Credit Reports Galore - denied free experian equifax

Stephen Chua asked:


Your credit report contains vital information that affects your credit score. Every time you take up a loan or apply for credit, your lenders will access your credits report to see if you qualify for the it. Thus it is imperative that you constantly monitor your credit report to make sure it is in good health.

Given the monstrous amount of data each credit bureaus process on a daily basis, there are bound to be errors in one form or another. Here are a few common errors found in credit reports:

1. Incorrect spellings

This can happen to your name, addresses, telephone number, email address, social security number and so forth. Misspelling can means your report contains negative records that belong to someone else! Just fixing these minor details can give you a significant boost in your credit score.

2. Information that should not be there

Most negative records should disappear from credit report in seven years or less. The exception being bankruptcy which can stay in the report for up to ten years. Make sure to go over the negative records in your credit report and look out for those records that should not be there.

3. Double listing of loan information

This may come as a shock for many people when they noticed that their mortgage loans (or other loans) have been listed more than once in their credit reports. This will inflate the debt amount artificially and increase the debt-to-credit ratio (which is not a good thing).

Lenders may not notice the double listing errors and instead focus more on the debt-to-credit ratio and debt amounts to make their decisions.

4. Missing positive information

If you review your reports from the three major credit bureaus, you probably notice that they are not entirely identical. If you look closer, you will probably find some positive records that exist in one report but not the others.

Don’t ignore them. List them down for each report and call up each credit bureau to report the discrepancy. Positive records can give your credit score a big boost so make sure all of them are included in the three reports.

The three major credit bureaus handle a large volume of data each day and thus it is inevitable that errors will occur. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that your own credit reports contain the correct data. Review your credit reports once every six month and take action quickly when you find any errors.



DORIAN

Jay Delgado asked:


You have the right to obtain one free credit report a year from each of the major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Reviewing your free credit reports each year can be extremely beneficial when it comes to protecting and improving your credit standing. If you have not taken advantage of this free resource, you should do so immediately.

There are three ways that you can order your free report:

* Online: When you order your credit report online, you will be able to view and print it instantly.

* Phone: 1-877-322-8228. If you order your report by phone, it will take 15 days to process your request.

* Mail: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta GA 30348-5281. You will need to fill out a request form to order your report by mail. It may take 3 to 4 weeks to receive your report through the mail.

Remember; you can only obtain your free annual credit report through Annual Credit Report; you can NOT contact the credit agencies directly for your free report. They will provide you with a report, but you will have to pay for it (average cost $10.50).

When you request your free credit report, you need to have the following information: address, social security number and date of birth. If you have lived at your current address for less than two years, you will need to provide your previous address. You will also need to be able to provide information about your personal financial affairs so that the bureaus can confirm your identity. Some of the most common questions asked by credit bureaus involve information that you are very familiar with such as the amount of your mortgage payment, car payment or credit card balance.

In addition to one free annual credit report, there are special circumstances where you may be eligible for a free report directly from one of the credit reporting bureaus:

* Adverse Action: If you are turned down for credit, employment or insurance benefits because of information contained on your credit report, you are entitled to a free report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. The notice will include all the information you need to request your free report.

* Unemployment: If you are unemployed and plan to look for a job within the next 60 days, you can request a free credit report from one of the three main credit reporting agencies. You are only allowed one per year. This also applies for families receiving public assistance.

* Identity Theft: If your report is inaccurate because of fraud or identity theft, you can request one free copy per year.

Most financial advisers recommend that you review your credit report for errors every 90 days. If you are not requesting your free reports regularly, you could be putting your financial future in jeopardy. Nearly 25% of credit reports contain errors that can lead to a denial of credit. Yours may be one of them, but you will never know unless you check it out for yourself.



JAMES

Wilson M asked:


Hello,

I see that there is a sea of online companies that offer a full and extensive range of background check services, however I was wondering do they also have access to my credit information (i.e. they can provide my credit report or FICO score or social security number)? With identity theft on the rise, I would hate to think that any of these online companies may have any access to my personal credit information.

Yet I do know that some employers do a credit report check on potential employees, yet I would guess that they would have to pull my credit report separately and not rely on a background check company to provide this information?

Wilson
Thank you Amazon and Jethro, I greatly appreciate your answers to my question.

ROBBY

Sophie Wilson asked:


Are you curious about your credit report and would like to know if it needs repairing? The free annual credit report helps you take into account, whether the scores have gotten better or worse. Hence, you can come to know when you need work better on your credit score. This report keeps a track of your financial transactions.

One can get this report by credit reporting agencies, which are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. One can order this report through internet. If you are going to view your free annual credit report online, you need to make sure that the website you are viewing is official.

This report will keep you updated with your good or bad scores. When you are viewing your report, you shall make sure that everything is being kept up to date and your information is not being used by someone committing identity fraud.

The free annual report lets you know your annual credit rating with accounts that you currently have opened and the ones that have been closed recently. In order to avoid your personal details being misused, you can ask for a social security number, which is placed on copies of your credit report, and is unique to all individuals.

