Why should I occasionally review my credit report?

...or continue to "Where can I get a copy of my credit report?"

Identity Theft/Fraud: With identity theft on the rise in the United States, the number one reason to review your credit report at least once a year is to identify and stop fraud – before you need your credit.

You've Never Seen It: You should at least review your credit once in your life. See what the credit grantors know about you. It's amazing the amount of personal information that can be obtained in this one report.

Buying a Home or Car: Know ahead of time what appears on your report to help you shop for the best rate and take care of inaccuracies or past due balances.

Renting/Relocating: Prospective landlords will be checking your credit, and you might just holdup that great relocation by not having to wait for credit approval.

Divorce: You'll need to evaluate your financial position with your attorney. Make sure you check to see if there have been any accounts opened that you might not have known about.

Bankruptcy: Catch all your credit accounts. Letting one slip by can cause financial misery in the future.

Self-Employed: New entrepreneurs better check their credit before applying for merchant accounts and other business services.

Need a Credit Card: Or any other credit line, for that matter. It's always wise to check your credit report before applying in case there are any inaccuracies. Don't get caught surprised because someone else's information is on your credit report!

Financial Planning: Any long or short term financial planning involves looking at your current financial position. And what better way to see that than reviewing your current credit report?

Next: Where can I get a copy of my credit report?