7. Monitor your credit reports

• Order a FREE copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit bureaus. You can request all three reports at once, or stagger them throughout the year. Review your credit report for errors.

• Check the following information in your credit report:
Your name, address, social security number are correct
All inactive accounts are closed
No accounts or debts that do not belong to are listed
No unfamiliar parties have recently obtained a copy of your credit report