free copy of credit report – equifax experian trans union

January 31, 2011

Getting My Credit Report

Filed under: Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:52 pm
Richard Trott asked:




Many people are not concerned about their credit report or credit score until it is time to make a large purchase, such as a house or car. Your credit report let’s the prospective mortgagor or loan company know how reliable you are in paying your bills. It will tell them how many times you have defaulted on loans with credit card companies or loan companies, and if you have had financial troubles enough to warrant a bankruptcy, either a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. It will also let them know if you failed to pay your taxes and if they are still outstanding. It is an important part of your financial life.

There are three reporting companies and when you apply for a loan or mortgage; all three of these companies are notified. These three major companies are: Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union. You should keep in touch with these companies and your report regularly, to be sure there is nothing listed that does not belong to you. These companies will provide a copy of your report and tell you what your credit score is, for a fee. However, there are some companies such as “My Free Credit Report” that will, as their name sates, send you a free report. Remember it is important to stay on top of it in order to save yourself from identity theft. If there is an error on your report you want to correct before you decide to buy a house or car.

As a note of caution, do not make too many loan applications with too many financial institutions or companies, as these applications will show on your credit report and it will not look good for you when you need a good credit rating. If you are inquiring about your own credit rating, this will not show on your report.

Do not underestimate the importance of a good report or credit score, as this is an important part of buying a house or car. Check your credit rating before you even begin to look for that house or car, so that you can make any corrections to your credit report that may be necessary prior to your search.

Norman

January 30, 2011

Fixing Your Credit Report After Bankruptcy

Filed under: Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:04 pm
Jennifer Quilter asked:




So you’ve finally finished discharging your debts and you’re ready to relax and be done with it, right? Wrong. About a month after things have completed it’s time to start fixing your credit report after bankruptcy.

The sad truth is that most of the time you’re going to find numerous errors on your report once you’ve discharged debts. Companies are not going to be motivated to update things saying that things have been “included in bankruptcy” and that you have a zero balance. Instead, they’ll leave the debts on there marked as open or overdue with amounts you owe on them. You want to call and have this taken care of.

It’s very common for people to be intimidated by the companies and overwhelmed after everything they’ve been through and not bother with calling to fix their credit report after bankruptcy. This is a big mistake.

After you’ve discharged all of your debt your rating may actually go up, and you’ll be on your way to rebuilding your finances for the future. However, if you still have those debts on there, this can’t happen. A major factor in calculating your score is the amount of debt you have versus the amount of credit available to you.

It may take a few calls to get this corrected, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Once you’ve gotten this taken care of, you can start working on rebuilding things. You can work on making your payments on time every month, possibly get a secured credit card from your bank and use it very lightly, paying it in full each month. It’s important to take things slowly and carefully to avoid future problems, but it’s also important to make sure you do things to build up a positive history. Be careful, but don’t give up altogether.

It takes persistence, but fixing your credit report after bankruptcy is very worth it, and an important step towards your financial future.

Jerry

January 26, 2011

Credit Repair Forms

Filed under: Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:09 am
Patsy Rose asked:




There are several credit repair forms that you may need if you are trying to increase your credit score on your own. Some of these credit repair forms are included in credit repair kits and credit repair companies have copies of these forms. There are no guidelines which are particularly critical to achieve credit repair. These are simply suggestions that have worked for other people.

One credit repair form that is absolutely necessary is your own personal credit report. Each of the three major credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax maintain records of your credit history with regards to timely payments and other information. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report once per year at http://www.annualcreditreport.com. The Federal Trade Commission advises that you spell it correctly or you may end up at an impostor site.

Another of the credit repair forms that is useful is a sample letter to send to the credit bureau. This letter is actually very simple. There is one suggested letter at the Federal Trade Commission’s website. What you are trying to accomplish with this “credit repair form” is to have inaccurate, misleading or unverifiable information removed from your credit report. Removing negative, not positive, information from your credit report will improve your overall credit score.

Often, when a consumer disputes information listed on their credit report, a follow-up letter is needed. This “follow-up letter” is a credit repair form that is used when the credit bureau does not respond to the initial request to remove negative information from the credit report. Credit bureaus have the right to ignore disputes which they believe are frivolous.

Some credit repair kits include letters to creditors. These credit repair forms are addressed to the creditors who have reported negative information to the credit bureaus and include information about when the incident occurred or information about positive performance since the negative item was reported. This credit repair form is not absolutely necessary. You may be able to discuss this type of problem over the phone with the lending company.

