When we were getting ready to refinance our house I had a list of things to get in order first.
I wanted to be sure that we would pass the lender’s underwriting guidelines with flying colors. I’ve found that it’s much easier to get something fixed before applying for a new loan, than trying to get it fixed while the bank is involved.
Checking Our Credit Reports
Once everything was ready, but before I applied, I checked our credit reports and credit scores just to make sure all was well. Good thing I checked, there was a balance on an old line that was paid off a couple years ago!
myFICO
To check my score and report, I used myFICO. They came in handy with 2 free scores and credit reports from Equifax. They also offer a 30-day free trial of score watch, so it was easy to sign up, check my report and score and cancel. Now that’s my kind of service: free, quick, and easy!
Here’s the official details of the service from their site:
- 2 free Equifax FICO® scores & credit reports – one at signup and one more at any time during your membership.
- 30-day free trial of Score Watch® with no obligation. Cancel online any time during your trial membership.
- Get alerts when your FICO® score and credit report change and see how the actions you take might affect your FICO® score with the FICO® Score Simulator.
They made it very easy to cancel, which was nice! Next time you need to check your credit score you might want to give MyFICO a try. Get your free Fico Scores and Reports!
Note: They also offer some paid credit monitoring services, which I have NOT tried; I only used the free trial.
Free Money
This article is part of the free money Friday series. Check out all the articles for tips on free money: signup bonuses, cash back, free offers, and more.
Update: As of February 14 2009, Experian will no longer allow consumers to view their FICO scores based upon Experian data. FICO scores from Equifax and TransUnion will continue to be available.
