# If I check my credit score on Credit Karma.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362 "2015-10-03T14:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/1 "2015-10-03T14:26:33Z")
…will I forever be blasted with emails? ---
**Author:** ![ccccalc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@ccccalc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccccalc)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/2 "2015-10-03T16:14:40Z")
why not use the website that’s required to give your a free credit report per Federal law? [https://www.annualcreditreport.com/](https://www.annualcreditreport.com/) (operated by the three big credit bureaus) > **[How do I get a copy of my credit reports? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-get-a-copy-of-my-credit-reports-en-5/)** > > You have the right to request one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. You may also be able to view free reports... ---
**Author:** ![andrewm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@andrewm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/3 "2015-10-03T16:17:52Z")
Minor detail, the mandatory free annual reports do not include your actual _score_ number. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/4 "2015-10-03T16:30:55Z")
Nope. I used Credit Karma for a while. It’s got tons of somewhat dubious ads on the website itself\*. If they send emails, they’re at least good about respecting the “unsubscribe” button. I haven’t noticed any third-party credit or banking emails (at least none that get past the standard Gmail spam filter). I stopped using them because two of my credit cards started giving me credit scores for free, and I really didn’t gain any practical information from watching +/- 2 point score wiggles. Account deletion was completely painless. \*legitimate offers from lenders that rely on your inability to do math. E.g. “save $50/month by refinancing to a longer-period, higher interest rate loan!” ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/5 "2015-10-03T23:58:22Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > I stopped using them because two of my credit cards started giving me credit scores for free, and I really didn’t gain any practical information from watching +/- 2 point score wiggles. Can you tell us what credit cards give you your credit scores for free? I think a lot of people would be interested in that. The late not-entirely-lamented Washington Mutual Bank gave free credit scores to their checking account holders. When they went out of business and Chase bought them, that ended. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/6 "2015-10-03T23:59:50Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > …will I forever be blasted with emails? I use Credit Karma all the time and have never receive any spammy emails. Or any emails from them, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/7 "2015-10-04T00:24:47Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Can you tell us what credit cards give you your credit scores for free? I think a lot of people would be interested in that. I have a Discover It card and an American Express Blue Cash Everyday card, and they both offer free credit scores. As to the OP, I agree with the above responses regarding Credit Karma, they’re a legit business and don’t send spam emails. They probably do well enough just from their advertising rates, since they give the credit card companies unprecedented opportunities for well-targeted ads. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/8 "2015-10-04T00:26:16Z")
As others have said, [Creditkarma.com](http://Creditkarma.com) is completely legit and a valuable tool. I have used it myself for years. They make money by suggesting credit cards and loans you would be a good fit for on the site itself. There is no catch and really is completely free. You can get your credit score from some credit cards. My BarclayCard gives it as a free service for example but Creditkarma goes well beyond that. It gives you the scores from two of the three major credit bureaus (Transunion and Equifax) and it coaches you on how to get your score up to whatever levels you want by breaking it down by factor. I have played it like a real-life video game for several years and my credit scores are ridiculously high (827 out of 850). There is no real point to having a credit score that high except for assurance that you will never be turned down for that reason but maintaining a decent credit score (\>720) has lots of real-world personal financial implications ranging from mortgage rates to car loan terms. I use my super-high credit score to get really good credit cards that I use to earn free travel and then cancel as soon as I get the introductory benefits from it. I have done that for years and still have way more free plane tickets and travel rewards than I can use in a reasonable amount of time. I log into CreditKarma once a week and have caught fraudulent entries that caused my score to drop like a rock twice. I filed a dispute online with the relevant reporting agency and they were gone forever within 24 hours. You don’t have that immediate power if you only check your credit scores once or twice a year through the other free channels. I am not affiliated with CreditKarma in any way but I have been an satisfied member for several years. It is one of the best free services available and joining is all upside in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/9 "2015-10-04T03:14:27Z")
Walmart credit card gives you a free Fico score. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/10 "2015-10-04T04:04:24Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > As others have said, [Creditkarma.com](http://Creditkarma.com) is completely legit and a valuable tool. I use it, too, and I agree. They do send an occasional email: If I haven’t logged on for a while, and my credit score has changed significantly, they send an email to tell me about the change and suggest I take a look at it. > [@Shagnasty](#): > > . . . Creditkarma goes well beyond that. It gives you the scores from two of the three major credit bureaus (Transunion and Equifax) and it coaches you on how to get your score up to whatever levels you want by breaking it down by factor. Yes, and this is helpful for someone who isn’t familiar with the whole credit score system. > [@Shagnasty](#): > > I . . . have caught fraudulent entries that caused my score to drop like a rock twice. I filed a dispute online with the relevant reporting agency and they were gone forever within 24 hours. I once noticed an inaccuracy by looking over my Credit Karma info, and was able to have it corrected by going through the website itself. (They sent me directly to the place to lodge a complaint.) In my case, too, it was corrected in a matter of days. > [@Shagnasty](#): > > It is one of the best free services available and joining is all upside in my opinion. Again, I agree. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/11 "2015-10-04T13:58:43Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Can you tell us what credit cards give you your credit scores for free? I think a lot of people would be interested in that. > > The late not-entirely-lamented Washington Mutual Bank gave free credit scores to their checking account holders. When they went out of business and Chase bought them, that ended. One was mentioned already: Amex gives me a for-reals FICO score, with brief summaries of factors in my credit report that effect the score. I also have a card with USAA, and they give me an Experian Vantagescore with similarly brief summaries. With USAA they’re definitely trying to upsell me on (rather silly IMO) credit monitoring services. Credit Karma has a lot more detailed analysis and many useful tools. I used to check scores multiple times a month but wasn’t “gaming” them like **Shagnasty**. My scores are good enough for most practical purposes, and I’m not even planning on getting a mortgage or a car loan any time in the next few years. I was happy with their service, I just didn’t need it any more. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/12 "2015-10-04T14:37:03Z")
Yep, my Barclay card also gives free credit scores. 848 baby. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/13 "2015-10-04T16:21:47Z")
I have a Capital One card and they provide free credit scores. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/14 "2015-10-06T08:58:35Z")
Another vote in favor of Credit Karma (the iPhone app version at least). I checked it out before using and all the online reviews were positive. I’ve never ever received spam from it and its appraisal of my credit rating has been very accurate. The only emails I’ve gotten from them are when something on my credit report changes (good or bad) which I want. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/15 "2015-10-06T20:37:48Z")
Another thumbs up for Credit Karma. I assumed it was a scam for a long time but my wife (who is more finance-savvy than me) made me sign up and it’s both helpful and non-scammy. As noted, they make money by referring you to outside financial institutions (credit card issuers and loan providers, etc.) whose products you qualify for. Other than some rather self-serving advice about whether to consolidate student loans with a private lender (don’t do this), I have no complaints at all. > [@enipla](#): > > Yep, my Barclay card also gives free credit scores. 848 baby. 😃 You can get a Barclaycard in the US? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362/16 "2015-10-06T21:34:36Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] You can get a Barclaycard in the US? [/QUOTE] Sure. They’re still the primary card issuer for Apple.