Your credit report is a detailed record of your credit history. It's what lenders, landlords, and even employers look at when they want to know how trustworthy you are.
What's On Your Report
Personal Information — Name, address, Social Security number, employers
Credit Accounts — Credit cards, loans, mortgages — open and closed
Payment History — Whether you pay on time, every month
Credit Inquiries — Who has looked at your report
Public Records — Bankruptcies, liens, judgments
Collections — Debts that have been sold to collection agencies
The Three Bureaus Are Different
There isn't just one credit report — there are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each collects information independently, so your reports can be different at each one.
This is important because a lender might check only one bureau. A negative item could appear on one report but not the others. That's why it's worth checking all three.
How Long Things Stay On
Late Payments
7 years from date of delinquency
Collections
7 years from date of first delinquency
Bankruptcies
7-10 years depending on type
Hard Inquiries
2 years (stops affecting score after 12 months)
Closed Accounts
10 years after closing (positive accounts stay indefinitely)
Your Rights Under the FCRA
The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you important rights:
You can request a free copy of your report once per year from each bureau
You can dispute inaccurate information
Negative information must be removed after the legally mandated time period
You can freeze your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened
How to Get Your Reports
The only official source for free annual reports is AnnualCreditReport.com. Don't pay for credit reports — they're free by law.