How to Check Credit Card Information

If you're like most Americans, you probably carry at least one credit card and maybe more. You may not realize it, but you should be checking your credit card information on a yearly basis. It's easy to forget that the three major credit bureaus all have a file on you, but you'll get a jarring reminder if you apply for a new credit card and get turned down because of erroneous information. By checking your credit card information beforehand, you can eliminate errors.

Things You'll Need

• Credit report

Instructions

1. Request your free annual credit report from one of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Transunion or Equifax). You must make this request through the official Annual Credit Report website, which can be found in the Resources. This site provides the free reports with no obligation to sign up for other services.

2. Go through the credit report carefully, double-checking your credit card information. Make sure that your payment history is accurate and that any closed accounts are not showing up as still open. Be sure that all of the credit card accounts listed actually belong to you.

3. If you find any errors, determine whom you should contact in order to correct them. For payment history errors or listed credit cards that are not yours, file a dispute with the credit bureau. For credit cards that should be closed but that are showing up as still open, contact the card issuer.

4. If you file a dispute with the credit bureau for information on your credit card accounts, wait 60 days and then request a new copy of your report to make sure that the errors were corrected. The bureau must do an investigation, and the credit card company must give proof that its information is correct. If it cannot do this, the information should be removed from your credit bureau file. If the bureau refuses to remove it, add a consumer statement to your file explaining your side of the dispute.

5. Four months after you requested your credit report, put in a request for your free report from one of the two remaining bureaus. Check your credit card information and go through all of the same steps. Four months later, request your report from the last remaining bureau. In four more months, you will be eligible to get another free report from the first bureau, because one year will have passed. By following this schedule, you can monitor your credit card information three times per year at no cost to you.

Tips & Warnings

• In addition to monitoring your credit card information through the three major credit bureaus, you should study your monthly statements for any irregularities. Look for charges that you don't recognize, make sure that your last payment has been credited properly and make sure that your interest rate hasn't been raised. If you find any discrepancies, contact the card issuer.

• Although you are entitled to free annual credit reports from each of the three bureaus, some companies will imply that they offer these free reports when they are really trying to sell you something, such as credit monitoring service. Make sure you visit the official website to request your report.

Resources

• Official website to request free annual credit reports