Checking a credit score has become easier, and is important. Though the three credit bureaus are not required to provide the score for free, many banks or credit card companies provide the service. Experian will provide a free FICO score. Several web sites offer the score for free, but read the details before committing. Federal law allows consumers to obtain free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus once per year. It’s wise to check the report at least that often. Consumers can pull one report each year from each of the three credit bureaus. Checking one in January, one in May and one in September can provide a glimpse into how scores are changing, or how they’re affected by a commitment to reduce debt. Reports should be studied. Errors happen. A report may list a missed payment that you can prove was not missed. Consumers can report the error to the bureau along with the documentation to prove the mistake and have the error corrected.