Your credit report is a record of your credit activities. It lists all of your credit card accounts and loans, the balances as well as your payment history. It also shows if any action has been taken against you because of unpaid bills such as a lawsuit or bankruptcy filing. Because businesses use this information to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance and employment, it’s important that the information in your report is complete and accurate, especially if you plan to make a big purchase like a home.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is designed to promote accuracy and ensure the privacy of the information used in consumer reports. Under the FCRA, both the credit reporting agency (CRA) and the organization that provided the information to the CRA (usually the credit card company) must correct any errors or incomplete information in your report.

If you do encounter a mistake on your credit report, several steps need to be taken to correct the matter, feel free to call me ANYTIME if you have questions or have problems with the links or disputing your credit.(480-430-0807):

1. The first thing to do is get a copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com for FREE if you have not received one in the last 12 months, otherwise pull one from each of the three major CRAs:

***** www.AnnualCreditReport.com *****

 This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

 

AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report.

Equifax 

To order from Equifax a single bureau without their scoring for $10.00 click:

https://www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/

Dot the circle on the right side of the page that says 'Get only your Equifax Credit Report™ for $10.00'. Uncheck 'Add Equifax Credit Rankings for only 8.95'(not needed).  Then Click 'BUY NOW'.  I don't recommend upgrading for an extra $19.95, so click the 'Continue' for just $10.00.

Equifax Homepage:

http://www.equifax.com

Experian

To order from Experian a single bureau without their scoring for $10.00 click:

http://www.experian.com/consumer_online_products/index_b1.html

I recommend clicking the yellow 'Order Now!' under the 'Experian Credit Report' for $10.00 column.  Again, the Score upgrade for $5.00 is not recommended.

Experian Homepage:

http://www.experian.com

TransUnion

To order from TransUnion a single bureau without their scoring:

http://annualcreditreport.transunion.com/entry/disputeonline

free if not personally pulled for free within the last year, otherwise I believe its a $10.00 charge.

TransUnion Homepage:

http://www.transunion.com/

 

2. In a written letter, tell the CRA what information you believe to be inaccurate. Include copies (not originals) of documents that support your position. Provide your complete name and address, identify each item in your report you dispute, and request deletion or correction. Be sure to make copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.

3. Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the CRA received.

4. The FCRA mandates that all CRAs reinvestigate the items in question — usually within 30 days — unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all relevant data you provide about the dispute to the credit card company. After the credit card company receives notice of a dispute from the CRA, it must investigate, review all relevant information and report the results to the CRA.

5. If the disputed information is found to be inaccurate, the credit card company must notify all nationwide CRAs so they can correct this information in your file. Disputed information that cannot be verified must be deleted from your file.

6. When the reinvestigation is complete, the CRA must give you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. If an item is changed or removed, the CRA cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the credit card company verifies its accuracy and completeness, and the CRA gives you a written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the credit card company.

7. In addition to the CRA, you should also write to the credit card company about the error. Again, include copies of documents that support your dispute. If you are correct — meaning the information you disputed is found inaccurate — the credit card company cannot use it again. Further, at your request, the CRA must send notices of corrections to anyone who received your report in the past six months.