To protect the integrity of your credit, you should check your credit report on a regular basis. It’s up to you to make sure that the information in your credit report is correct. Errors or fraudulent activity can hurt your credit scores without you knowing it.

Checking your credit reports is easy and it never hurts your credit scores. You can purchase your credit report from any of the three credit agencies, but you’re entitled to a free report once a year at annualcreditreport.com. You can report inaccuracies or put a stop to fraud by placing a credit alert or credit freeze on your credit reports. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how your credit information can be used and your consumer credit rights. You can learn more on the Federal Trade Commission website at ftc.gov.