When trying to understand the differences in your credit report, the most important things to watch for are:
- Accounts that are reported by only one credit bureau. Check to make sure these accounts are really yours.
- Accounts reported as late or derogatory on only one bureau's credit report. Were you really late on that account? If not, you should contact that creditor and the credit bureau to start an investigation.
- Other negative items, such as collections or public records, that show up on just one or two credit reports. Again, you should make sure these items are accurate.
Check out this FAQ on how to dispute errors with the credit bureaus.