Once you start building credit in the US, you’ll want to check on it. Is anything being reported? Are there mistakes? Is your score improving? You can do all of this for free, without signing up for paid services.
Credit report vs. credit score
These two words are often used as if they mean the same thing. They don’t.
| Credit report | Credit score | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A detailed record of your credit accounts and payment history | A three-digit number summarizing your credit risk |
| Who creates it | The three bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion | Scoring companies like FICO and VantageScore, using report data |
| Free source | AnnualCreditReport.com | Bank and card apps, some free services |
Step 1: Get your free credit reports
AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site authorized by federal law. You can get free reports from all three bureaus. The bureaus have made weekly free reports available online.
Watch out: Look-alike sites may try to sell you subscriptions. Type the address directly, and you should never need a credit card to get your free report.
You’ll need your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. As a newcomer, identity verification questions can be tricky if your file is thin. If online verification fails, you can request reports by mail or phone.
Step 2: See your score for free
Free scores are widely available:
- Your credit card issuer or bank, many of which show a FICO or VantageScore in their app or monthly statement
- Free credit monitoring services from the bureaus or other companies
- Some credit unions, often with educational tools
The number you see can differ between sources, because there are many score versions. That’s normal.
FICO vs. VantageScore
Both usually range from 300 to 850. FICO scores are used in most lending decisions. VantageScore is common in free apps. They weigh similar factors, so if one improves, the other usually does too.
What’s a good score?
General FICO ranges:
| Range | Rating |
|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional |
| 740–799 | Very good |
| 670–739 | Good |
| 580–669 | Fair |
| Below 580 | Poor |
Most newcomers start without a score at all, then land in the fair or good range after six to twelve months of on-time payments.
Why you might not have a score yet
- You haven’t had a credit account for about six months
- Your accounts aren’t reporting to the bureaus yet
- Your SSN wasn’t added to your card account
This is sometimes called being “credit invisible.” It isn’t a bad mark; it just means there isn’t enough data.
How to read your credit report
Look at each section:
- Personal information: names, addresses, employers. Check spelling and addresses
- Accounts: each card or loan, with limits, balances and payment history
- Inquiries: “hard” inquiries from applications you made, and “soft” ones that don’t affect your score
- Public records and collections: bankruptcies or debts sent to collection agencies
How to dispute errors
If something is wrong, such as an account you don’t recognize or a late payment you actually made on time:
- Gather proof, like bank statements or letters
- File a dispute online with the bureau that shows the error
- Also contact the company that reported it
- The bureau generally must investigate, usually within 30 days
- Check the result and your updated report
Accounts you don’t recognize can be a sign of identity theft. Report it at IdentityTheft.gov.
Protect your credit
- Freeze your credit with all three bureaus for free. A freeze stops new accounts being opened in your name, and you can lift it when you apply for something
- Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication on bank apps
- Never share your SSN by phone or text unless you started the contact
- Shred documents with personal information
How often should you check?
Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and doesn’t hurt your score. A quick monthly look at your score, and a full report review every few months, is plenty. Check more closely before a big application, like an apartment, car loan or mortgage.
Improving your score
The same habits help every time: pay on time, keep card balances low compared with your limits, avoid opening many accounts at once, and keep older accounts open. Time does much of the rest.
How long things stay on your credit report
| Item | Typical time on report |
|---|---|
| On-time payment history | Can stay as long as the account is reported, and up to 10 years after closing |
| Late payments | Up to 7 years |
| Collections accounts | Up to 7 years |
| Hard inquiries | 2 years (affect scores for about 1 year) |
| Most bankruptcies | 7 to 10 years |
What affects your FICO score
| Factor | Approximate weight |
|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% |
| Amounts owed (utilization) | 30% |
| Length of credit history | 15% |
| New credit | 10% |
| Credit mix | 10% |
For newcomers, the first two factors do most of the work. Pay on time and keep balances low.
A monthly credit check routine
- Open your card or bank app and check your score
- Scan your latest statement for unknown charges
- Check that balances are low compared with your limits
- Every few months, download a full report from AnnualCreditReport.com and review accounts and inquiries
- Keep a note of any changes, like new accounts or limit increases
Credit monitoring: free vs. paid
Many free services alert you when new accounts or inquiries appear. Paid monitoring adds features like identity theft insurance and monitoring of more data sources. For most newcomers, free alerts plus a credit freeze give strong protection.
When your identity is new to the US
If you just got an SSN, the bureaus may not have a file for you yet. Once you open a credit card or loan, a file is created. If online verification doesn’t work at first, try again after a few months, or request a report by mail.
Credit scores and renting, insurance and jobs
- Landlords often check credit reports and sometimes scores
- Insurers in most states use credit-based insurance scores to set prices
- Employers may check credit reports, with your permission, for some jobs, but don’t see your score
Keeping your credit healthy helps in more places than just loans.
Newcomer FAQ: situations people ask about
I had great credit in my home country. Why is my US score blank? US bureaus don’t receive data from most foreign bureaus. A few services translate credit history from certain countries for specific lenders, but your US score still starts from zero.
My score dropped after I applied for an apartment. Some landlords run hard inquiries, which can lower scores slightly for a few months. The effect is usually small and temporary.
I paid off a card and my score went down. Closing a card or paying off a loan can change your utilization or credit mix. Small moves like this are normal and usually recover.
My name is spelled differently on some accounts. Ask the lender to update it, and dispute incorrect personal information with the bureaus. Consistent names across your passport, SSN and accounts help avoid mixed files.
Can I check a family member’s credit? Only with their permission. Parents can request reports for minor children to check for identity theft.
Key terms at a glance
- Credit bureau: a company that collects credit data (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
- Soft inquiry: a check that doesn’t affect your score, like checking your own credit
- Hard inquiry: a check from a credit application
- Credit freeze: a free block on new credit being opened in your name
- Thin file: a credit report with little history, common for newcomers