There are many credit repair forms which are suggested by individuals or credit repair companies. If you have the time and the patience, you can increase your credit score by using some or all or these credit repair forms. If you do not have the time or the patience, you can contact a credit repair specialist to help you. It is advisable to contact a lawyer which specializes in credit repair. A consumer can be confident that the credit repair forms used by these lawyers are completely legal. For more information about the credit repair form, visit the Credit Repair Blog.

Dolores

January 24, 2011

Remove Collections From Credit Report

Filed under: Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 1:50 pm
Mike Clover asked:




To get collections removed from a credit report there is a process to follow. There is also a big misconception out there that you can get collections removed that you owe. Yes you can get collections removed but there is seasoning requirement in order to get them removed. In this article we will discuss what can and can’t be removed from your credit report.

Get a copy of your credit report with credit scores

If you want get collections removed you obviously need to know what is being reported on your free credit score report. You also need to make sure you pull a 3-1 credit report with all 3 of your credit scores. Once you have done this then you can determine what you need to start disputing. I see a common problem all the time, and that problem is people disputing information they owe. That does absolutely no good unless the original collection date has expired per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Here is list of when certain collections will expire and are to be removed from your credit report by law.

Derogatory expirations guidelines:

* Chapter 7 – 10yrs

* Chapter 13 – 7 yrs

* Tax Lien – Until paid off

* Child support – Until paid off

* Collections – 7yrs

* Chare Offs – 7 yrs

* Late payments – 7yrs

* Inquires – 24 months

* Foreclosure – 7 yrs

* Repossession – 7 yrs

* Judgments – 7yrs

*Expirations date starts ticking from the original collection date.

Dispute expired items on credit report

Once you have reviewed what derogatory information on your credit report is inaccurate, make sure you highlight those items on your report. Determine which collections, late payments, charge off, etc….. are set to expire or have already expired. Now you can start the on-line disputing process. I am personally a fan of disputing on-line for the simple fact that it is faster and easier. The credit bureaus will be able to verify the original collection date after you dispute. If the bureau finds you are correct they will remove the derogatory remark. This will start increasing your credit scores. If the collection has not expired don’t dispute it, you are wasting your time. The collection will not be removed unless the expiration date has expired. Folks it’s really that simple. There is no quick way to get bad credit removed. Just remember if you are late on a obligation you can expect your credit score to drop around 150 points, and the negative mark will be on your credit report for 7 yrs. So with all of this being said, make sure you pay all your bills on-time.

Elmer

January 18, 2011

Free Instant Annual Credit Report

Filed under: Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:05 am
Christopher Wright asked:




Since late 2004 and early 2005, the three nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – began processing consumers’ requests for free annual credit reports at annualcreditreport(.com).

A credit report contains consumers’ identification information; payment history with different creditors; a list of inquiries made by various financial institutions; and information on the public record, such as foreclosures or bankruptcies. Consumer reporting companies collect and sell this information to lenders and other businesses that have a permissible purpose to obtain it.

The FTC has issued a new consumer education brochure, “Your Access to Free Credit Reports,” that explains why it is important for consumers to monitor their credit history, how to request a report, and how to dispute any errors. The report can be found by searching the FTC’s site for that title.

Keep in mind the source of this information. You can be sure that (when reading this) there won’t be any secrets techniques exposed that would give you an advantage over the bureaus during your credit restoration process. Learning some of these insider tactics requires a different thought process.

By law you are also entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report if you have been denied or turned down for credit. The company you applied for credit through must provide you with the name and contact information of the credit bureau they obtained your information from. You can then contact this credit bureau within 60 days using the information provided to obtain your free credit report. You may be able to fax a copy of your denial letter and get access to your credit files quicker than sending them via snail mail.

Kristin

January 16, 2011

Credit Report Basics – What Affects Your Credit Report?

Filed under: Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:54 am
Mike Singh asked:




The mention of ‘credit report’ sends chills down the spine of people who haven’t been responsible as far as managing their financials are concerned. For these people a credit report is exactly what they need to begin with. Lenders often look at these reports when you are looking for a new loan or even opening up a credit card account. This will give them an idea of how much risk is involved in lending you money.

In the United States these reports are maintained by three major reporting agencies:

1) Experian: PO Box 2002, Allen TX 75013, http://www.experian.com

2) Equifax: PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374; http://www.equifax.com

3) TransUnion: PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022; http://www.transunion.com

These reports list your financial history including credit cards, home loans, car loans and any other debt you have. The key facts that are recorded are whether you made any late payments, how many times you were late, whether they were 30-days past the due date, 60-days or more. These reports also contain your phone number, social security, current and old addresses.

