Credit Reports Galore

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

Sally asked:


Hey Landlords —

Was wondering if anyone could suggest a site that is good for doing online credit checks on tenants. There are so many sites out there that offer them; I’m not sure exactly what I’m getting. Obviously, I want to get all three reporting agencies (if feasible), and I want a low price. I’ve seen the price on credit checks range from $9.95 to $29.99. What is reasonable?

Any specific Web sites anyone could point me to? Can you get the reports directly through the reporting agencies? It seems like most of these Web sites I’m finding are third parties. What would be the benefit of using a third party site?

I’m a new landlord. I’ve had no problem requesting my own credit report in the past; but this seems to be a totally different process. Please help!
By the way; I’ve received rental applications which have all the essential information like DOB, drivers license number, social security and all that. They have signed the applications which include consenting to a credit check.
But, no I don’t have their mothers maiden names or anything.

EMILE

LoVeSSSiTTT asked:


Here’s the deal. I’m applying for the apartment. I was ready to move in Saturday morning.. and then I get a call from the landlord and he tells me that my SSN comes up with a bunch of different names.

He gave me a copy of the documents he had. It’s a report showing, what looks like, just one person. His name is Juan… and he’s lived a bunch of different places.

I called the social security office and they said nothing but my name comes up. All employment history is mine… and anything else.. confirms as me.

However, on the report he copied for me…says the guy who has my SSN has worked numerous places!!!

I went to the police station.. and they, too, say there should be no problem.

I got my free credit report online… and they all come up as my name.. EXCEPT.. Experian has my name under my sister’s name.

So, everyone I was supposed to report this to …say I have no problems. To everyone that matters… there’s definitely a problem.

What would I do??? How can I fix this… and fast?? I’m trying to moooooooove!! Thanks, much appreciated!
I believe it’s experian.. (the service they went through). But there is no mistake on their part. I showed the landlord a letter from SS.. and he still needed to print out his report.

KIRK

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

Mike Clover asked:


it report is not something to be taken lightly these days. It is almost as important as your social security card. There will come a time where your credit report will be required for credit purposes. We see credit reports on a daily basis, and there typically are issues with that individual’s credit report that was not known. This is all too common due to a lack of staying on top of your personal credit report. Here are some common issues we see that cause loans to get denied.

Credit Report Issues:

- Credit Cards charged beyond credit limit

- Credit Cards charged above 30% of allowed credit limit

- Late payments

- Co-signed for loans

- No Credit

- Credit Score too low

- Your dads credit shows up on your report because you are a junior

- Medical Collections

- Stolen Identity

- Credit card fraud

The majority of the time most people have no idea that the previous information discussed affects your credit report. All it takes is one of these mistakes to have issues getting credit extended to you.

If you are getting ready to make a purchase you can definitely save on interest rates and terms by pulling a copy of your credit report with credit scores. This is a preventive measure so you don’t get blind sided with a credit problem. There is a 1 n 4 chances your credit report has incorrect information on it.

Suggestions to avoid common credit report mistakes

- Pull your credit report every 3 months

- Don’t be late on obligations

- Don’t co-sign for anyone

- Don’t charge more on a credit card than you can pay off that month

- Establish credit if you don’t have any with Secured Credit Cards

- Pay your medical bills

- Shred all document that come in the mail to avoid id theft

It only makes since these days to watch out for the problems that have been mentioned.You have nothing to loose by checking your credit report with credit scores regularly. You would be suprised about how many people have identity theft going on with them and not even know about it, until its too late. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. Most identity theft could have been prevented with a little better credit management. If you have not checked your credit in a while, now is a good time to get that piece of mind. This is part of proper credit managment.



EMIL

Allison May asked:


The answer to the above question is yes. You definitely should obtain a copy of your credit report. If you’re asking why, let’s talk about some important points about your credit report.

What is in your credit report?

Your credit report contains significant information about your accounts and finances. In your credit report, you can find your employment history, your salary history, your past and present credit with all your creditors and other legal information.

Also included in your credit report is your complete name, Social Security Number, date of birth, driver’s license number, your past and current home address, telephone number and other personal details. All transactions that you have with lending companies, credit card companies, insurance companies and other financial institutions are all reflected on your credit report.

How much you owe a certain creditor is listed in detail. Also, whether you’re paying your bills on time or not can be traced by looking at your credit report. All these information are included on your credit report.

Who Checks On Your Credit Report?

You may now have an idea why it is important for you to obtain a copy of your own personal credit report. Landlord, potential employers, insurance companies, government agencies, lending companies, credit card companies – all these organizations check on your credit report to know your background and reputation.

A single false information or an incorrect transaction on your credit report can damage your credit worthiness. You can get denied by potential employers just because your credit report seems bad. Creditors can refuse your applications on account that you have bad account on your credit report. Thus, it is your responsibility to check and ensure that there isn’t any false information or derogatory records that can affect your reputation.

Check Your Credit Report

You have the right to know if all the information contained on your credit report is true and accurate. As a consumer, you have the right to dispute information which you think are false, erroneous or fraudulent.

The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act protects consumers from such inaccuracy or possible fraudulent accounts contained in their credit report. In fact, if a credit reporting agency or a credit bureau refuses to give you the appropriate service you need, you may also report it to The Federal Trade Commission.

