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Free credit score

April 01, 2011 12:19AM
What is the easiest wy to get a free credit score. Went online and when it says "Free credit score', you end up having to give info., and credit card #, and after a month your signed and get reports paying a hefty fee. Timeshares (Wyndham) now requires shoppers to give credit score online before they'll accept you for jobs. Just another loop to jump through.

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April 01, 2011 12:22AM
Some banks offer a low cost or no cost package with their seniors checking that indicates credit scores are included. I have always avoided those packages as more information than my bank needs.

I have found the cheapest way to get a credit score is on line and just pay the $15 to Experian or one of those. It is even sweeter when a company wants you to get your credit score to do a shop for them and reimburses the cost. I generally get my credit score at least once a year under such circumstances.
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April 01, 2011 12:49AM
The company will reimburse you for getting it online. My bank does not offer that service, so, guess I'll have to go along with their program.

Live consciously....
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April 01, 2011 02:43AM
I'm sorry I don't have the link, but there is a way to get one for free every year, without a fee.
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April 01, 2011 02:45AM
Well, that search didn't take long at all. Here: [www.ftc.gov]
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April 01, 2011 03:06AM
Yes, you are entitled to free credit REPORTS every year from all 3 major reporting agencies. The purpose of these is to allow the consumer to check for errors. These do not include your credit SCORE, however. It is the score that is needed for the Wyndham and some bank shop situations where they are looking at how potential customers with certain ranges of scores are treated.
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April 01, 2011 03:12AM
Hmm, I'm confused. Granted, I haven't gotten credit reports for a long time, but I'm positive that the last time I did, scores were included. (The two were varied, but not by much -- I know that's not unusual.)
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April 01, 2011 03:13AM
With how cheap many MSPs are, if the score could be obtained for free they would not be reimbursing for it :-)
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April 01, 2011 03:16AM
This is true! Mine was obtained through a bank, so perhaps that's what the difference was. But if they're reimbursing for the information, that's a good thing!
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April 01, 2011 03:40AM
That was why I mentioned that with some banks, with some accounts, they offer customers the free credit report with score. A whole lot of banks seem to be offering packages for $3, $5 or $7 or free with certain types of accounts these days that have lots of coupons, identity theft protection, discounts for dental, prescriptions and eyewear, travel discounts and other 'deals' that are not necessarily 'deals' and have nothing to do with banking but are just another profit center to grab a fee each month.
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April 01, 2011 04:21AM
My problem with the reimbursement is, getting it through them allows you to join and receive one monthly for amount charged...you need to remember to cancel. I'm going to checkout NT's link, will let you know. I did hear your entitled to one a year and think phoning woudl be easier...here I go.

Live consciously....
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April 01, 2011 04:49AM
I think Flash is right about the SCORE vs. the report, therein lies the dilemma.
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April 01, 2011 12:06PM
Even easier way and free
sign up for a SEARS credit card, once a month you get the free score.
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April 01, 2011 04:27PM
I already have a Sears Credit Card. How can I get my score through them? Do I call the 1 800 number.
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April 01, 2011 04:50PM
Just in today's mail I got an offer from one of the banks I have opened an account for shops. It states "You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com or 877-322-8228, the ONLY authorized source under federal law."

They then go on to tell me about their identity theft program that includes all three credit bureau credit reports, my credit score and "Daily monitoring notifications". In small print on the signature stub I a to send in with my golden sticker is that unless I call to cancel during my thirty-day trial membership I will be charged a $9.95 membership fee "or then-current monthly fee" debited from my account. Presumably I could sign up, get my reports and score and then cancel before the 30 days is up. But the product they are selling is the daily monitoring and as a benefit there is $10,000 of identity theft insurance that doesn't cover actual losses but rather legal fees, charges to re-apply for credit, notarizing documents and long distance calls to restore identity. These guys aren't going to fix it for you but rather absorb some of the costs.
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April 01, 2011 05:49PM
That how they try to get you. By making it sound free but in reality there is a $9.95 monthly fee unless you cancel. They are banking on people procrastinating and not canceling.
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April 01, 2011 05:56PM
Yup, which is why I needed to pick up the torn up pieces of the offer from the trash to post my comments above. There are some kinds of insurance you just don't need, and what they are selling is very expensive insurance.
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April 01, 2011 06:02PM
I've been saying that, what "seems" free just isn't. I wrote in my above post, if you don't cancell, your on for a fee monthly, then get the CC to reverse...huge time consuming mess. I also got your "free" # Flash, and won't even get started. What about just calling one of the three credit Co's, going to do that, and will let you know, but won't give my CC. I do think there is way to get a free report, just have to knock down walls to find it!!

