CREDIT BASICS

How to read a credit report

Read a credit report as a record to verify—not as a verdict about your financial future.

Important: This guide is educational and is not individualized legal or financial advice.

Personal information

Confirm names, addresses, employers, and identifying details. Information belonging to someone else can signal a mixed file or identity theft.

Check ownership, status, payment history, balance, credit limit, opening date, and date of first delinquency.

Look for debts that are not yours, duplicates, incorrect balances, or dates that do not match your documentation.

Hard inquiries usually follow a credit application. Soft inquiries, including checking your own credit, generally do not affect scores.

Reviewed July 19, 2026.

Primary references: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau credit report resources and Federal Trade Commission consumer credit guidance.