 TITLE: How to Check if Something Changed on Your Credit Report CONTENT: What to Look for When You Review Your Credit Report\n---------------------------------------------------\nWhen reviewing your \"See what's changed\" information, or comparing full credit reports the old-fashioned way, it's normal to see changes in account balances and updates to your payment history. Each month you make a payment on a mortgage or auto loan, for example, a change in balance on that loan will be duly noted. Fluctuations in your credit card balances are also normal, as long as they track with your purchase and payment history. The things to look out for are changes you don't understand, such as:\n*   **Credit inquiries from unfamiliar sources:** If you haven't applied for a new loan, credit card or other credit (such as in-store financing on a new cellphone or laptop), or agreed to a background check or credit screen from a landlord, unexplained credit inquiries could indicate criminals are trying to obtain credit in your name.\n*   **New accounts you don't recognize:** The appearance of a new loan or credit card you didn't open is an even more serious indicator of potential fraud. It could mean a criminal has successfully borrowed money using your personal information. If so, they won't be paying back that debt, and their missed payments could harm your credit score—at least until you notify the lender and the credit bureaus of the fraud.\n*   **Accounts in collection:** When a creditor gives up on trying to get repayment on a debt and sells the debt to a collection agency, that's recorded as a serious negative event in your credit report—one that can cause a significant drop in your credit scores. Sometimes collections indicate nonpayment on accounts opened fraudulently in your name. Other times they may indicate debts, such as hospital bills unpaid by insurance, which you may not have even known you incurred. In any case, following up with the collection agent may help clear up the issue.\nRoutinely checking your credit scores and credit reports is a good habit for tracking improvements in your credit standing, flagging downturns in that standing, and detecting unauthorized activity that could indicate fraud or identity theft. END