Every year, all consumers are allowed to obtain a copy of their report from the three major credit bureaus for free. Thus, after making a careful examination on your credit report, you can inform the credit bureaus if you find any disputable records on your credit report. Below are the contact numbers of the three major credit bureaus.

Equifax Options P.O. Box 740123 Atlanta, GA 30374-0123 www.equifax.com

Experian Consumer Opt Out P.O. Box 919 Allen, TX 75013 www.experian.com

Trans Union Name Removal Option P.O. Box 97328 Jackson, MS 39288-7328 www.transunion.com

For a more in-depth discussion on credit report and your rights as a consumer, you may visit the FTC’s website at www.ftc.gov.



WILBUR

Joe Rispoli asked:


oyer probably saw a copy before hiring you and your landlord likely considered it before accepting you as a tenant. Long distance telephone carriers and cell phone companies even look at it before providing their services. And you’ve never even seen your own credit report? In fact, according to a recent study, less than 20% of all Americans have ever seen their credit report. Most people become concerned about their credit report only when they are denied credit. By that time, it’s usually too late.

You should take a look at your credit report at least once every 2 years. This way, information is still accessible and verifiable in the case that you may need to have it corrected. You should also look at your credit report before applying for any credit. This may help to avoid any unwelcome surprises. Allowing you to look at exactly what your loan manager will look at, can prepare you for any questions.

If you’ve never had credit problems, you might think that you need not be concerned. But according to a recent government study, one out of every four credit reports contain errors, one out of every six contain errors that could cause denial of credit. Sometimes Credit reports are accidentally combined, and people with similar names or social security numbers actually share a credit report! It’s not at all uncommon for family members to have overlapping data. Nor is it uncommon for a credit card or loan company to accidentally list you as having missed a payment.

Have you ever received a late notice or collection letter on something that you already have paid? I’m sure you made a phone call or two and straightened it out immediately. But what about the monthly report to the credit bureau? You can’t help but wonder if the mistake got corrected on that report. The only way to find out what is actually on your credit report is to look at it for yourself. When you do, you may be surprised to see that your credit record looks quit different than you expected. The past and present credit accounts that you expected to see, may not be listed, and still other accounts that you did not expect to see might be listed. This is not at all uncommon because creditors are not required to report our account to a credit bureau. They are free to report only the information that they see fit.

This situation may provide for a pleasant surprise, if a past loan that became delinquent doesn’t show up on your report. It may also provide a very unpleasant surprise, if something you thought unimportant was reported. Like maybe a non paid magazine subscription, or even worse, someone else’s delinquent account record. The only way to find out what is on your report is to see a copy for yourself!

Here are some questions and answers that will help explain what a credit report is and how to get one.

What does it mean to have good or bad credit?

Having good credit means that according to your past creditors, your record (credit report) is clean. You made payments, and paid off your past debts satisfactorily. Having bad credit is just the opposite. Your record (credit report) shows that you have not paid off your past debts as agreed. This could mean late payments, collections, non-pays etc… This information is held at the “credit bureau”, and is provided to those businesses that request it.

What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is the federal law that governs credit bureaus. The law was written to protect consumers from the obvious power that credit bureaus can have over their lives.

Do I have a right to know what my credit report says about me?

Yes, the Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you that right. This law also gives you the right to obtain a copy of your report for free, with a letter of denial of credit, if that denial of credit was due to information found on your credit report.

What is on my credit report?

Your credit report contains information about your credit card accounts, loans, charge accounts, and items of public record such as bankruptcies, tax liens, and judgments. It will list each account on record, who the account was with, how much was borrowed, how much was paid, and how timely the payments were made. It will also list any accounts sent to collection agencies, accounts not paid in full, and defaulted loans.

Who has access to my credit report?

According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, anyone with a “legitimate business need”. However, in most cases the report is only provided to credit grantors, employers or prospective employers, landlords, and insurance underwriters.

Are ALL of my accounts listed on my credit report?

Probably not. Businesses have a right (but not the obligation) to report to any or all credit bureaus, at their discretion. Your previous credit grantors might have reported your credit experience to just one credit bureau, all three large credit bureaus, or they might not have reported it to any credit bureau. However, most large credit grantors report to TRW, Transunion, or Equifax.

What will it cost me to get a copy of my credit report?

You can acquire a credit report from the credit reporting agencies below for free. If you’re located in the United States and Canada, you can do this once a year. You also may obtain a free copy of your report from any credit bureau that provided information that caused you to be turned down for credit.

For complete, up to date information how to receive a copy of your credit report, you may contact the three largest credit bureaus directly at:

TRW (800) 392-1122 Trans Union (714) 738-3800 Equifax (800) 685-1111

This information is provided for informational purposes only. The author assumes No liability. You should retain professional legal or financial assistance if required.

Are you swimming in debt? If so, then visit the link below now!

Copyright 2008 Joe Rispoli



GARTH

PENTAGONDEFENSE asked:


I did sign a contract with a company, but they never captured my social security number or date of birth? Granted, they can take legal action w/o this info,but can it appear on my credit reports as usually,they need name, social,dob,address and phone.

BERNARDO