What we verified in “How to read your credit report, line by line”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to the CFPB, a credit report is a statement with information about your credit activity and current credit situation, such as your loan paying history and the status of your credit accounts. Credit reporting companies store the data creditors submit to them; most people have more than one credit report, and creditors are not required to report to every credit reporting company. Lenders use these reports to decide whether to lend to you and what interest rate to offer; other businesses use them to decide whether to insure you, rent you a home or provide services such as internet, utilities or cell phone service, and an employer may see it if you agree.

   Sources 1 · What is a credit report? (last reviewed January 29, 2024): 'A credit report is a statement that has information about your credit activity and current credit situation such as loan paying history and the status of your credit accounts'; 'Most people have more than one credit report'; 'financial data about you that is submitted to them by creditors'; 'Creditors are not required to report to every credit reporting company'; 'Lenders use these reports to help them decide if they will loan you money, what interest rates they will offer you'; 'rent a house or apartment to you; provide you with cable TV, internet, utility, or cell phone service'; 'If you agree to let an employer look at your credit report' · Checked October 17, 2026

2. According to the CFPB, a credit report often contains: personal information (your name and any name you have used with a credit account, including nicknames; current and former addresses; birth date; Social Security number; phone numbers); current and past credit accounts (type of account, such as mortgage, installment or revolving; credit limit or amount; balance; payment history; dates opened and closed; creditor name); collection items (missed payments, loans sent to collections and overdue child support provided or verified by a government agency); public records (liens, foreclosures, bankruptcies, civil suits and judgments); and inquiries (companies that have accessed your report).

   Sources 1 · What is a credit report?, 'What kind of information appears on a credit report?': 'Personal information'; 'Your name and any name you may have used in the past in connection with a credit account, including nicknames'; 'Current and former addresses'; 'Credit accounts'; 'the type of account (mortgage, installment, revolving, etc.)'; 'Account payment history'; 'Collection items'; 'Information on overdue child support'; 'Public records'; 'Liens Foreclosures Bankruptcies Civil suits and judgments'; 'Inquiries': 'Companies that have accessed your credit report' · Checked October 17, 2026

3. According to the CFPB, a credit score is a prediction of your credit behavior, such as how likely you are to pay a loan back on time, based on information from your credit reports; a formula called a scoring model creates it. You do not have just one score: it varies with the scoring model, the source of the data and even the day it was calculated. Most credit scores range from 300 to 850.

   Sources 2 · What is a credit score? (last reviewed September 2, 2026): 'A credit score is a prediction of your credit behavior, such as how likely you are to pay a loan back on time, based on information from your credit reports'; 'a mathematical formula—called a scoring model'; 'You do not have just “one” credit score'; 'the scoring model', 'the source of the data used, and even the day when it was calculated'; 'Most credit scores range from 300-850' · Checked October 17, 2026

4. According to USAGov, in most cases your credit report will not include your credit score.

   Sources 3 · Learn about your credit report and how to get a copy, 'What information is on your credit report': 'In most cases, your credit report will not include your credit score' · Checked October 17, 2026

5. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a person who makes or arranges loans and uses a credit score in connection with an application for a loan secured by 1 to 4 units of residential real property must give you, as soon as reasonably practicable, a copy of the score information: the score, the range of possible scores under the model, the key factors that adversely affected it, the date it was created and who provided it.

   Sources 4 · 15 U.S.C. §1681g(g)(1), 'Disclosure of credit scores by certain mortgage lenders': 'secured by 1 to 4 units of residential real property'; 'shall provide the following to the consumer as soon as reasonably practicable'; 'A copy of the information identified in subsection (f)'; §1681g(f)(1)(A)–(E): 'the current credit score', 'the range of possible credit scores under the model used', 'key factors that adversely affected the credit score', 'the date on which the credit score was created', 'the name of the person or entity that provided the credit score' · Checked October 17, 2026

