# credit scores **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380 "2003-08-29T05:24:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lollipop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@lollipop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lollipop)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/1 "2003-08-29T05:24:12Z")
Generally I should have a pretty good credit history however, I’ve made a few late payments and was the victim of identity theft a few years ago. My husband and I are looking to buy a house. I s there anyway to obtain my credit score for free? It seems that most people want to charge $12.95 per credit score, with three credit organizations, my huband and I would need to purchase six copies. Any suggestions would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/2 "2003-08-29T05:51:40Z")
You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report whenever you are denied a loan (credit card, mortgage, whatever.) The creditor must send you a letter listing the reasons for denial and the credit agency that was used. You can then send that letter to the credit agency and they will provide their report for free. If you’re applying for a mortgage, it is _imperitive_ that you obtain a copy of your reports from all three major credit agencies and check them for accuracy. The error rate on those things is alarmingly high. Disputing derogatory marks on your report is fairly easy to do. I took care of some through the bureaus’ websites in about 30 minutes. The great thing about disputing a derogatory mark is that if the credit bureau cannot confirm it with the lender (they must try to) it will be removed from your report, even if it’s true. So you may be able to get the late payments removed from your report if you dispute them. All disputes must be investigated, and you cannot be charged a fee for filing a dispute. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/3 "2003-08-29T12:30:00Z")
Check out: [www.freecreditreport.com](http://www.freecreditreport.com) I’ve never used them, only heard Neil Boortz advertising for them on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/4 "2003-08-29T13:09:03Z")
Credit scores are not free, but reports are free when denied credit, employment and a list of other things. You can get the report without the score for free. Score is gonna cost you. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/5 "2003-08-29T15:26:13Z")
> [@](#): > > You can get the report without the score for free. Score is gonna cost you. Is this new? I requested a free report in January from TransUnion which included a score (I don’t know if it was _the_ score or just _a_ score) then another in May which had no score. This disappointed me because I had some junk fall off the back end of the report but assumed a car loan so I was really interested to see the score. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/6 "2003-08-29T16:58:46Z")
Also, don`t do a ton of searches on your credit history just before trying to get a loan. Each search looks like an attempt to acquire credit - which the lender may frown upon. I was told that each search knocks your score down 5 points - FWIW. The way I got my scores for free was to go to a lender and ask them to get them for me. If you use them as the lender then they recoup the costs through the closing fees. If you don`t use them as a lender then they just write it off as the cost of doing business. Walk into a mortgage broker and tell them you`re interested in working with them to get a home loan, the fist thing they do is run your credit report and go over it with you. The first time I did this in person at the mortgage brokers office. The second time (different broker) I gave the info over the phone and they E-mailed the results back to me. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/7 "2003-08-29T17:17:07Z")
Maybe it’s different for Americans but getting your score is free, and the check is considered a “soft hit” and does not show up on a credit check run by a company (like mine). Equifax is the best place to check, www.equifax.ca (or com for the US) will tell you how you can get your free check by mail. Online instant checks cost money ($20 CAN). ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/8 "2003-08-29T17:17:19Z")
**Otto** , TU stopped providing free scores, but did give them out at one time. All big 3 credit reporting agencies now charge for the score, even when the report is paid for or free…the score is always extra now. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Composer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Composer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Composer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/9 "2003-08-29T18:27:47Z")
Whether a score is free or not depends on your state. In Georgia, we are entitled to 2 free credit reports (including a score) per year- regardless of whether credit has been denied/granted. YMMV, of course. ---
**Author:** ![zoltar7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b38774/32.png) [@zoltar7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoltar7)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/10 "2003-08-29T21:15:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whuckfistle \* > \*\*Also, don`t do a ton of searches on your credit history just before trying to get a loan. Each search looks like an attempt to acquire credit - which the lender may frown upon. I was told that each search knocks your score down 5 points - FWIW. \*\* My understanding is that your own inquiries don’t count toward your score. [Credit Myths from MSN Money](http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/Yourcreditrating/P41876.asp) [myFICO - Credit inquiries](http://www.myfico.com/myfico/CreditCentral/CreditInquires.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/11 "2003-08-29T21:52:20Z")
I have pulled my own score on Equifax… 150 times in the last year. The only inquiries that count against me are the 6 or so credit applications I filled out in the last year. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/12 "2003-08-29T23:46:23Z")
**zoltar7** and **Jonathan Woodall** , I’m not sure but I think **whuckfistle** meant by his own, “special” approach – pretend you’re getting a mortgage and have the lender go over it with you! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/13 "2003-08-30T00:05:33Z")
Balthisar: Yeah, that’s my reading too. By the way, whuckfistle’s approach is credit SUICIDE. Never let anyone run your credit unless you’re ACTUALLY buying something or shopping for a better deal on credit that you NEED for something. In higher credit score brackets, a single inquiry may suck 30 points off of your score. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/14 "2003-08-31T00:32:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Woodall \* > \*\*Balthisar: > Yeah, that’s my reading too. > By the way, whuckfistle’s approach is credit SUICIDE. Never let anyone run your credit unless you’re ACTUALLY buying something or shopping for a better deal on credit that you NEED for something. > In higher credit score brackets, a single inquiry may suck 30 points off of your score. \*\* The OP **is** trying to buy something - a house. You only want to do this if you are actively looking for a home loan as the OP is doing. You would normally shop lenders anyway, so you will have your credit run a few times by legit lenders. Usually legit lenders` hits don`t come up as negatives on your report - they understand you are shopping lenders and this is acceptable (They can differentiate between mortgage brokers and credit card apps). Credit card companies and dept. stores are a seperate issue. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/15 "2003-09-02T14:03:24Z")
I gotta’ remark that some mortgage lenders (not all, but perhaps as many as 50%) don’t properly code their inquiries as mortgage inquiries. If they don’t get coded as mortgage inquiries… then they would count just as if they were credit card applications. This might not hurt you in _subjective_ scoring, but it will ding your computer-generated score… and that’s almost the only one that matters. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/16 "2003-09-02T15:11:31Z")
A point that I had forgot to mention… The lender(s) - (the one I ended up using) allowed me to sign a form letter stating that the hits on my credit (in the last month or so) were due to mortgage shopping, and were not “other” means of trying to acrue credit. So, in the end, the mortgage company you end up working with can and should overlook these hits. I think that`s what **JW** meant by subjective scoring. I think your %50 is pretty high, why would they all want to hurt your credit in such a way if it could easily be avoided? Especially if they know how the system works… ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/17 "2003-09-02T15:27:09Z")
-multiple mtg inquiries within a certain time frame are viewed as one inquiry for scoring purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-scores/198380/18 "2003-09-02T15:53:19Z")
whuckfistle: Why would they want to hurt your score? Oh they, wouldn’t. However, a lot of companies seem to be highly _inept_ when it comes to handling credit reporting and scoring. That being said, 50% may be high. But it is deppressingly commonplace.