While formats vary between the three major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion), most reports include these five categories:
: Legal filings such as bankruptcies. Note that while tax liens were previously common, many bureaus have reduced their reporting of these. credidt*report
: Details on your credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages, including the date opened, credit limit, current balance, and payment history. While formats vary between the three major bureaus
: Your name, current and former addresses, date of birth, Social Security number, and employment history. : Your name, current and former addresses, date
: A list of everyone who has accessed your report in the last two years. This includes "hard" inquiries (when you apply for credit) and "soft" inquiries (like pre-approved offers).
Building and protecting your credit is a long-term process. Experts recommend several key habits: Understand, get, and improve your credit score | USAGov