If you plan to apply for credit in the near future, be sure to review your credit report first, so you can catch and correct any errors. You’ll likely find the document much more interesting than you expected. Better still, guard against identity theft by reviewing your credit report regularly and looking for signs of unauthorized activity.

To get a copy of your credit report, contact any or all of the three main credit-reporting bureaus that keep credit records:

• Equifax (800-685-1111, www.equifax.com)
• Experian (888-397-3742, www.experian.com)
• Transunion (800-888-4213, www.transunion.com)

You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you live in certain states, or are within 60 days of being denied credit, employment, insurance or rental housing. Otherwise, it may cost you up to $9 per report.

It’s smart to get your report from all three bureaus, as some may have information that others don’t. Right now, TrueCredit is offering Fool readers a special $5 discount on a combined three-in-one credit report from all three bureaus, plus a copy of your credit score. Visit www.truecredit.com/fool for details.

If there are errors on your credit report, you can have them corrected. Somewhere in the report, often at the end, there should be instructions on how to dispute anything that you believe is an error. If the report contains information that’s negative but accurate, you can expect that to remain on your report for seven to 10 years. You can still lessen the sting of that information, though, by paying your bills on time.

Credit issuers tend to give more weight to your recent bill-paying history, so a clean record for the last year or two can make a real difference.

Fixing mistakes on your credit report, maintaining a good credit history and guarding against identify theft can make your life easier.

Learn more about credit issues at www.fool.com/ccc/ ccc.htm and www.ftc.gov/bcp/ menu-credit.htm.

For copies of Federal Trade Commission brochures on credit issues, call (877) 382-4357.