6. According to USAGov (the federal government's official information site), AnnualCreditReport.com is the only website authorized by the federal government to issue free, annual credit reports from the three credit reporting agencies; you request them on that site, by phone at 1-877-322-8228 (TTY: 1-800-821-7232) or by mail, sending the request form to Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

   Sources 3 · Learn about your credit report and how to get a copy (last updated November 13, 2025): 'AnnualCreditReport.com is the only website authorized by the federal government to issue free, annual credit reports from the three CRAs'; 'Call 1-877-322-8228 (TTY: 1-800-821-7232)'; 'Fill out the Annual Credit Report request form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service PO Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281' · Checked October 17, 2026

7. According to USAGov, if a credit reporting agency denied your request for a credit report, contact that agency first to resolve the issue; if it is not resolved, contact the CFPB.

   Sources 3 · Learn about your credit report and how to get a copy, 'What to do if your request for a copy of your credit report is denied': 'contact them first to resolve the issue'; 'If you cannot get your complaint resolved, contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)' · Checked October 17, 2026

8. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the nationwide credit reporting agencies must give you your file disclosure once during any 12-month period, free of charge, when you request it through the centralized source set up for that purpose, and must provide it no later than 15 days after receiving your request.

   Sources 5 · 15 U.S.C. §1681j(a)(1)(A): 'once during any 12-month period upon request of the consumer and without charge to the consumer'; (a)(1)(B), 'Centralized source': 'only if the request from the consumer is made using the centralized source'; (a)(2), 'Timing': 'not later than 15 days after the date on which the request is received' · Checked October 17, 2026

9. According to the CFPB, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com, and you also have the right to one free report from each company every 12 months. On the site you can choose to view one, two or all three companies, and you can ask whether your credit report is available in your preferred language. The CFPB warns that some websites claiming to offer free reports only do so if you buy other products, or give you a report and then bill you for services you have to cancel.

   Sources 6 · How do I get a free copy of my credit reports? (last reviewed October 15, 2026): 'from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com'; 'You also have the right to one free report from each company every 12 months'; 'you can choose to view from one, two, or all three credit reporting companies'; 'you can also ask whether your credit report is available in your preferred language'; 'Be cautious of websites that claim to offer free credit reports'; 'bill you for services you have to cancel' · Checked October 17, 2026

10. According to the CFPB, you have a right to an additional free report if you were denied credit, insurance or employment (or faced another 'adverse action') based on a credit report: you request it from the company named in the notice, within 60 days after you receive the notice. You can also get an additional free report if you believe your file is inaccurate due to fraud, if you place an initial fraud alert, if you are unemployed and intend to apply for a job within 60 days, if you receive public welfare assistance or if your state law provides for one.

    Sources 6 · How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?, 'How can I get additional free credit reports?': 'you have a right to a free report from the credit reporting company identified in the notice'; 'you must request it within 60 days after you receive the notice'; 'You believe your file is inaccurate due to fraud'; 'placing of an initial fraud alert'; 'You are unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days'; 'You are a recipient of public welfare assistance'; 'Your state law provides for a free credit report' · Checked October 17, 2026

11. By federal regulation, the nationwide credit reporting agencies must jointly run a centralized source for requesting free annual reports through a single website, a single toll-free number or mail to a single address; it may collect only as much personal information as is reasonably necessary to identify you, and any advertising or marketing must wait until after you have obtained your report.

    Sources 7 · 12 CFR §1022.136(b)(1): 'A single, dedicated Web site', 'A single, dedicated toll-free telephone number', 'Mail directed to a single address'; (b)(2)(ii): 'Collects only as much personally identifiable information as is reasonably necessary to properly identify the consumer'; (g)(1): 'Any advertising or marketing for products or services' 'must be delayed until after the consumer has obtained his or her annual file disclosure' · Checked October 17, 2026

12. By federal regulation, if the centralized source cannot properly identify you, it must tell you that your identity cannot be verified and give you directions on how to complete the request, including what additional information or documentation is required and how to submit it.

