Take Charge of Your Finances - Begin with Your Credit Report

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 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.

These are the phone numbers and addresses to get a free credit report.

You are eligible to get one from each agency - free - every year.

Your spouse is also eligible for a report from each agency.

Equifax:

1-800-525-6285

www.equifax.com

P.O. Box740241

Atlanta, Ga. 30374-0241

 

Experian:

1-888-397-3742

www.experian.com

P.O. Box 9532

Allen, TX. 75013

 

TransUnion:

1-800-680-7289

www.transunion.com

Fraud Victim

Assistance Division

P.O. Box 6790

Fullerton, Ca. 92834-6790