A credit report is a detailed statement that contains information about an individual's credit activity and current credit situation. It provides a summary of how a person manages and repays debt, including loans, credit cards, and other financial accounts. A credit report typically includes the following information:

• Personal identification details such as name, previous names, current and former addresses, birth date, Social Security number, and phone numbers.
• Credit accounts information, including the type of account (e.g., mortgage, installment, revolving), credit limits or loan amounts, account balances, payment history, account open and close dates, and creditor names.
• Collection items such as missed payments or accounts sent to collections.
• Public records including liens, foreclosures, bankruptcies, civil suits, and judgments.
• A list of companies or entities that have requested to see the credit report, known as inquiries.

Lenders, financial institutions, landlords, insurers, and sometimes employers use credit reports to assess a person's creditworthiness when deciding to loan money, rent housing, offer insurance, or make employment decisions. Each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) compiles their own version of credit reports based on the data they receive from creditors and public records. Individuals are entitled to obtain a free credit report from each bureau at least once a year to check for accuracy and monitor their credit standing.