    Sources 7 · 12 CFR §1022.136(b)(2)(iv)(C): 'providing a statement that the consumers' identity cannot be verified; and directions on how to complete the request, including what additional information or documentation will be required to complete the request, and how to submit such information' · Checked October 17, 2026

13. According to the CFPB, an inquiry is a request to look at your credit report. Hard inquiries are often made by lenders after you apply for credit; they impact your score because most scoring models look at how recently and how frequently you apply for credit, and others can see them when they buy your report. Soft inquiries include reviews of existing accounts, prescreening by prospective lenders, employment screening and your own requests for your reports; they do not affect your scores and are shown only to you.

    Sources 8 · What is a credit inquiry? (last reviewed September 5, 2025): 'An inquiry is a request to look at your credit report'; 'Hard inquiries'; 'These inquiries will impact your credit score because most credit scoring models look at how recently and how frequently you apply for credit'; 'Soft inquiries'; 'prescreening inquiries by prospective lenders, employment screening of your credit reports, and your requests for your credit reports. These will not affect your credit scores'; 'Soft inquiries are shown only to you' · Checked October 17, 2026

14. The CFPB says to check that your report contains only items about you and to look for inaccurate or incomplete information: identity errors (wrong name, phone number or address); accounts belonging to another person with the same or a similar name (mixing two consumers' information in a single file is called a mixed file); incorrect accounts resulting from identity theft; closed accounts reported as open; being reported as the owner of an account where you are only an authorized user; accounts incorrectly reported as late; wrong dates of last payment, opening or first delinquency; the same debt listed more than once, possibly under different names; and wrong balances or credit limits. If you find errors, contact the credit reporting company that sent you the report and the company that provided the information; your report includes directions on how to dispute.

    Sources 9 · What are common credit report errors that I should look for on my credit report? (last reviewed September 2, 2026): 'check that it contains only items about you'; 'Errors made to your identity information (wrong name, phone number, address)'; 'mixing two consumers’ information in a single file is called a mixed file'; 'Incorrect accounts resulting from identity theft'; 'Closed accounts reported as open'; 'just an authorized user'; 'Accounts that are incorrectly reported as late or delinquent'; 'Incorrect date of last payment, date opened, or date of first delinquency'; 'Same debt listed more than once, possibly with different names'; 'Accounts with an incorrect current balance'; 'Accounts with an incorrect credit limit'; 'Your credit report includes directions about how to dispute' · Checked October 17, 2026

15. According to the CFPB, credit reporting companies can generally report most negative information for seven years, and may report positive information for longer, even after a loan is paid off or the account is closed. Although they usually will not report negative information after these limits, they may still keep it on file, and in certain instances they may report negative information outside these time limits: the limits do not apply if the report will be used, for example, for an application for more than $150,000 worth of credit or life insurance.

    Sources 10 · How long does information stay on my credit report? (last reviewed September 2, 2026): 'A credit reporting company generally can report most negative information for seven years'; 'may report positive information for longer'; 'may be reported after a loan is paid off, and even after the account is closed'; 'they still may keep your information on file'; 'There are also certain instances where credit reporting companies may nevertheless report negative information outside these time limits'; 'Time limits on reporting negative information do not apply if the credit report will be used in connection with'; 'more than $150,000 worth of credit or life insurance' · Checked October 17, 2026

16. Federal law (15 U.S.C. §1681c) bars credit reporting agencies from including in a report: bankruptcy cases more than 10 years old, counted from the order for relief or the adjudication; civil suits, civil judgments and records of arrest more than seven years old from the date of entry, or until the statute of limitations expires if that is longer; paid tax liens more than seven years after payment; accounts placed for collection or charged to profit and loss more than seven years old; and any other adverse item more than seven years old, other than records of criminal convictions. These limits do not apply to reports used for a credit transaction of $150,000 or more, life insurance with a face amount of $150,000 or more, or a job at an annual salary of $75,000 or more.