If in any case you have been denied for loans, you are entitled by law to obtain a copy of this report. The lenders with whom you have applied have to give you with the name and contact data of the credit bureau they acquired your information from. This way, you could contact this credit bureau within 60 days to obtain your free credit report.

The free annual credit report will help you see where you are when it comes to your credit scores. It is a great way to keep a check at your credit rating. There will be a side of the bar online, which is green, which will indicate that, you have a high credit rating, but there is also a red side of the bar, which indicates that you have a bad credit rating.



CHASE

Kathleen Chester asked:


 

Planning to get a house loan or buy some big-ticket item for home? For all these you will require your credit report. A credit report includes all the relevant information regarding where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued or arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. Whether you apply for a job or insurance, they refer to your credit card status to evaluate your applications.

If you do not have a credit report then you must order for one now. A credit card report will make your life much simpler and comfortable. It provides financial security and ability to afford things you like.

You can get your free credit report from the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). It requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies which includes Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

Why is getting a credit report important? The information provided in a credit report is sold by credit agencies to organizations that are evaluating whether to offer credit to individuals or companies. In certain cases, in the United States, insurance, housing, and employment can also be denied based on a negative credit rating.

You can get your free credit report ordered online. Here is some of the important information that you may require to provide in order to get a free credit report from the agencies:

· You need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. This is to maintain your individual identity.

· If you have changed your place of stay in the last two years then you may have to provide your previous address along with your present one.

· In order to maintain the security of your file, each nationwide consumer reporting company may ask you for some information that only you would know for example, the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

· You may be asked for different information by each of the companies because the information each has in your file may come from unlike sources.

Whether you order your free credit report online, by phone, or by mail, it may take longer time than usual to receive your report. It is so because the nationwide consumer reporting company needs more information to confirm your identity.

So, what are you waiting for? Make your financial life more stable and secure. If you still do not have a credit report then order for your free credit report today.



HARRIS

Carl Smith asked:


Credit Reports - What’s On Them, and How to Check Yours

Businesses in the United States buy more than two billion credit reports every year. Since there are currently fewer than 300 million people in the country, this means that the average adult has his or her credit reports examined by someone about once every other month. And yet, only a small percentage of Americans have ever laid eyes on their own credit reports. Viewing your credit reports at least twice a year is a necessity in today’s electronic age, and while it may not always be free, getting access to your credit reports is much easier and less expensive than it has been at almost any time in history.



What is a Credit Report?

There are three major credit bureaus in the United States. They are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These three companies are competitors, and therefore they don’t share information with one another. As a result, your Equifax credit report may be significantly different from your Experian credit report, and your TransUnion report may be different still. Sometimes this is a good thing - if only one of the credit agencies reports a bad history, for example. But more often than not, it’s a headache, since at least one of your credit reports is bound to have some incorrect, negative information on it.

What’s On Your Credit Report?



Although each of the three credit agencies record slightly different information, the following is a basic list of what you’ll find on each of your credit reports: Your name and your spouse’s name. Where you live, where you work, and where you used to live (and used to work). Your social security number, phone number, and birth date. A list of your credit accounts and when you’ve paid your bills - on time, late, late by more than 30 days, late by more than 60 days, etc. How much total credit you have available. Whether and to whom you’ve made an application for credit in the past six months. Which companies have requested and obtained your credit report. And finally, dreaded “public records” - bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions, court judgments, convictions, and tax liens.

How Long Does Information Stay On Your Credit Report?

Positive information stays on your credit report indefinitely, which is a good thing. Most negative information should be deleted after seven years, with the exception of certain types of bankruptcy, which can stay on your report for ten years. If one of your credit reports is missing positive information or contains negative information that’s older than seven years, contact the appropriate credit bureau.



LAZARO

Tom V asked:


When someone tried to get my credit report online for security purposes it asked to verify the mortgage I may have opened and its terms. They said I didn’t own a house and one of the major credit bureaus rejected them claiming I must own a house. My mom asked my cousin to look this up on me when my mom gave my social security number to her. The problem that started this is that my mom feels she should have a lot more money than she has and suspects I may have stole from her. She doesn’t look at bills and I do it all for her but I used a lot of her money to pay her expenses but she doesn’t want to believe it. So they are at a point of believing I own a house and I tell them I never even looked at a house and don’t have the income needed either. Is this probably a mistake by the credit bureau. Should I write to them and tell them I never owned a house and see why they claim I do or what?

DEVIN

John asked:


I received a letter from a collection acency asking to pay a debt from an online scam site. They don’t have my credit card or SSN but they do have my name and address. Can they really find my SSN and post on my credit report? Or are they trying some scare tactic with me? Thank you in advance for your help!!
Thanks for your VERY quick answers, one thing I don’t understand is how can they post on your credit report if they don’t have your SSN? Someone else used my name and address with a prepaid debit card on this site and now they want me to pay for it. So all they have is my name and address, I don’t see how they can tie this to my credit?

NESTOR

justin narin asked:


Have you been turned down for a loan recently? Have you applied for store credit and been refused? Did you really want that car and find out that because of your ‘credit score’ that they would have to require an unreasonable down payment?

