How to Review Your Credit Report

A credit report is a record of information about your borrowing and account history. A careful review can help you catch wrong details, unfamiliar accounts and identity-theft warning signs before they create avoidable problems.

WSDK Money Guide · Published October 28, 2026 · 5 minute read

Request reports from the nationwide credit reporting companies through AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site for obtaining free reports. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says checking your own report does not hurt your credit score. Reports from different companies may not match exactly because information is not always supplied to all of them.

Review the report in a steady order

1. Personal details: check your name, current and previous addresses, phone number and other identifying information for mistakes or unfamiliar entries.
2. Accounts: confirm each loan or card belongs to you. Review account status, whether it is open or closed, balances, credit limits, payment history and whether you are listed as an owner, joint account holder, co-signer or authorized user.
3. Collections and public records: check whether collection entries or listed public records are familiar and connected to the right person. If an item is unclear, note the company and details so you can verify it.
4. Inquiries: look at applications or other inquiries and check whether you recognize the ones associated with applying for credit.

The headings and layout differ by provider. The CFPB’s credit report guide explains common report sections and terms. An unfamiliar lender name may be a parent company or a servicer, so confirm the account through a statement or by contacting the lender using independently verified contact information before concluding it is fraud.

Make a short issue log

For anything that looks wrong, record the reporting company, report date, page or section, account name and the exact field that appears incorrect. Note what you believe is accurate and which documents could support that. Keep the log private; avoid putting full account numbers or Social Security numbers in a general notes app or email.

Do not dispute information only because it is unfavorable. Focus on information that is inaccurate, incomplete or not yours, and keep copies of the report pages and supporting records.

Use the formal dispute process

The CFPB advises contacting the credit reporting company and the business that supplied the information. State the specific item, explain why you believe it is wrong, request the correction, and provide copies—not originals—of supporting documents. Keep a copy of what you send and the response. The CFPB’s current dispute instructions include contact options and a template letter.

If you find an account you did not open or suspect identity theft, use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. WSDK’s credit-freeze guide explains how a freeze differs from checking and disputing a report.

Keep your records together

Save the report, your issue log, supporting documents, dispute confirmations and investigation results in a secure place. Recheck the report after a dispute response to confirm whether the change appears. If the reporting company does not resolve an issue, review the CFPB’s guidance on next steps and consider submitting a complaint.

For a related identity-security step, read WSDK’s passkeys and account-security guide.

Official references

• AnnualCreditReport.com: Request credit reports
• CFPB: Does requesting my credit report hurt my score?
• CFPB: Understand Your Credit Report
• CFPB: How to dispute a credit report error
• Federal Trade Commission: IdentityTheft.gov

This is general educational information, not individualized financial or legal advice. Report formats and processes can change; use the current instructions from the reporting company and government agencies.