    Sources 11 · 15 U.S.C. §1681c(a)(1)–(5): 'from the date of entry of the order for relief or the date of adjudication'; 'antedate the report by more than 10 years'; 'Civil suits, civil judgments, and records of arrest'; 'whichever is the longer period'; 'Paid tax liens which, from date of payment, antedate the report by more than seven years'; 'Accounts placed for collection or charged to profit and loss which antedate the report by more than seven years'; 'Any other adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of crimes'; §1681c(b): 'a principal amount of $150,000 or more'; 'a face amount of $150,000 or more'; 'an annual salary which equals, or which may reasonably be expected to equal $75,000, or more' · Checked October 17, 2026

17. Under the same law, for a delinquent account placed for collection or charged off, the seven-year period begins when the 180-day period that starts on the date the delinquency began (the delinquency right before the collection or charge-off) runs out.

    Sources 11 · 15 U.S.C. §1681c(c)(1), 'Running of reporting period': 'with respect to any delinquent account that is placed for collection'; 'upon the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the commencement of the delinquency which immediately preceded the collection activity, charge to profit and loss, or similar action' · Checked October 17, 2026

18. The CFPB warns against paying fees to 'repair' your credit history: no one has the right to remove accurate negative information, such as late payments, from a credit report; a report can only be fixed if it contains errors, and you can do that on your own at no cost.

    Sources 10 · How long does information stay on my credit report?, Tip box: 'Don’t pay fees to'; 'no one has the right to remove negative information, such as late payments, from a credit report if it is accurate'; 'You can only get your credit report fixed if it contains errors, and you can do that on your own at no cost' · Checked October 17, 2026

19. The CFPB says to review your free reports from all three bureaus, because accounts an identity thief opens in your name may show up there; to look for inquiries from companies you have never contacted, accounts you did not open and wrong amounts; to make sure your personal information (Social Security number, address, name or initials, and employers) is correct; and not to ignore calls from debt collectors or bills about debts that are not yours, since they may indicate someone opened an account in your name.

    Sources 12 · How can I spot identity theft? (last reviewed September 5, 2025): 'If an identity thief is opening financial accounts in your name, these accounts may show up on your credit report'; 'Inquiries from companies you’ve never contacted'; 'Accounts you didn’t open'; 'Wrong amounts on your accounts'; 'Social Security number, address, name or initials, and employers'; 'Don’t ignore calls from debt collectors about debts that aren’t yours'; 'may be an indication that someone else has opened an account in your name' · Checked October 17, 2026

20. According to the CFPB, if you are a victim of identity theft: close affected accounts, contact the fraud departments at your financial institutions and report it to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, where you get an Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan. A fraud alert requires creditors to make sure it is you before they open a new account; you place it with one of the three bureaus and that bureau must notify the others; an initial alert lasts one year and an extended alert (after filing an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov) seven years. Under federal law, freezing and unfreezing your credit is free at the three bureaus, but you must contact each one individually. Credit reporting companies must block fraudulent information within four business days after receiving your request, which includes an identity theft report, proof of identity and a letter identifying the fraudulent items.

    Sources 13 · What do I do if I am a victim of identity theft? (last reviewed July 30, 2026): 'Close any affected accounts'; 'Contact the security or fraud departments at your financial institutions'; 'Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov'; 'requiring creditors to make sure it’s you before they open a new account'; 'it must notify the others'; 'Credit reporting companies keep that alert on your file for one year'; 'An extended alert is good for seven years'; 'Under federal law, you can freeze and unfreeze your credit record for free'; 'You must contact each credit reporting company individually'; 'must block fraudulent information from your credit report within four business days after receiving your request' · Checked October 17, 2026

21. The CFPB warns that scammers pretend to be the FTC and say someone used your personal information to open accounts; the FTC never threatens you, makes you transfer your money 'to protect it', or tells you to withdraw cash or buy gold. Scammers also impersonate the CFPB, other agencies, law enforcement and financial institutions; contact them through official websites and phone numbers.

