50.00? I've found a couple Credit Score estimating sites but I'm looking a buying a house in the next couple months and would really like to know for certain what my score is.

[rack04]

Probably not much help but everytime I've gotten my credit report I got them from the individual credit reporting agencies.

[GrtndpwrflOZ]

I believe if you contact the 3 major Credit rating services they will give you your score for free.

I think I may have heard something about you can get your credit score for free once a year....

OR....

I could have been dreaming.


Doesn't hurt to try though.
GOOD LUCK with your house hunting and purchasing.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

Anyone know the best way for me to go about finding my credit score, can it be done without purchasing a credit monitoring program or paying $50.00? I've found a couple Credit Score estimating sites but I'm looking a buying a house in the next couple months and would really like to know for certain what my score is.

You can do a "one time" purchase from any of the three major companies and it is a "3 in 1" report.

Wouldn't trust anyone else.
Be careful.
Lots of them set up as scammers.
Don't give your social to just anyone.
I get mine from Transunion, directly from their home page.
You are entitled to one per year for free.

[Major Captain Silly]

www.myfico.com has worked for me. It's like 39 bucks for all 3 or 15 for 1.

MCS

[fireman43]

I have used that one they always advertise on TV. free credit report dot com I believe. You have to sign up for a trial to their service, but it's free as long as you cancel it before the trial runs out I think.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

Anyone know the best way for me to go about finding my credit score, can it be done without purchasing a credit monitoring program or paying $50.00? I've found a couple Credit Score estimating sites but I'm looking a buying a house in the next couple months and would really like to know for certain what my score is.

Here is somethings you can do now in time for then.
Reduce your credit cards.
Less cards is better.
Too many is not viewed well.
Too many with high limits means you can get yourself in trouble overnight.

Reduce your balances owed to credit limit ratio on credit cards.
If you are too close to limits, not seen well by creditors.
They like it less than 50%.

Don't request new credit cards as viewed as a "hard" inquiry. Hard ones not good.
If a credit company sends you an offer for a card, that is different.
Still, go back to the top. Don't have too many credit cards.

The cards you do have, show a nominal regular balance of purchases and regular payments.
They love that and it improves your score.

Try to have a low income to debt ratio.
Generally, below 20% is stellar.
20-39% is good.
You don't want to be above that.
This ratio is all your debt divided by your total income (debt on house, cars, credit cards, same as cash, etc - does not include electric bill, water, food, etc).

You have these things in place, you will be fine on credit score.
You don't have this now, time to work on it.

[cman78]

Go to a lender and tell them you are interested in buying a house in a few months and want to know what kind of a loan you qualify for. They will run your credit and tell you what it is with you sitting right there. Plus you are going to be talking to them anyway so they will be sitting right there. Secondly when a lender runs your credit you are entitled to a free copy from each agency that the lender ran it through. Now you are "supposed" to request that in writing or a phone call from the agency but every lender I have sat down with in the last three months has ran me a copy right there on the spot. AND they all have told me that their numbers are more accurate than say truecredit.com (trans union website). That was $19.99 a month wasted

[n3uka]

You can use https://www.annualcreditreport.com once a year to obtain a free report from each of the 3 agencies. It will not include a credit score but is good to check that all contain accurate information. They offer the option to include the score from each agency for a price.

Hope this helps

[n3uka]

Originally Posted by cman78

Go to a lender and tell them you are interested in buying a house in a few months and want to know what kind of a loan you qualify for.

That is excellent advice. I went a few months before and got prequalified for a loan. I knew what I could get and they also offered advice on how to boost it in the short term. It was great to know what I could afford before I ever started looking.

[Commander Quan]

I think I'm in decient shape credit wise I have one credit card with a balance under $700 and no other outstanding debts. A couple late payments over the last 3 years but not many. The limit on that card is kinda high over 10,000 so I could get that lowered.

[tchariya]

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

I think I'm in decient shape credit wise I have one credit card with a balance under $700 and no other outstanding debts. A couple late payments over the last 3 years but not many. The limit on that card is kinda high over 10,000 so I could get that lowered.

Just as long as you are not heavily on collection agency's list you should be fine. Make sure you can show income (through tax returns) to cover mortgage and escrow tax/insurance. Also make sure you have a decent down payment(10-20%). With the subprime market as it is, banking institution are the safest bets...shop around, but don't let every lending institution pull your credit history....that is BAD.

Finally when they go to pull your banking statements...make sure the balance to make 2-3 months of mortgage payments are in there. That helps show personal solvency.

Remember to research the hidden fees and closing costs of the mortgages, the term 'points' can mean just about anything. Get a reliable lawyer who wont rape you for helping you with closing on the house.

[rumballs]

Originally Posted by n3uka

You can use https://www.annualcreditreport.com once a year to obtain a free report from each of the 3 agencies. It will not include a credit score but is good to check that all contain accurate information. They offer the option to include the score from each agency for a price.

Hope this helps

That's the one to use!

[Commander Quan]

Originally Posted by n3uka

You can use https://www.annualcreditreport.com once a year to obtain a free report from each of the 3 agencies. It will not include a credit score but is good to check that all contain accurate information. They offer the option to include the score from each agency for a price.

Hope this helps

Thanks for this site I only used one of the credit agencies and it showed no late payments so that was better than I thought.

[n3uka]

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

Thanks for this site I only used one of the credit agencies and it showed no late payments so that was better than I thought.

You got me thinking and I just did mine. One of the agencies showed a collection that I had no knowledge of. It was a doctors office in PA. I have never seen any dr in PA, ever. I was able to dispute it from their website.