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Credit Ratings 101
The Importance of Knowing Your Credit Score By Cara J. Stevens
, which enables you to order reports from each agency or a 3-in-1 report that gives a side-by-side comparison. You should also check the Yellow Pages and contact local agencies to see if they have a file on you as well. After you get your first set of reports, check your score at least once a year (some agencies such as Equifax suggest every 90 days) so that your score doesn't surprise you when you need it most.
You may also be entitled to a free credit report. The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Fair Credit Reporting Act states: "There's no charge if a company takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance or employment, and you request your report within 60 days of receiving the notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address and phone number of the CRA. In addition, you're entitled to one free report a year if (1) you're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days, (2) you're on welfare or (3) your report is inaccurate because of fraud. Otherwise, a CRA may charge you up to $9 for a copy of your report."
Some companies offer free credit reports but caveat emptor: "Read the fine print," says Janet Wickell, a broker/REALTOR at Brevard Realty Team in North Carolina and About.com Guide to Home Buying. "Some companies offer free credit reports if you agree to buy something from them. If you want what they're selling, fine, but you might be better off ordering reports directly from the reporting agencies."
And you should never order a credit report from a company you are unfamiliar with. Identity theft is a rapidly 
