| Have you ever been denied a credit card or | | | | consumer reporting companies, are required to |
| home loan, and you simply just didnt know why? | | | | provide you with a free copy of your credit |
| The credit provider or lender told you that your | | | | report every 12 months. |
| credit history just wasnt up to par in order to | | | | Now there is no excuse for you not to keep on |
| qualify for the line of credit or loan. | | | | top of your very important credit report. All you |
| Well sure you made a few mistakes in the past, | | | | have to do is go to and request your free report! |
| perhaps a few late payments, and of course | | | | Or, you can call 1-877-322-8228. Always check |
| there is some debt that you are aware of. But | | | | your credit report before you apply for any |
| then again, doesnt everyone? You certainly didnt | | | | mortgage loan or line of credit. |
| believe that your credit report history was bad | | | | So you have your credit report, what next? |
| enough to not qualify for a credit card or loan, | | | | Evaluate each item as accurate or inaccurate. |
| even at a higher interest rate. | | | | Which items can you clear quickly by simply |
| Let me tell you a secret, many people have | | | | closing a card or calling a creditor and paying off |
| absolutely no idea what is on their credit report! | | | | an old debt? If there are inaccurate items, you |
| Your credit report has, in the past, been | | | | must make a dispute in writing with supporting |
| something not readily available to you, or an | | | | information. This means copies of any documents |
| expensive item to attain. Many people are just | | | | that support your claim. You must send this |
| not aware that your credit history can determine | | | | information to both the credit consumer company |
| your financial activities for your entire life. This is | | | | as well as the credit provider. |
| becoming more prevalent as credit awareness | | | | If your dispute is accepted and changes are |
| and education is deemed necessary. So it is | | | | made, the company must send you the changes |
| important to always be apprised as to what is | | | | in writing as well as send you a new credit report |
| really on your credit report! | | | | with the inaccurate information removed. The |
| There can be either two items on your credit | | | | credit provider may not make the same claim |
| report: accurate or inaccurate. Credit providers | | | | against you again. If you find inaccurate |
| may have reported inaccurate information on | | | | information and get it fixed, then your credit |
| your report! Mistakes happen that you may not | | | | report will be better, and another step towards |
| even be aware of. A move, changed phone | | | | getting that lower mortgage rate has been made! |
| number, lost mail, open credit cards from 15 | | | | If there are negative items that are accurate on |
| years ago that you simply didnt know existed, | | | | your report, then you must take action towards |
| and other easily overlooked or forgotten items do | | | | fixing them! If you are not sure what to do, |
| happen, more than one might think. Hey, who has | | | | consult a financial advisor at your bank who can |
| time to keep track of every single financial item | | | | help you set up a repayment plan, consolidate |
| when life, as we know it (busy, fast paced) is | | | | debt if need be, or even investigate debt |
| hardly ever forgiving? | | | | forgiveness. |
| Many people get down on themselves for having | | | | Negative items will stay on the credit report up to |
| a bad credit score. But this is not necessary! It is | | | | seven years, but if you make an effort to begin |
| not a reflection of who you are. Really. You may | | | | paying back debts, and show you are serious |
| have never been educated on how to handle your | | | | about qualifying for a mortgage loan, then you are |
| finances or extenuating circumstances may have | | | | yet closer to proving to a mortgage lender that |
| greatly effected your credit. So in order to stay | | | | you are both willing and able to pay back a loan. |
| on top of your credit history, and not be blind | | | | And these two things: willingness and ability are |
| sided by an embarrassing, unexpected rejection, | | | | exactly what a lender evaluates when considering |
| check your credit report! | | | | a person for a loan. |
| Credit reports are no longer some far off | | | | Fixing your credit of accurate negative items |
| document that is hard to get a hold of. After all, it | | | | takes personal effort and time. However, fixing |
| is YOUR credit report, right? Shouldnt you have | | | | inaccurate information that can greatly increase |
| easy access to it? Well somebody else thought | | | | your credit score, can be done fairly quickly. If |
| you should too, and the Fair Credit Report Act | | | | you are serious about getting a mortgage loan, or |
| (FCRA) was enacted just for this reason. Here | | | | even a better mortgage loan to save you |
| are the terms: | | | | money, consult your credit report before you |
| Every person is entitled to a free credit report if | | | | take any steps at all! |
| a credit company takes an adverse action against | | | | By understanding where you stand, you can |
| you, or if your application for credit or insurance is | | | | either choose to go forward and find a mortgage |
| denied. | | | | loan that is within your limits, or repair your credit |
| You are entitled to a free credit report if you are | | | | before making a move. Even if you are not |
| unemployed and plan to get a job in 60 days, are | | | | considering a loan or line of credit, always stay on |
| on welfare, or if your report is inaccurate because | | | | top of your credit history because you never |
| of fraud including identity theft. | | | | know when a better score can save you time, |
| Equifax, Experian and Transunion, all nationwide | | | | money, and huge headaches! |