Errors on your credit Report?
Your credit report shows a lot of information about you and should be checked at least once every 12 months to make sure that the information on the report is correct. You should also check your report before you apply for a job or mortgage. The credit report shows information about where you reside presently and previously, where you work, loan balances, if you pay your bills on time, if you have been sued and, if you have filed bankruptcy.
Have you checked for errors on your credit report?
The Federal Trade Commission released a study that shows 20% of survey participants found at least one significant error on at least one of their credit reports that were corrected when disputed. This can result in improvement of your credit score which is then used by lenders, insurers, employers and landlords to determine your credit worthiness and/or financial track record.
To pull your free annual report visit annualcreditreport.com, call toll free to 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. To dispute errors on your report use a sample dispute letter and include copies of all documents that support your claim.
Credit reporting companies like Equifax, Experian or Transunion must investigate your claim within 30 days and respond to you. However, make sure your claim is legitimate. After investigating your claim, if it is found to be an error on the side of the company that made the claim (i.e. the Credit Card Company, Mortgage Company etc.), the three nationwide credit reporting companies must be notified so that they can then correct the information in your report.
Once you receive notice that your report has been corrected, you can request that the credit reporting company send corrections to any party that received your credit report in the past 6 months. If your report was pulled for employment purposes, you can request a correction sent for any report pulled in the past 2 years.
So use the above information and pull your credit report now. It may save you money in the long run!
Errors on your credit Report? was originally published on Money Then and Now