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Q: How often can I check my credit score?

A: You can check your credit score as often as you like. And since your score can change at any time, you should do it often. Checking it yourself will not have a negative effect on your score and is a good way to keep tabs on your creditworthiness in the eyes of lenders. Note that your credit score does not automatically come with your credit report. To find out your score you will have to pay for it. Your best bet is to order your FICO scores at myFICO.com from both Equifax and TransUnion. Check your score frequently—quarterly or even monthly—particularly if you are planning to ask for a loan in the near future. In accordance with the Fair-Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), every 12 months all Americans are allowed one free credit report from each of the three national credit agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. To get an official report visit AnnualCreditReport.com, a site that was set up by the three national agencies and is the only source for obtaining authorized reports. It’s a good idea to order reports from all three agencies since they collect information from different sources and can sometimes have different information about your credit. Read your report carefully to find out about any late credit payments, inaccuracies or signs of fraud.

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