How's Your Credit Report Looking?
Have you received your free annual credit
report? If not, the first thing you want to do is
get a copy of your credit report from each of the
three major reporting agencies.
If your address and information can
be verified against the report, you can do this on
one site at AnnualCred
itReport. If not, you may need to contact each
agency. Go to Equifax,
Experian.com, and www.transunion.com to find out how to
order your free annual credit report.
Once you receive your reports, go over
every item. Make notes about anything inaccurate or
out of date. If there are addresses or information
that does not belong to you, you must write to the
reporting agency to have these removed from your records.
Perhaps there is no record of a loan you paid off.
You must inform the reporting agency of this information.
They will verify it and add the paid loan to your
report. These are important in obtaining future credit.
If negative information is accurate, keep in mind
that these entries may be reported for up to 7 years
or for 10 years regarding bankruptcies.
Maybe there are unfavorable items on
your reports that are inaccurate. If so, you must
send the correct information and ask to have it corrected.
Are there items on your report that were dismissed
in bankruptcy or through a settlement? Again, it is
your responsibility to be sure your report is correct.
You may also help prevent identity theft by being
sure that all the records listed are yours. If you
do not contact the reporting agency, they are unlikely
to notice and correct your records.
Your request must be made in writing.
They cannot make changes in your credit report over
the phone. When requesting corrections, you must provide
copies of documents showing the correct information.
Send your request with your documentation Certified
Mail, Return Receipt Requested. Keep the receipt and
wait for the signed card to be returned to you verifying
they received your information. Most of the time,
they are required to investigate within 30 days. If
the investigation results in a change in your report,
they will send you a new free report reflecting the
changes.
Be a responsible consumer. Check your
credit report every year to insure accurate records
are available when you need them.
About this author
Jacob Mettarod was laid off from a factory
job about 3 years ago. It was then he decided to help
others in similar situations with their credit and
employment issues. You will find more articles about
credit reports at Fixed
Credit Report
