Getting a free credit report annually is one of the smartest things you can do to monitor and improve your own credit score over time.
By knowing what’s on your credit report, you know where you stand when it comes to getting services and loans that depend on your credit score, and if your standing is bad, then you have a good idea of where to start to improve it.
Your free credit report can now be obtained annually from the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) that are legally required to provide this information to any consumer who requests it. If you need more than a single report a year from a single company, you may have to pay for it.
But what can you do with your free credit report?
For starters, you can identify incorrect information on your credit report. Businesses are run by humans and humans make mistakes. Unfortunately for you, that means errors sometimes show up on your credit report. You should review the items on your report to ensure errors are highlighted so that you can later request that they be removed.
The other thing to look for in your report is anything that is misleading or could give an unfair impression of your credit history.
Again, you can dispute these items with the company in question so they can investigate and amend your free credit report. [http://credit-reporter.net].
To start the process of repairing your credit report, you’ll need to write to the appropriate consumer reporting company (ie, the specific company that has recorded the inaccurate or misleading items on your report).
You must state exactly why you are disputing each item, and you must also include a copy of any documentary evidence you have to support your claims, such as pay stubs or bank statements showing your side of the story.
Once the consumer reporting company has received your letter, they are legally required to investigate it. This will usually be completed within 30 days, although it may take longer.
Once the investigation is complete, the company will provide you with an amended version of your credit report, hopefully with the items you disputed changed or removed.
Any improvement in your credit report will help you when it comes time to get credit-based services like loans, credit cards, or even renting an apartment.
And that’s basically why you should always bother to check your annual free credit report. [http://credit-reporter.net].
