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.
An Equifax credit report may be the one of the most important statements in your possession. Employers, landlords, and money loaners rely on a person's background credit as the primary, and sometimes only, source of information that determines the ability to borrow money and own a home. While everyone is entitled to a free annual credit report under federal law, understanding your credit report once each year may not be sufficient in maintaining the accuracy of your credit history. How much money you can borrow, the level of interest rates that will attach to this money, and a number of other personal financial statistics are all affected by a credit report. With an Equifax credit report, this information is available whenever you need it.
You may wonder if an Equifax credit report is necessary if you pay all of your bills on time and have no history of bad credit. However, the importance of checking the accuracy of your credit report should not be underestimated. As the flow of online traffic increases daily, the prospect of identity theft becomes more realistic. If you access your credit report and believe that some of the information is wrong, you may catch a possible identity theft. As the frequency of your spending increases, so does the possibility of this type of victimization. Order your Equifax credit report to insure personal safety.
An Equifax credit report costs approximately 10 dollars - a small fee for self-awareness of financial status. There are two other major credit reporting services in the country: Experian and Trans Union. All three of these companies perform the same job; however, your credit report with each of these bureaus may vary. Because Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union gather information and statistics from different sources, many people request credit report's from each of the services. After requesting your Equifax credit report, examine the numbers closely. If there is any discrepancy, it is a good idea to request credit reports from all of the services to make sure that your credit information is accurate.
Recently Equifax introduced a 3-1 Monitoring System. For $12.95 a month, consumers will receive monitoring of their credit report for all three major credit agencies of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion; automated and customized alert notification of changes to any of these three credit agency reports; unlimited access to their Equifax Credit Report; $20,000 Identity Theft Insurance policy with no deductible although certain limitations and exclusions apply and a customer service center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Requesting an Equifax credit report via the Internet gives you instant access to this report. Obtaining your report through postal mail can take a longer period of time. For just 10 dollars, you can view what companies have viewed your credit report and understand any reason why a past decision may still affect your ability to borrow money. Other services that Equifax offers include a credit ranking system, a valuable tool that allows you to compare your credit rankings and scores with other individuals in your area. By understanding these averages and statistics, you will be able to better understand your own situation. For peace of mind and personal safety, look over your Equifax credit report.
The credit score is a rating that shows how great of a credit risk you are and what the chances are that you may default on a loan. Most lenders will use the credit score as factor in y our loan application. The number of the score is between 300 and 850. The higher the score on your Equifax credit report, the less risky you will be considered by creditors. If the score is lower, you will be seen as a higher risk and while you still may get loans, you will likely be headed toward higher rates of interest. Your Equifax credit report has a big influence on your ability to make purchases on credit. Many state and federal laws allow you to receive a copy of your Equifax credit report either for free or at a low cost. Take the time to get a copy of your Equifax credit report, as well as ones from the other companies. That way you can be sure that all of the information is correct and have an idea of how risky you are so that there are no surprises when you got apply for any loans.
Both Stephen Chua & Ray Lam are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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