3 Reasons to Check Your Credit Report Today

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Most Americans don't realize how important their credit report has become. It obviously has a huge impact on your financial life, whether you're applying for a home loan or credit card or looking to rent an apartment. But increasingly, credit information has become part of the data-gathering process for a wider range of decisions, with many employers looking at credit histories of prospective employees to assess reliability and spot potential warning signs. Moreover, many Americans don't do nearly enough to ensure that their credit history accurately reflects their financial experience, leaving themselves open to erroneous information as well as more damaging consequences. A recent poll by credit-tool company WisePiggy revealed some troubling trends among Americans in handling their credit. According to the poll, more than one in nine Americans have looked at their credit reports or even their credit score. Even among those who have seen their credit report information, nearly a quarter haven't updated their knowledge of their credit within the past year, and only about half have information that's no more than six months old. By letting so much time pass between checks of your credit report, you leave yourself open to some big risks. Here are three things to consider in how often you choose to review your credit history. 1. You Need a Better Credit History to Get a Loan During the housing boom a decade ago, many banks aggressively courted mortgage borrowers, cutting their credit standards and allowing borrowers with low credit scores to obtain subprime loans to let them buy homes. The resulting mortgage crisis shook the financial system to the core, and in response, mortgage lenders have gotten a lot stricter about whom they lend to.