Ideally, you should plan to order a free annual credit report from one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) every four months on a rotating basis. Keep track of these dates on an appointment calendar so you don't forget.
In addition, there are times in life when checking to make sure that there are no errors in your credit report is especially important. Plan to allow several months before these events occur in case there is negative information that needs to be corrected. These life events include applying for a home mortgage or refinancing; buying or leasing a car; renting an apartment; applying for a job or job promotion; buying insurance or switching insurance companies; and applying for a professional license, military enlistment, or security clearance.
Free annual credit reports can be accessed online at www.annualcreditreport.com.
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