Read Your Credit Report Line by Line

Your credit report has four parts: identifying information, accounts, inquiries, and public records. You can request a free copy from each of the three major bureaus.

Start with identifying information. Misspelled names and old addresses are common and usually harmless, but a name you do not recognize can be an early sign of mixed files or fraud.

In the accounts section, verify balances, limits, open dates, and payment status for every line. Errors in reported limits quietly inflate your utilization.

Finally, review inquiries. Hard inquiries you did not authorize deserve a dispute and, in some cases, a credit freeze.