Overview: Defines what a credit report is and why it matters in everyday financial life. What you will learn: The purpose of credit reports, who maintains them, and how they act as your financial report card. Main content: Meet the three national bureaus and see how lenders, employers, and landlords use your report.

Overview: Explains the first part of any credit report—your identifying data. What you will learn: The specific items that appear (name, SSN, addresses, employment) and their role in fraud detection. Main content: Why these details do not affect your score and how to spot identity errors early.

Overview: Breaks down the heart of the report—your active and closed credit accounts. What you will learn: How creditors report balances, limits, and payment history. Main content: Reading payment grids, differentiating between revolving and installment accounts, and understanding collection flags.

Overview: Clarifies why and when organizations pull your credit. What you will learn: Differences between hard and soft inquiries and their impact on scores. Main content: Inquiry aging, rate-shopping windows, and best practices to minimize score dips.

Overview: Focuses on legal financial events that appear on credit reports. What you will learn: The types of bankruptcies reported and their timelines. Main content: How Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 affect your profile and why other legal items no longer show up.

Overview: Identifies information deliberately excluded from credit reports. What you will learn: Personal attributes barred from reports to prevent discrimination. Main content: A quick reference list of excluded items (race, income, medical data, etc.) and how this safeguards fairness.

Overview: Traces the path of information flowing into your report. What you will learn: Voluntary reporting by lenders, collectors, and some service providers. Main content: Reporting frequency, differences among bureaus, and why not all accounts appear everywhere.

Overview: Examines how long items stay on a report and how updates occur. What you will learn: Standard retention periods for accounts, inquiries, and bankruptcies. Main content: Dispute processes, correcting errors, and keeping your file current.

Overview: Shows how consumers can stay proactive. What you will learn: Accessing free annual reports, spotting fraud, and setting up alerts. Main content: Practical tips for review cycles, freezing credit, and maintaining a healthy profile.

Overview: Recaps key insights from all modules. What you will learn: The big takeaways on structure, data sources, inclusions, and exclusions. Main content: Action checklist for managing, reviewing, and improving your credit report going forward.