Perhaps the most important thing you can do, when it comes to protecting your financial livelihood, is to frequently check your FICO score and credit report.
There are thousands of small factors and variables which can easily have a profound affect on your credit rating.
Frequently these negative entries are errors or out-dated information, which can easily be corrected or removed, but only if you notify the credit reporting agency responsible.
If you have ever applied for a loan, mortgage, apartment, or credit card, then you already know how important your credit really is.
Maintaining a high credit rating will help you in all walks of life.
This is why it is so important to become acquainted with your FICO score by checking it at least once a year.
By doing so, you will be able to more easily detect any unusual activity or changes to your score.
You will also be able to spot any problem areas and develop a strategy to improve your credit score.
The FICO score is a numerical scale based on all your previous credit related activities and habits, it generally ranges from 300 to 850, with 850 representing the highest possible credit score.
This range can be broken into general categories: 700 to 850 is considered excellent credit 680 to 670 is considered good credit 620 to 680 is considered average credit 500 to 580 is considered low credit 300 to 4500 is considered bad credit There are several ways to get a free FICO score report, the most popular of which is by requesting a free credit report online.
There are dozens of reputable companies online which offer this service, free of charge.
They will usually offer additional services, such as credit repair and protection services, however these services are completely optional.
After receiving your free report, be sure to closely inspect it for any errors or information that does seem accurate.
Make it a top priority to check your FICO credit score online, as knowing where you stand financially can be very helpful.