This information is available to qualified lenders – mortgage lenders, banks, credit card issuing companies and other entities if they required during legal proceedings etc. This can be a scary proposition considering that these reports might have erroneous information.

These sometimes list inactive loans, show credit accounts that are open even though they are cancelled and others. At times, they don’t list payments that have been made to overdue amounts or other debts that have been paid off. These discrepancies exist even though these companies do their best to maintain up-to-date information.

This is exactly why it is your responsibility to review these reports thoroughly. Request copies from the 3 agencies mentioned above, note any errors, find proof via documentation and send these documents along to the agencies to fix the entries.

Fortunately due to a recent law being passed, you can obtain one copy free of charge from the credit reporting agencies. You will find several websites which will let you do this. One such website is annualcreditreport.com.

If you are struggling under a mountain of debt, your first step to become debt-free is to get your credit report. Getting to know your past spending habits is the best way to start working on that plan.

After having a look at your history, notice any debts that are overdue. These should be cleared up as fast as you can. Often the recommended approach is to pay off the smallest amounts first. The psychology behind this is that you will get more satisfaction from these mini-successes and this momentum will help you build confidence of working towards the bigger goal of being totally debt-free.

Daniel

Credit Report Tips – Having a Great Credit Rating is Not Easy!

Filed under: Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 10:53 am
Jared McDermott asked:




When it comes to your credit rating there are many things that go into deciding what type of rating you deserve and what your FICO score really is. There are three agencies that you can get your credit report from and they can all have different information for you. This can be confusing and can be very strange for many people. You need to understand what it takes to get great credit and to maintain great credit. Here are some credit report tips that you need to know and use in order to get the credit rating you want and deserve.

First, you should understand that if you are shopping for anything that requires financing you need to be very careful about how many times your credit report is pulled. If you were to go shopping for a car and you let 3 or more dealerships pull your credit, then your score can drop a little bit. This gets even worse if you have others places pulling your credit as well. The more inquiries you have in a 90 day period the more it will effect your score. This is not good and you need to be very careful about how many places you allow to pull your credit report when you are looking for any type of financing.

Second, one of the best credit report tips you can ever get has to do with how to build your credit once you have bad credit or anything on the bad side of the report. Your credit score is not effected as much by the sizes of the debts on the delinquent side of the report, but instead it is more effected by the number of debts you have on that side. This means if you have 10 debts over there and you can pay off a few of them, then you can increase your credit score. This is a very good way to go and if you can pay off some of the smaller debts while working on the larger ones, then you can start to move your credit score in the right direction. Out of all the credit report tips you can find this might be the best one out there.

Last, you should also know that having things that you pay on time on your credit report helps a lot as well. This really is true with credit cards. Another thing to know about the credit cards is that if you keep your balance at less than 25% of your credit limit it is good for your credit. If you keep a balance that is higher than 25% of your credit limit, then it will effect your credit in a negative way even if you always pay your bill on time. This means that you should be very careful about the credit cards you use and how much you use them.

Wesley

Getting an Equifax Free Credit Report

Filed under: Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:04 am
Steve Mathews asked:




Every single American is entitled to a free copy of their credit report. This is a new option as in the past people have had to pay for their credit report. This free credit report occurrence is due to the FTC’s ruling under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transmissions Act. Equifax is one of the “big three” credit bureaus and by contacting them you can receive an Equifax free credit report.

Why do I need a credit report?

Different credit bureaus compile credit information from different sources then relay that information to their customers. Retailers, employers, credit card companies and issuers, insurance companies, and banking institutions use these credit bureaus to get information on your history of credit. You should stay on top of your credit because in many cases the information can be incorrect. This can lead to things such as a loss of a job, denial of o loan, and receiving insurance. Your credit report is something you should stay on top of because sometimes these errors can happen and they can cause major headaches. For these reasons it is beneficial for you to get an Equifax free credit report.

Equifax has a toll free number for information which is 1-800-685-1111. You can also write to Equifax for a free credit report as well as contact them if you have been denied credit or other benefits. If this is the case respond within 60 days of the denial. For both occasions you can receive a free Equifax credit report by writing to them at this address:

Equifax

Office of Consumer Affairs

P.O. Box 105873

Atlanta, GA 30348

Equifax also allows you to fax your request to them to obtain a free credit report. Their fax number is 404-612-3150. If you want a credit report for reasons such as problems pertaining to an employment opportunity, insurance problems, or utility problems, you can call Equifax at 404-612-3321. Unless you live in the Atlanta, Georgia area these calls are long distance and not free of charge.

