While there may be slight differences between credit reports, they all generally include four categories of data that affect it: personal information, credit accounts, public records and inquiries. You can find details about each below.

1. Personal information

The personal information section of your credit report may include a list of facts that identify you:

• Name and any nicknames you’ve used with a credit account.
• Current and previous addresses.
• Date of birth.
• Social Security number.
• Phone numbers.
• Current and past employment information.

2. Credit accounts

Under the “credit accounts” section of your report, you may find information about your borrowing and repayment history. That could include a list of current and previous accounts, including credit cards, mortgages, car loans and student loans. Each account listed will likely include other details, too:

• Type of account, such as revolving credit, installment loan or mortgage.
• Name of lender.
• Credit limit or loan amount.
• Account balance.
• Payment history.
• Date opened and closed, if applicable.

Depending on the credit bureau, you may also see a record of any collections activity. Some agencies list those with credit accounts, while others classify them separately.

3. Public records

Your credit report might also list financial information reported through public records, which can show up as negative information on your report. Here are a few examples:

• Foreclosures.
• Bankruptcies.
• Civil suits and court judgments.
• Tax liens.
• Overdue child support.

Bankruptcies and foreclosures can show up on your credit report for up to 10 years and seven years, respectively. However, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing will only stay on your credit report for seven years after the date it is filed, according to TransUnion.

If a lender has denied you credit because of information in your credit report, they must send you an adverse action notice with the reasoning behind the denial.

4. Inquiries

You might find two types of inquiries on your credit report. But only one can affect your credit scores.

Hard inquiries appear on one or more of your credit reports when you apply for a loan and the lender has checked your report. They usually involve a decision about loaning money or extending credit. Hard inquiries can appear on your credit report for up to two years and may affect your credit scores. You might trigger a hard inquiry when you:

• Apply for a credit card.
• Request a credit line increase.
• Apply for a loan.
• Apply for a mortgage.
• Apply to rent a house or apartment.
• Open an account for phone, cable or internet services.

Soft inquiries involve simple reviews of your credit and won’t affect your credit scores—but they do appear on your credit report for up to two years. However, soft inquiries don’t appear on the credit reports potential lenders see. Soft inquiries may happen when you:

• Check your own credit report.
• Get a quote from an insurance company.
• Apply for a job that requires a background check.
• Get a pre-qualified or pre-approved credit card offer.