Nearly every consumer will have at least one inaccurate item included on their credit report, and it is up to you, the consumer, to make sure your credit file is accurate, verifiable and complete. According to the Wall Street Journal, from 2004 to 2006, more than 2,500 banks, thrifts, credit unions and mortgage companies made a combined $1.5 trillion in high-interest-rate loans, and the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that every three months, approximately 167,000 new families enter into foreclosure in the United States.
To ensure an accurate credit report, we recommend that you check your report from at least one of the three Credit Bureaus – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax – every six months. The tricky part about managing your credit is that the information provided to the three Credit Bureaus comes directly from your creditors, and you will rarely if ever be notified of the information provided. This requires you to check your report often to identify erroneous information early. Credit Bureaus take into account the date that inaccurate items were reported and usually respond more positively if they know that you manage your credit carefully and check your reports often.
With the recent rollout of a new federal law, you are now entitled to one free credit report from each of the three Credit Bureaus per year. You can receive your free credit report in one of three ways. To request your free report online, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, or to request by phone call (877) 322-8228, or you can complete the form on the back of the Annual Credit Report Request brochure, and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA, 30348-5281.
If you've been denied credit, insurance or employment because of your credit report, then you are entitled to a free copy of your report from the reporting agency. The company to which you applied must supply the Credit Bureau's name, address and telephone number, but you must act quickly as you have a total of 60 days after receiving the denial notice to request your free report.
After obtaining a copy of your credit report, review each account carefully checking for even the smallest details including spelling errors, outdated or incomplete information and inaccurate account histories. Every credit report is laid out slightly different, so find a company that provides a report that is easy for you to read and file. Next, you need to start a detailed log of all the potential problems in the report, and be sure to include creditor contact information and the nature of the item in dispute. Make a thorough list of the items in dispute and gather ALL supporting information to help build a case for your position. Be meticulous in your documentation. Proper documentation is the key to winning any successful credit dispute.
Visit www.idealfsi.com for more information on building and managing credit.
Author
Chad Sunyich |
