How to Read Your Three-Bureau Credit Report

Your credit report from each bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) contains the same types of information, but the format, codes, and terminology differ.

Personal information section

Name, addresses, SSN, date of birth, employer history. Look for misspellings, outdated addresses, or accounts that don't belong to you.

Account section (trade lines)

Each credit account shows the creditor name, account number (usually partial), account type, date opened, credit limit or loan amount, current balance, payment history, and status.

Public records

Bankruptcies, civil judgments, and tax liens. These should fall off after 7-10 years depending on the type.

Inquiries

Hard inquiries (from credit applications) and soft inquiries (from pre-approvals or your own checks). Only hard inquiries affect your score, and they fall off after 2 years.