There are several options for obtaining a free credit report that is not tied to any obligations. You have the right as a consumer to obtain a free copy of your credit report. However, while it's not difficult to find a website that claims to offer a free credit score, finding one that actually does so without asking for your credit card number can be difficult. It can be a catch-22 if you want to check your credit report before getting a credit card. You don't have to give up your credit card number for something which claims to be free, and the good news is that you don't have to. There are a few ways to get a free credit score without entering your credit card number.
There's a Catch to Credit Scores
Many websites that offer free credit scores use a gimmick to entice you in with the promise of a free score. However, in order to obtain that score, you must first sign up for a free trial subscription to a credit monitoring service. The catch is that if you don't cancel within a certain amount of time, usually seven days, you'll be charged for the subscription. Warning: Many sites require you to pay a monthly service fee after a free trial period if you want regular access to your score.Free Credit Scores Websites
In reality, a number of websites provide free credit scores without requiring a credit card or a paid subscription. Here are a few examples: All consumers can use Capital One's CreditWise service. You can sign up even if you don't have a Capital One credit card. Your VantageScore 3.0 will be updated monthly based on your TransUnion credit report. Credit Karma provides you with a free credit score based on your Equifax and TransUnion credit reports. They also include your VantageScore 3.0 at no additional charge. Your Social Security number and other identifying information may be requested, but your credit card number will never be requested.Best of all, if you want, you can check your credit score every day
Credit Sesame's mission is to connect you with debt-reduction opportunities such as refinancing and low-interest credit cards. Your free credit score is part of this personal credit management tool deal, and you don't have to provide your credit card information to get it. Discover offers a free credit scorecard that includes your FICO score based on the information from your Experian credit report. Sign up for the scorecard, which is updated monthly, even if you aren't a Discover customer. Lending Tree offers a free copy of your VantageScore 3.0 and updates it every month. You'll also be able to see how your credit is affected by various factors.Credit Score Disclosure Is Required
You are entitled to one free annual credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. To get a report, go to annualcreditreport.com and fill out the form. Unfortunately, this law does not provide consumers with access to their credit scores, which are not included in credit reports. Banks, lenders, and credit card companies, on the other hand, are required to give you a free credit score if they deny your application, offer you less-than-favorable terms, or raise your rates due to your credit. When a mortgage lender checks your credit for a loan application, they must also disclose your credit score. Even if you're denied, there are times when you won't be able to get this free credit score. When a bank uses an in-house credit score, for example, the credit score disclosure isn't required, and insurance companies aren't required to disclose the credit-based score used to assign your insurance premium. However, if you're denied credit or insurance, it's not a bad idea to inquire about your credit score.This isn't a FICO score
The disadvantage of free credit scores, with the exception of the Discover Credit Scorecard, is that they are unlikely to be FICO scores, which are the most commonly used by lenders. Credit Karma, Credit Wise, and Credit Sesame all provide you with a FAKO score, which is the credit bureau's version of your credit score. These scores can differ from one another and are usually not the same as your FICO score. With a credit score disclosure, you may receive a free FICO score, but only if the bank used a FICO score in its decision. Otherwise, you'll receive a new score, but it will be the bank's actual score rather than an educational score.