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IMPROVING YOUR CREDIT SCORE
1. Pay your bills on time
- use automatic online bill pay to keep from missing due dates
2. Limit your credit use
- don't use more than 30% of each credit card's total credit
3. Keep old credit cards open even if you don't use them
- the history stays on your credit report
- the longer you have and use a card, the better
4. Avoid credit you don't need
- don't sign up for another card if you don't really need it
5. Diversify your types of credit
- have various types of credit: mortgage, car loan, credit cards
6. Find out your credit score (see below)
- be proactive and check your score before you need a loan
Do your best to not let your credit score slip below 600. A score that low will likely make it very difficult to obtain credit.
Your target should be above 720 - this is where you'll qualify for the best rates.
CHECKING YOUR CREDIT REPORT
You can get three free copies each calendar year (one from each credit reporting agency: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). There's no need to pay for this information -- it's free at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. It's best to stagger your 3 free annual reports by requesting a report from a different agency every four months. For example, right now request one from Experian. Then in four months request one from Equifax. Then again in four months request one from TransUnion. Then in four months start over again. In this manner, you are reviewing your credit multiple times throughout the year.
If you have children, you should also order credit reports for them, using the same strategy outlined above - resulting in a check three times a year. The results you get back should indicate "no file established," or something similar. That's the response you want. If, however, you find an active credit report, then someone has used the child's number to open an account somewhere.
immediately report fraudulent activity with all three of the credit bureaus to track down the perpetrator.
You should also be concerned about someone else earning wages using your number. Don't forget to also check your Social Security statement each year. You should get a copy about 90 days before your birthday each year. Or you can access it online at www.SSA.gov anytime. You should always verify your wages on the statement against your own documentation. If you see income recorded that is not yours, someone has worked using your identity. The statement includes instructions on how to report and remove fraudulent information. | 
