The three major Credit Bureaus have their own criteria on how to read your credit report. But they all share the same information. In the past years they made their credit reports clearer so people can understand it easily.

Items Include:

Basic Information
Name, Address, Date of Birth, Social Security number and spouse's name.

Credit  and Payment History
Listing of companies that have loaned you money in the past, along with the account numbers, size of your credit lines, dates the lines were opened, dates you last used the credit lines, lines' repayment terms, amounts you presently owe, status of your payments and number of months your payments are past due.

Collection Agencies
Those assigned to collect overdue debts, including original creditor's name, which collection agency oversaw which account, the amount it tried to collect and whether you paid.

Courthouse Records
Federal, state or local courts showing liens, bankruptcy filings or other judgments.

Additional History Information
Former addresses, employers, etc.

Inquiries
Listing of inquiries made by potential credit grantors like credit card companies.

» Click to read through our Credit Card FAQ, for a detailed break-down of each topic, as they appear on your credit report.