What's in Your Report

Although each credit reporting agency formats and reports this information differently, all credit reports contain the same basic categories of information.

• Identifying Information. Your name, address, Social Security Number, date of birth, and employment information are included and are used to identify you. These factors are not used in scoring. Updates to this information come from information that you supply to lenders, such as when you fill out an application for new credit.

• Trade Lines. These are your credit accounts. Lenders report information about each account you have established with them. These include the type of account (such as bankcard, auto loan, or mortgage), the date you opened the account, your credit limit or loan amount, the account balance and your payment history.

• Inquiries. When you apply for a loan or a credit card, you authorize your lender or credit grantor to ask or "inquire" for a copy of your credit report. Each inquiry then appears on your credit report. The inquiries section contains a list of everyone who accessed your credit report within the previous two years. On your credit report you will see one list of inquiries that you initiated by applying for credit, and a second list of inquiries that lenders made for other purposes, such as managing your account or deciding whether to send you a pre-approved credit offer in the mail. Insurance inquiries, although not considered by FICO^® Insurance Scores or FICO^® Scores, will appear as well.

• Public Record and Collection Items. Credit reporting agencies also gather public record information from state and county courts. Credit reporting agencies also gather public record information, such as bankruptcies, from state and county courts. The agencies also gather information from collections agencies on overdue debt.