Understanding your credit
Read the report before the score.
A report, a score and a lender's decision are related. They are not the same thing.
Three layers
Know which answer you are looking at.
Your credit report
A record of reported accounts and payment history. Checking it yourself does not hurt your score.
A credit score
A number calculated from report information. Models, data and timing can change it.
A lender's decision
A lender applies its own requirements. DuckWater does not make that decision.
Start with the source
Read what is actually being reported.
Request your reports through the federally authorized source, then read each one carefully.
- Confirm that the names, addresses and accounts are familiar.
- Review balances, payment history and account status for errors.
- Dispute errors with the reporting company and the business that supplied them.
Get your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. The CFPB also explains checking your own report, the report-score difference and how to dispute an error.