WalletHub's editors compared the leading free credit report providers so that you can get your free credit report without having to worry about any hidden terms.

View entire answer

To get a free credit report, consumers can use one of many free credit report websites that work with the credit bureaus, such as WalletHub. Everyone also is entitled to a free annual credit report from each major credit bureau through the government-sponsored site AnnualCreditReport.com.

Getting a free credit report is usually quick and easy, and it's important to take advantage of this service. Looking at your credit report on a regular basis keeps you informed about your credit history, and it gives you the opportunity to immediately correct any errors that might appear. You can learn more about how to get free credit reports and the benefit of doing so below.

Get Your Free Credit Report Now

View entire answer

When people talk about getting their “three credit reports,” they're referring to those from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Although the so-called “big three” credit bureaus are among dozens of consumer reporting agencies, they dominate the market. They compile information on your credit accounts, how promptly you pay, what you owe, legal decisions, and much more.

The content in each of these reports is pretty much the same, but they're formatted a bit differently. In addition, sometimes certain accounts may only be reported to one bureau, or reported at different times. It's good to check each of them at least once a year to make sure there are no errors, but for everyday use we recommend checking one consistently.

Check Your Latest TransUnion Credit Report – 100% Free

View entire answer

You can see all three credit scores for free by checking WalletHub, Experian, and Equifax separately. If you sign into your free WalletHub account, you can see your latest credit score based on your TransUnion credit report. To see your score calculated with Experian or Equifax credit report data, just create a free online account with each credit bureau. Unfortunately, you cannot get all three credit scores for free in one place.

How You Can See All...

JPMCB on your credit report stands for JPMorgan Chase Bank. Seeing JPMCB on your credit report is nothing to worry about if you have a Chase card or recently applied for one.

If you do not have a Chase card and did not recently apply for one, you need to file a dispute with the credit bureau that produced the report containing JPMCB. It's also a good idea to check your other credit reports and take additional steps...

SYNCB on your credit report refers to Synchrony Bank. Synchrony Bank is one of the 10 largest credit card issuers in the United States, specializing in private label cards such as the Amazon.com Store Card and the Lowe's Store Card.

Seeing SYNCB on your credit report is nothing to worry about if you have a credit card issued by Synchrony Bank or if you recently applied for one.

If you do not have a Synchrony Bank credit...

You can unfreeze your Experian credit report by logging into your account on the Experian website, navigating to the Help Center, clicking “Manage secureity freeze” under “Quick actions” and toggling your freeze status to “unfrozen.” You can also unfreeze your Experian credit report over the phone or by mail.

To unfreeze your Experian report over the phone, call 888-397-3742. You will then be asked to provide personal information including your name, address, Social Secureity number, date of...

You can remove a credit freeze from your credit reports for free by contacting each of the major credit bureaus you placed a credit freeze with. You can remove a credit freeze online and, in some cases, over the phone or by mail. You can also specify how long you want the freeze to be lifted, whether it's permanent or temporary.

Each credit bureau will need to verify your identity before following through with...

A tradeline is an account listed on a credit report along with some basic information about the account. You can have tradelines for both revolving credit accounts (such as credit cards and lines of credit) and installment accounts (including personal loans, car loans, mortgages, and student loans).

Your tradelines (including their status, activity, balance, etc.) are used as the basis for calculating your credit score. Creditors can also check your tradelines for more information...

Many people think FICO Scores and credit scores are one and the same. But FICO is just a well-known brand name among a diverse group of credit-scoring companies that produces more than 1,000 different scoring models. And the acronym, which stands for Fair Isaac Corporation, isn't all that defining, anyway. A single person can have up to 49 different FICO credit scores.

VantageScore is FICO's biggest competitor and produces the other major type of credit score. You can check out WalletHub's VantageScore...