One Third of Americans Have Never Checked Their Credit Report Reveals TransUnion Study

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Oct 29, 2013) - As children eagerly wait for trick-or-treating this Halloween and look forward to haunted houses, ghosts and goblins, TransUnion finds many adults may be spooked as well -- by their credit.

According to a recent Google Consumer Survey conducted by TransUnion, one third (32.7 percent) of Americans surveyed said they have never checked their credit report or credit score. Another 24.6 percent surveyed said they had not checked credit report or credit score in the last year. 

"Many people are scared to go to the dentist or to the doctor, but when it comes to checking your credit -- knowledge is power. Your credit report and credit score play crucial roles in achieving your financial goals. With a healthy score and responsible past credit behavior, you will make it more likely for lenders to offer you lower interest rates on mortgages, auto loans, other loans and credit cards -- even your property and insurance rates can benefit," said Julie Springer, vice president at TransUnion. "Consumers should not be scared of checking their credit report and score, but rather monitor it on an ongoing basis so they constantly understand their credit situation and areas that may need work."

By monitoring your credit with TransUnion, you can:

• Stay on top of your credit score and see what lenders see about you.
• Track your credit health progress at your convenience.
• Receive email alerts for all three credit reporting companies that can help warn you of possible identity theft.
• Find out what rates you can expect to be offered by lenders.
• Decrease the risk of improper access to your TransUnion credit information with a Credit Lock.
• Watch your progress over time with trending reports.
• In the case of identity theft, you can receive up to $25,000 in identity theft insurance to help get you back on your feet.

For more information on how checking your credit regularly can help you reach your financial goals, as well as receive your free credit score by signing up for a 7 day trial as part of your paid TransUnion membership, visit TransUnion.com.

Methodology
Written by TransUnion Interactive and conducted using Google Consumer Surveys, September 2013. Survey of 937 Americans. Survey results have a 95 percent confidence level.

About TransUnion
TransUnion Interactive, Inc. is a consumer subsidiary of TransUnion. As a global leader in credit and information management, TransUnion creates advantages for millions of people around the world by gathering, analyzing and delivering information. For businesses, TransUnion helps improve efficiency, manage risk, reduce costs and increase revenue by delivering comprehensive data and advanced analytics and decisioning. For consumers, TransUnion provides the tools, resources and education to help manage their credit health and achieve their financial goals. Through these and other efforts, TransUnion is working to build stronger economies worldwide. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Chicago, TransUnion employs associates in more than 33 countries on five continents. www.transunion.com. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TransUnion.