A credit report is a profile of your financial life that's compiled by a credit reporting agency or credit bureau. A credit bureau receives and maintains records on anyone who's ever applied for credit. Each month, the credit bureau receives updates from creditors about the bill paying habits of their customers.

Your credit file may contain your:

• Age
  
• Social Security number
  
• Marital status
  
• Current and former addresses
  
• Employment history
  
• Information from public/court records, such as judgments or bankruptcy
  
• Credit accounts, including the date each was opened, the amount and balance, the status of the account, your pattern of payment, and the date of the last activity on the account.
  
• The number of inquiries about your credit history, as well as the date, and the name of the company making the inquiry
  

The information is sold to creditors, employers, insurers, and other businesses, so the information contained in a credit bureau report is very important. Defaulting on a loan may stay on your credit record for up to 7 years; declaring bankruptcy may stay on your record for 10 years.

You can order your Credit Report Online Today! Or contact one of these major credit bureaus below:

CSC Credit Services
Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 674402
Houston, TX 77267-4402
Phone: 1-800-392-7816

Equifax Credit Information Services
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Phone: 1-800-685-1111

Experian (Formerly known as TRW Information Services) National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2106
Allen, TX 75013-2104
Phone: 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion Corporation Consumer Relations Center
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
Phone: 1-800-916-8800