CHICAGO — State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is encouraging everyone who may have have had a change in their finances after four months of the COVID-19 crisis to take advantage of the available free credit reporting websites.  

“When the pandemic hit, many people suddenly lost their jobs or experienced other income loss, placing an unanticipated burden on their finances and potentially affecting their credit scores,” Villivalam said. “It’s important for everyone to be aware of their credit score due to the impact that bad credit can have on a person’s financial future.” 

As Illinois slowly recovers from the economic devastation caused by the pandemic, Villivalam is urging everyone to double check their credit scores and to know where their finances stand. Everyone is eligible to receive their weekly credit report for free through Equifax, Experian and TransUnion until April 2021. For more information, please visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com. 

“Managing your finances is stressful, yet this free service to check your credit score will at least provide a baseline for where you stand,” Villivalam said.