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By Marvin Milner on Feb 23rd, 2010
Trying to keep a high credit score is one reason why consumers may go to a consumer credit counseling service.
However, some people may also wonder how they can find out what their credit standing is without enrolling in the additional services put forward by some credit monitoring services. Personal finance expert Liz Pulliam Weston noted recently that there is only one place on the internet that offers the mandated free view of a credit report, which is www.AnnualCreditReport.com.
"There are plenty of look-alike sites that try to fool you, so make sure you get to the right one," Pulliam Weston wrote.
Additionally, consumers should keep in mind that they are entitled to one free credit report from each of the main credit bureaus.
Once a person has their credit report in their hands, there are a number of things they can do to improve their financial standing. One thing a credit report can do is alert people to identity theft, as any accounts that are opened in their name will be listed.
A credit report may also show errors, which consumers should have corrected if they want to improve their credit score. Finally, a credit report can show a consumer where they may be deficient when it comes to past delinquencies.
Now, with the information provided by the report, consumers can have a starting point for trying to improve their credit score. A service that may help them in that quest is a consumer credit counseling organization, which can help t hem set up a budget or pay off debt.