 TITLE: 5 Ways to Break Bad Credit Habits CONTENT: Continuously Monitor Your Credit\n--------------------------------\nYou may have heard that checking your credit score hurts it, but that claim couldn't be further from the truth. Checking your credit score and reports regularly is an important step in building and maintaining a solid credit history.\nIf you don't check your credit often enough, you may miss out on potential issues that could have a significant negative impact on your credit score. For example, you may have forgotten about an account that went to collections or missed a payment.\nWhen you check your credit frequently, you'll be able to see where you stand, which factors are influencing your score for better or worse, and what steps you can take to address potential issues.\nWith Experian's credit monitoring tool, you can get free access to your FICO® Score☉ powered by Experian data and your Experian credit report, which is updated every 30 days. The service also sends notifications when changes are made to your Experian credit report, such as a new account, a new credit inquiry or new personal information. These alerts will make it even easier to address potential problems immediately. END