Financial Tips
Active duty servicemembers, their families and veterans face unique challenges such as having to manage money during overseas deployment, balancing a spouse's career during frequent relocations, and transitioning to civilian life after leaving the military. These financial tips are extracts from the Financial Frontlines Resource Guide and can help tackle these challenges.
Reviewing Your Credit Report and Why it's Important
It’s a good habit to review your credit report at least every four months or more. Check your report even if you don’t suspect identity theft, because mistakes happen that can affect your credit score. Due to the Equifax Breach, the three bureaus are offering free weekly online credit reports. Take advantage of this offer, especially if you suspect identity theft.
Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request your free credit reports. To ensure no one but you can access your credit information, you will be asked some security questions that only you know. Make sure to have your records on hand. Avoid other sites offering free credit reports, they could be scams. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only federally authorized place to get free credit reports.
Read your report carefully. If you spot mistakes, read Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports by the Federal Trade Commission for bests steps to take. If you find suspicious activity, report it at IdentityTheft.gov.
Credit freezes and fraud alerts are another way to protect yourself from identity theft. Please refer to our Fraud and Scams section for more information.