View-your-credit-report [TRUSTED]

Meet Alex. Alex was finally ready to stop daydreaming about a new home and start house hunting. He had been saving for years, but there was one giant shadow hanging over his plans: his credit report.

Finally, a friend convinced him to face his fears. "Alex, you’re legally entitled to a free copy of your annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax , Experian , and TransUnion ," his friend explained. "And checking it yourself is a 'soft inquiry'—it won't hurt your score at all." view-your-credit-report

Alex had heard the myths. He was worried that just looking at his credit report would make his score tank. He also remembered a few "rough years" in his early twenties and was terrified that his past mistakes had permanently branded him a financial risk. He avoided the "view-your-credit-report" button like it was a trap. Meet Alex

Learn about your credit report and how to get a copy | USAGov Finally, a friend convinced him to face his fears

Holding his breath, Alex went to AnnualCreditReport.com . He clicked "View Your Credit Report" and braced for impact.

Experts say about 5% of consumers have errors like this on their reports, and it can cost them thousands in higher interest rates. Alex followed the instructions on the TransUnion site to dispute the error.