Get Your Credit Reports (for free)!

If you never have, or haven't yet this year, go get your credit reports. Just visit AnnualCreditReport and you will be guided through to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion where you can get your credit reports for free. AnnualCreditReport is a site set up by the big three credit reporting agencies in the United States to furnish free annual credit reports as required by federal law. There will be pages along the way asking you if you want to buy your credit score, or sign up for a subscription - doing so is up to you. But to get your report you don't have to pay a thing.

Why is it important to do this? Mainly to check and see if there's any misinformation about you or your credit history on record. Any negative information can impact your credit score, which can in turn impact your ability to get credit. And God forbid this ever impacts on your ability to shop for bargains!

I just got mine and am wondering what the heck a couple of credit cards listed under my name actually are...I have no idea.