Live consciously....
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April 01, 2011 06:35PM
Yes, the free credit REPORT is your right under US law once per year and the website given or the phone number can yield that. That REPORT will not include your SCORE and it is your SCORE that you need. For the score, forget "FREE" unless you have a deal such as I got in the mail and cancel within 30 days or whatever the required period is. But if they are willing to reimburse you for getting your SCORE, why are we having this conversation? You simply go to, for example, [www.equifax.com] and purchase the one time, no 'extra' services report for $15.95, pay for it with your credit card and can print the whole thing--credit report, credit score and other information. Print any screen that looks like a receipt to submit for reimbursement. Not rocket science.

Edited to add: When you give your credit card number to one of the major credit reporting agencies you aren't giving them anything they don't have already :-)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/2011 06:36PM by Flash.
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April 01, 2011 09:02PM
[www.annualcreditreport.com] is the official site that'll give you all three of your credit reports. As Flash said, however, you are not entitled to a free score.

And if you buy a score, make sure it's your FICO score. FICO is the score that most lenders use, and it means the most. There are other scores (sometimes called FAKEOS), but lenders don't use them.
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April 01, 2011 09:07PM
The big deal is the MSC reimburses 7.99 and the report is 15.00, so, I wanted a free one..sounded like good sense to me, but what's the point if you don't get your fico score. Will rethink this job and if I don't meet there high standards I won't get the job anyway. Wanted to explore this before doing it.

Live consciously....
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April 01, 2011 09:35PM
You might look because the MSC may have found a site where you can get the score for $7.99. I noted there were a couple of "specials" when I took a quick look, including one 'free' on the web that you have 7 days to cancel 'service'.
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April 02, 2011 02:35AM
Check with your credit card companies. Many will monitor and provide your credit score if asked. I have 2 different credit cards that offer my particular score when I log into my credit card account online. No charge or annual fee for those cards...
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April 02, 2011 02:48AM
Thanks Steve, will do that...American Exp. is pretty helpful, great idea.

Live consciously....
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April 02, 2011 04:35AM
Irene here is the one and only and free....www.annualcreditreport.com What is AnnualCreditReport.com?
AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY authorized source for the free annual credit report that's yours by law. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission has received complaints from consumers who thought they were ordering their free annual credit report, and yet couldn't get it without paying fees or buying other services. TV ads, email offers, or online search results may tout "free" credit reports, but there is only one authorized source for a truly free credit report.

[www.ftc.gov]
Federal Trade Commission
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April 02, 2011 02:50PM
Lost to me in this discussion is exactly why does a timeshare shop need your credit score and what is it used for? Do you actually have your credit run during these shops?
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April 02, 2011 02:51PM
Izzy, thanks and I know about site you mentioned...I went on and started procedure to find you have to give your credit card and will get first month free, however, after that you will automatically be charged monthly unless you cancel, so, yes, you get a free report but then are charged after that.
I'll try Steve's suggestion.

Live consciously....
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April 02, 2011 06:00PM
The timeshare client now does a soft hit on your credit to see if you are above 650 before allowing you into the presentation (and allowing you the gift).

I think there are getting tired of the "I just can't qualify for this," line.....or people actually trying to buy and not being able to. It's my understanding the the end cost to the timeshare company is about $500 for each presentation, so it just economics.

Not that I need another excuse NOT to take another timeshare presentation.....
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April 02, 2011 06:01PM
Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Izzy, thanks and I know about site you
> mentioned...I went on and started procedure to
> find you have to give your credit card and will
> get first month free, however, after that you will
> automatically be charged monthly unless you
> cancel, so, yes, you get a free report but then
> are charged after that.
> I'll try Steve's suggestion.


The site Izzy mentioned gives out credit reports for free, no credit card needed. It does not give out the credit score for free.

karen
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April 02, 2011 06:56PM
SteveSoCal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Check with your credit card companies. Many will
> monitor and provide your credit score if asked. I
> have 2 different credit cards that offer my
> particular score when I log into my credit card
> account online. No charge or annual fee for those
> cards...


Make sure it's your FICO score, though. One of my credit cards (Visa) does the same thing, but it's TransUnion's version of the score (Vantage Score) and practically useless.
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