    Sources 13 · What do I do if I am a victim of identity theft?: 'Scammers are pretending to be FTC and lying'; 'the FTC never threatens you, makes you transfer your money to “protect it,” or tells you to withdraw cash or buy gold'; 'Scammers have also impersonated the CFPB, other agencies, and law enforcement'; 'Scammers also often pretend to be a financial institution'; 'using official websites and phone numbers' · Checked October 17, 2026

22. According to the CFPB, you have the right to dispute errors on your credit report; fixing an error generally means contacting both the credit reporting company and the company that provided the information (for example, your bank, your landlord or your credit card company). With the credit reporting company, you explain in writing what is wrong and why, with copies (not originals) of supporting documents and a copy of the part of your report with the disputed items circled or highlighted; the company must investigate, forward your dispute to the company that provided the information and report the results back to you. You write to the furnisher by certified mail; furnishers generally must investigate and respond within 30 days of receiving the dispute. If you suspect the error is the result of identity theft, the CFPB points you to IdentityTheft.gov.

    Sources 14 · How do I dispute an error on my credit report? (last reviewed September 2, 2026): 'You have the right to dispute errors on your credit report'; 'contacting both the credit reporting company and the company that provided the information'; 'Examples of furnishers include your bank, your landlord, and your credit card company'; 'explain in writing what you think is wrong, why, and include copies of documents'; 'Copies (not originals)'; 'with the disputed items circled or highlighted'; 'must investigate your dispute, forward the dispute and all relevant information you provided to the company that provided the information about you, and report the results back to you'; 'Send disputes to furnishers in writing, using certified mail'; 'Furnishers generally must investigate and respond to your dispute within 30 days of when they receive the dispute'; 'If you suspect that the error on your report is a result of identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov' · Checked October 17, 2026

23. According to the CFPB, credit reporting companies are required to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information in their reports.

    Sources 10 · How long does information stay on my credit report? (last reviewed September 2, 2026): 'Credit reporting companies are required to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of information contained in their consumer reports' · Checked October 17, 2026

24. According to the CFPB, you are also eligible for reports from specialty consumer reporting companies; the CFPB publishes a list of several of them; you have to request each report individually; most companies on that list provide a free report every 12 months, and others may charge a fee.

    Sources 6 · How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?: 'You are also eligible for reports from specialty consumer reporting companies'; 'We put together a list that includes several of these companies'; 'You have to request the reports individually from each of these companies'; 'Most of the companies in this list provide a report for free every 12 months'; 'Other companies may charge you a fee for your report' · Checked October 17, 2026

25. According to the CFPB, specialty consumer reporting agencies compile information just for landlords, to help them decide whether to rent to someone: your name, previous addresses, how long you lived at each residence and payment history from past landlords; you can get free copies of your reports every 12 months from many of them, and others may charge. If a landlord denies your rental application in full or in part because of information on a specialty report, that is an 'adverse action': the landlord must give you a notice with the name and contact information of the agency, and if you ask, the agency must give you a free copy of the report that factored into the decision.

    Sources 15 · Does late rent affect my credit score? (last reviewed December 31, 2024): 'specialty consumer reporting agencies that compile information just for landlords'; 'name, previous addresses, amount of time at each residence, and payment history records from your past landlords'; 'you can get free copies of your reports every 12 months from many of the specialty consumer reporting agencies'; 'Other specialty consumer reporting agencies may charge you a fee for your report'; 'due in full or in part to information on your specialty report'; 'The landlord must provide you with an adverse action notice that includes the name and contact information of the consumer reporting agency'; 'must then give you a free copy of your consumer report that factored into the decision' · Checked October 17, 2026

26. HUD-approved housing counselors provide independent advice on buying a home, renting, defaults and credit issues, often at little or no cost; you find them by ZIP code with the CFPB's tool, which uses HUD's official list, and not every counselor offers every service.

    Sources 16 · Find a Housing Counselor: 'Housing counselors throughout the country can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, forbearances, foreclosures, and credit issues'; 'they can offer independent advice, often at little or no cost to you'; 'Search by ZIP code'; 'powered by HUD's official list of housing counselors'; 'Not every housing counselor offers all services' · Checked October 17, 2026