As you make financial decisions, it is important to understand how credit works and how your credit report may affect your choices. Your credit history can impact your ability to get a loan and the interest rates you will be charged, as well as your ability to get a job or find housing.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has developed a financial empowerment toolkit called Your Money, Your Goals to provide information that will help you understand your credit report as well as steps you can take to ensure that the information in your credit report is accurate.
The CFPB has Three Key Tools that can Help You Take Charge of Your Credit Report
- Use the Requesting your Free Credit Reports tool to get a copy of your credit reports. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three national credit reporting companies are offering free weekly online credit reports through April 2021. (Normally, it is one free report from each of the three credit reporting companies per year.)
- Use the Reviewing your Credit Reports tool to make sure the information reflected in your credit reports is accurate.
- If you see incorrect information in your credit report, use the Disputing Errors tool. Errors can appear due to a mistake in the information provided about you or as the result of fraud or identity theft.
The CFPB is a U.S. government agency that ensures banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly. If you or someone you care about experiences a problem with a financial product or service, you can submit a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Your Employee Assistance Program Can Help
Your EAP provides you and your family members with financial consultation on a wide variety of topics. You can talk to a financial expert about retirement planning, taxes, relocation, mortgages, insurance, budgeting, debt, bankruptcy and more. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact your Component EAP for more information on their financial support services. All services can be accessed without leaving your home. For more information please contact worklife@hq.dhs.gov.