When it concerns your credit report and credit score ^[2], there are more myths floating around out there than you can believe. The biggest problem with a myth, is that when someone unwittingly believes one, convincing them otherwise can sometimes be difficult (though not impossible). I’ve often wondered why it seems easier to believe a myth than the truth, but that’s a topic for another day!

Here are 10 of the most common credit score ^[2] and credit report myths I run into:

Myth: Checking my own credit report can hurt my credit score.

Truth: Personal inquiries appear as "soft inquiries" on your credit file and these soft inquiries are not displayed to others and are not used when calculating your credit score. So, monitoring your credit report and score to make sure your credit information is accurate will not impact your credit score. Get your free credit score ^[3] from GoFreeCredit.com ^[4] and see what the lenders use.

Myth: I don’t use credit so I don’t need to worry about my credit score ^[2].

Truth: Your credit history can impact decisions made about you when you buy a car or home, apply for insurance, rent an apartment and even apply for a job. Bear in mind that anyone with "permissible purpose" can obtain a copy of your credit report. They can be existing creditors, potential lenders, landlords, insurance companies, or law enforcement agencies. Potential employers can also obtain your report, with your permission. So be sure to check and monitor your credit report frequently so that you can promptly address any possible errors or fraud.