A credit report is an important document today. For availing any type of loan, home mortgage, auto insurance, or credit card services, a good credit report can save on money by lowering the interest rates charged. The U.S. states allow a free credit report to be provided to any citizen by the three major credit report agencies. A special website allows one to apply for a free credit report.

A credit report is a summary of the credit history of an individual providing details like amounts due, payment history of credit bills, etc. The credit bureaus also provide a credit score that shows in a nutshell the ranking of an individual compared to others.

Credit bureaus like Equifax provide a number of services related to credit reports, and charge customers for the same. Visiting their online sites is the best way to acquaint oneself on issues related to credit reports and credit fraud.

It is important for consumers to keep a regular check on their credit reports as the number of online and offline credit frauds increase, especially identity theft. The bureaus provide services to counter such threats as well.

A good credit report can save one valuable dollars as it can be used to bargain a lower interest rate on credit card purchases and mortgages. A bad credit history can mean a higher interest rate, and may even result in denial of credit or mortgage.

Obtaining a free copy of the credit report is therefore the first step toward keeping a check on one