Protecting Your Credit Starts Here

Your credit report is the foundation of your financial identity. Errors, fraud, or outdated information can cost you money, opportunities, and peace of mind. The good news is that you don’t need expensive monitoring services to stay on top of it.

On this page, you’ll find a simple 3-step cheat sheet that shows you how to:

Safeguard your credit file.
Catch problems early.
Monitor yourself—without giving up your rights or paying unnecessary fees.

Taking these steps puts the control back in your hands and ensures your financial reputation is protected.

Obtain a FREE Copy of Your Credit Report

The most important first step in protecting your credit file is to get your free credit reports. Federal law requires the “Big Three” credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—to provide you with a copy of your report at no cost once every 12 months, or any time you are denied credit, employment, or insurance based on your report. And in 2023, the Big Three agreed to provide consumers a free copy as often as weekly.

Don't worry, we won't suggest that you obtain a new report that often. If you don't have any signs of problems with your credit report, we recommend doing so every 4 months -- at the very least once a year.

👉 The only source we suggest you get your report from is the official website created under the law: www.annualcreditreport.com

⚠️ Don’t get tricked by paid “monitoring” services—you do not need to pay to see your credit file.

💡 Expect pop-ups trying to sell you upgrades like credit scores or monitoring tools. Just click “No Thanks” and continue to your free report.

Finally, check your report more often if:

You’ve been denied credit, insurance, or a job.
You receive calls from debt collectors about accounts you don’t recognize (a warning sign of identity theft).
You notice suspicious activity on your bank or credit card accounts.
You've been notified that you're the victim of a data breach.

Carefully Review Your Credit Reports

Getting your reports is only the beginning—the real protection comes from reading your reports carefully and knowing what to look for. Even small errors can damage your credit score or point to identity theft.

When reviewing your report, don’t just skim—go section by section. Each part of your credit file can reveal errors, red flags, or signs of identity theft.

The four key sections are:

Personal Information – Names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and employment history. Errors here may signal identity theft or a mixed file with someone else’s information.
Public Records – Bankruptcies, judgments, or liens. These can have a major impact on your credit score, and outdated items may be reportable in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Accounts – Credit cards, loans, and payment history. Look for accounts you don’t recognize, incorrect balances, or late payments that aren’t yours.
Inquiries – Who has accessed your credit. Check for unauthorized pulls that could point to identity theft or violations of your FCRA rights.

👉 For a detailed walk-through of each category and what to watch for,

visit this page.

⚠️ Remember: each of the “Big Three” credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—may report different information, so you’ll need to review all three.

✅ Bottom line: A careful, line-by-line review is the best way to catch errors early, protect your identity, and ensure your credit report reflects your true financial history.

Keep Copies of Everything & Build a Timeline

When it comes to fixing credit report errors, documentation is key.

Your notes, letters, and records may be the proof that determines whether you win or lose a case under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Here’s how to protect yourself:

Save copies of every dispute letter and response. Always send disputes by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you have proof the credit bureau received it.
Keep all supporting documents. This includes account statements, payoff letters, court records, or identity theft reports—anything that shows the information on your report is inaccurate.
Create a timeline. Write down the dates you discovered the error, when you sent disputes, and when (or if) the bureaus and furnishers responded. Records every event in as much details as possible. This timeline is critical evidence if you need to escalate your case.
Stay organized. Keep everything in one file—whether a physical binder or a digital folder—so you can easily provide proof if the credit bureaus fail to correct mistakes.

✅ Why it matters: If credit bureaus or furnishers do not fix errors within the deadlines required by law, your documentation and timeline give you the leverage to enforce your rights—and may support a legal claim for money damages.

Contact Wells Law - Chicago for a Free Review of Your Credit Reporting Claim