How Do I Get My Free Credit Score - Really?

"Al, I wanted to get my free credit score instantly online, so I searched and found tons of websites promising that and more. Are they all offering the same thing? Help!"

You wouldn't believe how many times I get asked that question. The answer is simple: No way.

Ladies and gentlemen, you know I tell it like it is. I don't hold back, so without further a do, here goes:

Don't talk to strangers!

Your mother was right.

Be very very careful with information you are asked to fill out. Before you type in any personal information on a form, take 3 steps back and ask yourself:

1.) Do I really need this?

2.) Do I know who will see this information?

3.) Is the company I'm about to deal with a well-known, reputable establishment?

If the answer is no to any of these questions, I wouldn't do it.

Let me tell you what I did. I've shown you how you can easily obtain (by the way, with no lies or false promises) your free credit report. I did it too. I got my free credit report...wonderful. Now, I want everything, how about my free credit score? Is it possible?

Everything is possible. Well almost everything.

I went through so many different websites looking for the real thing. Why? Because, I asked myself those three questions from above and always had atleast one no.

So I began asking a series of more questions:

Why do I want to get my free credit score online?

Dumb question - because a.) I like free stuff and b.) my credit score is important.

Why is my credit score important?

Another dumb question - because I want to get the best interest rates when I apply to lenders.

Ok, so what credit score do lenders use when they offer credit?

Now that's a good question - traditionally, they use Fair Isaac's - the famous FICO score. There are other types of scores out there, but the FICO score is still king with lenders.

So, now that we know that not all scores are created equal and we know the one we're after, where can I get it for free?

Where can I get my free credit score?

Where am I able to answer yes to all 3 earlier questions?

You're asking for alot aren't you?

It is ScoreWatch from Fair Isaac, the same Fair Isaac that provides the FICO scores lenders use the most.

It provided me with my free credit score. Now, understand that "free" means a 30 day free trial. You will be able to monitor your FICO score online as well. That's cool.

Is that it, are there any more places to go?

You probably should research a few others to compare, but this is the best one I found. It makes sense to go back to the source (FICO) because it doesn't do any good to monitor another kind of credit score that lenders are not going to check anyway. It'll defeat the purpose. Any other question?

Yes, do you always talk to yourself?

Next question.