Equifax makes it easy to keep on top of your credit by giving you the opportunity for receiving a free credit report. Keeping on top of your credit can save you time and money in the future.

Caroline

January 15, 2011

Information About Credit Report Disputes

Filed under: Legal — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:00 pm
Robert G Anderson asked:




The Federal Trade Commission had formulated and enforced Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a US federal law in 1970. This act along with Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) forms the foundation of consumer credit rights in the US.

FCRA regulates the compilation, distribution and use of consumer information, including consumer credit information. These credit reports are compiled by three credit bureaus. They contain information about you and how you paid your bills. You can submit a Report to FCRA should you find any discrepancies in the report.

You are legally entitled to one free copy of the credit report from each of the credit bureaus annually. You can acquire a copy of the report from them and evaluate it thoroughly for any mistakes. FCRA gives you the right to dispute any information that you find wrong in the report.

How to file a Credit Report Dispute

First and foremost you must alert the bureau and the information provider of any incorrect information in writing.

All such documents that support your report should be included with your dispute. You may include photocopies of the supporting documents and keep the originals for further reference. These documents can consist of bank statements or cancelled checks and/or any such financial documents.

In your report, include your name, complete address, the information you are disputing, and the reasons why you are disputing. Sending your dispute via certified mail with return receipt request will ensure a proper proof of your sending the statement as well as it reaching the bureau.

What will the bureau do?

It is mandatory for the bureau to investigate your complaint and reply in 30 days with the results of the investigation. The bureau sends whatever report you sent them to the information provider to scrutinize. If there is any change in your credit report after this, the bureau will send you a free copy of your report. You may request them to send a copy of the corrected report to the companies that accessed your credit report during the last six months.

It is pertinent to mention here that if your credit report is inaccurate in one bureau’s report it will have inaccurate information in the other two bureaus also. Hence, you must contact the other two bureaus to get corrected reports from them as well.

Cindy

January 11, 2011

The Truth About Credit Report Repair

Filed under: Finance — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:37 pm
Shayne Sherman asked:




Does credit repair sound too good to be true? When it comes to credit repair, the law is on your side. There are laws created by the FTC to protect you from the collection agencies, credit reporting agencies, and even credit repair companies. Legally repairing your credit repair is not only the smart way to go, but usually cheaper and carries a lot less risk!

The FTC is on to most companies that follow the following tactics. Watch out for anyone making claims that just seem too good to be true. Remember if you follow the wrong advice and commit fraud, the burden falls on you.

Illegal Credit Repair Tactics

o Obtaining a new social security number or starting up a “brand new” credit file. Some of these shady companies will teach you how to start your own new credit file by applying for an E.I.N. or Employer Identification Number for you to use instead of your current Social Security number. Please avoid such companies.

o Companies that want you to pay in full for credit repair services before they actually provide such service.

o Any Company that does not share with you your legal rights and the fact that you can try to repair your credit for free.

o Remember, you commit fraud when you lie or make false statements to obtain credit.

Now let’s look at what you should do to repair your credit.

Credit Repair Tactics that are Legal

o You have the right to dispute erroneous information on your credit reports. Not only is this legal, but it’s your federal right. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to dispute items on your credit reports directly with the credit bureaus. The burden of proof lies directly on the credit bureaus. If they cannot verify that the information reporting on your credit report is correct, then it must be removed by law.

o The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act gives you the right to verify any debt a debt collector is trying to collect on. You have the right to demand from the collection agencies what they are trying to collect for, the exact amount they are trying to collect on, and how they came up with that amount among other things. Just because a debt collector says you owe money does not imply that you do!

o Sometimes if a negative item is being reported correctly and you do in fact owe the debt then the best thing to do is make a settlement offer. I suggest asking for removal of the item from your credit reports once you have made payment. A general rule of thumb is to start at 50% of the original debt and go from there. As always, get everything in writing before you agree to anything. Once you make payment promises are often forgotten.

If this all seems a little over your head don’t be afraid. There are professionals out there who can repair your credit for you. For my personal review of the top credit repair company, Lexington Law, visit www.credit-repair-story.com

Glen
Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress
webinar services | refinance mortgage