icon-contact icon-log-in icon-search menu icon Student loans Manage your private student loans Learn about credit Your credit report Consumer reporting agencies—TransUnion®, Equifax®, and Experian®— provide credit reports which detail your outstanding credit, payment history, and any public records about bankruptcy or delinquency. Key elements of a credit report Personal information Your name, address, phone number, date of birth, Social Security number, and employment history. Account information Your credit history, including student loans, mortgages, credit cards, and the amount of credit that’s available to you from all of these sources. Payment history Information on your payments, including whether or not you’ve made them on time. Public record information Any publicly available reports on delinquent accounts, liens, bankruptcies, and lawsuits (a public record can remain on your credit report for a number of years, depending on the type of account). Credit inquiries People or companies who have requested your credit report over the past two years and the date they requested it (businesses need a legitimate reason to access your report). See a sample credit report (PDF) Keep an eye on your credit report The information in your credit report may have an impact on whether you’ll qualify for a loan and how much interest you’ll have to pay. Plus, potential employers may view your credit report. Review your credit report annually to make sure that there are no mistakes. Check it out when you’re going to apply for a loan, like a student loan, mortgage, or auto loan. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each nation-wide consumer reporting agency to give you a free copy of your credit report every 12 months. Request a copy from AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877-322-8228. If you find mistakes in your credit report Contact the consumer reporting agency about the error and include supporting documents. Be sure to keep copies of your correspondence and your documents. They generally have 30 days to investigate the issue. If they agree that there’s an error, they have to notify the other major consumer reporting agencies. If you suspect identity theft Place a fraud alert on your credit file with the three major consumer reporting agencies. You should contact anyone that’s listed as having issued new credit and close the account. Also, file a report with the police immediately. Related topics Your FICO® Score Learn why a FICO® Score is important to lenders and how a strong score can be good for your financial future. Get answers to frequently asked questions about FICO® Scores. Graduate with less student loan debt Get tips on how to graduate from college with less student loan debt. Lower your undergraduate or graduate student loan debt with smart loan-related decisions. Understand student loan payments Learn how your student loan payments are calculated. Get information about how much you're paying for your student loans and why. Home Student loans Manage your private student loans Learn about credit Your credit report About us Careers For investors Media Blog Leading research Contests Cosigner responsibilities Partner resources Military resources Contact us FAQs Sitemap Terms of use Protect your privacy Avoid online fraud Beware of debt relief offers Social media guidelines Do not sell my personal information © 2021 Sallie Mae Bank. All rights reserved. Sallie Mae, the Sallie Mae logo, and other Sallie Mae names and logos are service marks or registered service marks of Sallie Mae Bank. All other names and logos used are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Sallie Mae Bank are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.