Credit reports are designed to help businesses evaluate the risk factor in giving you money or valuable products on a line of credit.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act promotes the accuracy, fairness and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s credit reporting agencies. The act is enforced with regard to the consumer’s rights and requiring new responsibilities for the credit reporting agencies.

For example, a reporting agency must give you a copy of your report and they must provide a list of every inquiry about your credit report within the last year.

The agencies collect data on personal identification (name, address, social security number, current employer, etc), payment histories with all current and closed lines of credit that details how much you owe, when you’ve paid on time and what, if any have been reported to a collection agency.

The final two items are all inquiries that have been made on your credit report as well as anything that is considered a matter of public record such as bankruptcies, foreclosures and tax liens.

To repair or report errors on your credit report, you must obtain a copy of your personal report and score. The reports themselves are not uniform from company to company.

Experian may not list all the data of Equifax and vice versa. So, be sure to obtain credit history reports from the same company as the creditor who turned down your application. In some states, that may require a small fee, but after September 1, 2005 all states will have to be in compliance with providing a free credit report.

Once you have the report, verify the information. Every report is also scored. Scoring is the system that creditors use to determine your credit experience. These scores are valid for all three companies and are uniform in value.

Credit scores range from 375 to 900 points, but those numbers mean little on their own. A score of 650 or better usually indicates a very good credit history. Scores between 620 and 650 are considered average, while scores below 620 may prevent a person from getting a loan. If they do receive one, it is likely one with prohibitive interest attached.

If you look at all the information on your credit report and it’s correct, then you are faced with having to improve either your payment history, lower the number of debts.

If the score is low because you possess very little credit history, investing in a secured credit card can help generate good feedback to your credit report or a co-signer who can provide the creditor with a good credit history as security for your lack of one.

Inaccurate information, however, such as reported late payments that you disagree with or a listing for a debt that is not yours is repairable. Some companies offer debt consolidation or credit repair. Before getting involved with either type, be sure you thoroughly check out the company to avoid scams.

Doing the credit repair on your own is simple enough. Write a letter, detailing the inaccuracy to the reporting company. Send the letter and copies (copies only) of any documents supporting your claim to the credit-reporting agency. Some agencies allow you to do this online through their websites; however, if you need to send them hard data it’s better to use regular postal mail.

The credit agencies are then required by law to investigate the item in question, usually within 30 days. They must forward all information to the reporting creditor and if they cannot verify the veracity of their report or the creditor does not respond, the report will then be changed and updated to reflect the data provided.

The company must then notify you in writing of the change as well as provide you with an updated credit report.

It’s important to note, that if there is an inaccuracy on Experian that there is likely a similar one on Trans Union and Equifax. Each company must be notified, separately for each item.

Also, if you have more than one item you are disputing on your credit report, then you may have to send a separate letter for each instance, to be certain that each item is addressed.

While this can be a time-consuming task at first glance, it is the best way to remove inaccuracies from your credit history and repair misinformation damage to your credit report. If you request it, the reporting agency must also send notices of any corrections to anyone who received your report in the previous six months.

If the negative information reported to your credit history is accurate, then only time can repair the damage of the negative score. Most information rolls off after 7 to 10 years, but felony convictions, information on jobs paying you over $75,000 a year or credit of more than $150,000 has no time limit.

If you had a car repossessed, you’ll have to wait about 8 years to see the repossession removed from your credit history. Open credit lines, whether the information is negative or positive, will remain active on your credit history whether you actively use the credit or not.

Applying for credit is never a fun, even for people who are considered to have good credit. There is always an inherent fear of rejection by the creditor you are applying for. If you are concerned about your credit history, keep an eye on it.

It’s recommended that you check your credit history once a year at least, because in an age of identity theft, negative credit history can be part of the collateral damage.

For more articles and suggestions, visit http://www.bills.com/credit-report-errors-articlebills/



RICHARD

Isabel asked:


What is a Free Instant Credit Report?

Some may know that credit report is actually your credit history. It contains the data collected from various sources by the credit bureaus. Credit report gives detailed information about financial position in your business life. This report also reflects your late credit payment. Hence it’s very important that you pay all your debts on time. Remember that a good credit report is an added advantage if you are looking to purchase something very expensive. For instance, if you are considering buying a house in the near future you need to have a healthy credit report. A healthy credit report is the best way of impressing your bank or money lenders.

Is it necessary to keep a check on our Credit report?

Many people want an answer to this. Knowing your current credit report is important, but one has to be equally cautious while getting this information. You need to check your credit report at least once in six months. Remember checking your credit report helps in protecting your credit rating. Moreover, it also helps you to keep a check on your creditors. There may be times when your creditor might fail to report a past due balance.

Free Instant online credit report contains a complete summary of your personal information. It contains your name, your residential addresses, contact number, Social Security number, month and year of birth as well as your employment information. It also contains information about any bankruptcy in your credit report. Your financial institution may periodically obtain your credit report so as to maintain your up to date records.

There are various types of credit report such as business credit report, consumer credit report, yearly credit report, etc. Initially there was strict prohibition on disclosure of instant credit report but now any person can apply for his/her credit report. Many lenders and retailers who extend credit facilities entirely depend on credit report and score to give credit to their customers.



ALTON