If I request my credit report, will it hurt my credit score?
No. Your request for your own credit information won't affect your score. In fact, it's a good idea to check your credit reports and your score at least once a year to make sure there aren't any errors. You can order a free copy of your report from each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnions) every 12 months at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Your credit report may include a long list of inquiries from yourself, lenders and prospective employers. But the FICO credit score compiled by Fair Isaac only counts inquiries when you actually apply for a loan.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Now that more people shop online for mortgages and car loans, the scorekeepers realize that you might be applying to multiple lenders at one time to compare rates. As a result, the FICO score ignores all mortgage and auto inquiries made in the preceding 30 days. If clusters of inquiries have been made more than 30 days ago, the score counts all inquiries made within one "shopping period" as a single inquiry. For the older version of the FICO score, this period is any 14-day span. A newer version of the score expands the shopping period to 45 days.
For more information about your credit score, see Demystifying Your Credit Score.
-
To Future-Proof Retirement Security, We Need Better StrategiesWith retirees living longer and the inequalities that affect women and people of color, the retirement system needs some optimization. Here’s what would help.
-
Here's Why We All Win When Charitable Dollars Go to WomenGiving to charities for women and girls not only has a lasting impact on their lives — it also benefits society as a whole. Here’s how to start investing.
-
Credit Report Error? They All Mattercredit & debt Don't dismiss a minor error. It could be the sign of something more serious.
-
Insurance for a Learning Driverinsurance Adding a teen driver to your plan will raise premiums, but there are things you can do to help reduce them.
-
529 Plans Aren’t Just for Kids529 Plans You don’t have to be college-age to use the money tax-free, but there are stipulations.
-
When to Transfer Ownership of a Custodial Accountsavings Before your child turns 18, you should check with your broker about the account's age of majority and termination.
-
Borrowers Get More Time to Repay 401(k) Loans
retirement If you leave your job while you have an outstanding 401(k) loan, Uncle Sam now gives you extra time to repay it -- thanks to the new tax law.
-
When It Pays to Buy Travel Insurance
Travel Investing in travel insurance can help recover some costs when your vacation gets ruined by a natural disaster, medical emergency or other catastrophe.
-
What Travel Insurance Covers When Planes Are Grounded
Travel Your travel insurance might help with some costs if your trip was delayed because of the recent grounding of Boeing 737 Max planes.
-
Ways to Spend Your Flexible Spending Account Money by March 15 Deadline
spending Many workers will be hitting the drugstore in the next few days to use up leftover flexible spending account money from 2018 so they don’t lose it.
