How
do you use your credit report?
Your credit score is important for obtaining credit but there are other reasons you
should see your credit report.
1) To know if credit report contains
errors. Mistakes do happen. Most people have forgotten a payment or two, but it's quite different when somebody else's mistakes
cause false delinquencies and problems on your report. Fixing such errors is important because unfavorable information on your credit report, whether it is accurate or a mistake, affects your ability to borrow
money.
2) Identity theft is a crucial reason
to know what is on your credit report. Identity theft is a crime in which someone pretends to be you by obtaining key pieces
of information such as your Social Security and driver's license numbers, and
obtains a credit card or a loan, merchandise or services in your name. You are left with a ruined credit history. Last year,
the identity of an estimated 7 million Americans was stolen. The easiest way to find
out if you are a victim is to see your credit report. The longer you are not aware of what is
happening, the more time-consuming and complicated becomes the task of repairing the damage.
You can correct errors.
Imagine that you are punctual in your
payments, but for some reason one is reported as late. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that both the credit bureau
and the reporting business correct mistakes or incomplete information on your report. But you have to let them know in writing.
If any creditor agrees there is a mistake, they must notify the other credit bureaus so they can correct the information in
their files. If the disputed item cannot be verified, it must be deleted from your files.