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Whats on your credit?
5 steps to follow |
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1. Order your credit reports.
Find out what the top three credit bureaus -- Equifax, TransUnion and Experian -- are saying about you. It's likely that they're all slightly different.
Yes, different! Creditors don't have to report to all three credit bureaus, so they typically report to the credit bureau to which they also subscribe.
2. Examine your reports carefully.
Nearly every consumer has an error on at least one credit report from one of the major credit bureaus, says Rhode. Credit bureaus generate your report on information they receive from your creditors, and they don't verify the information.
3. Double-D strategy -- dispute and document.
Remember, a bad report costs you money. You can either complete the dispute form provided with your credit report or write a letter. Clearly identify each mistake and state why it's wrong. A recommendation is to send a photocopy of your credit report with the mistakes circled to the reporting credit bureau.
4. Solve and dissolve debt.
Now's the time to devise a spending plan that reduces your debt and sets you up to pay on time, every time.
If you're having difficulty making payments, be proactive. Call your creditors and negotiate to keep your accounts current and from being reported as delinquent or "bad debt." You can ask for reduced monthly payments or even change due dates to balance out your monthly bills.
5. Add stability to your credit file
You can also work to add positive information and show stability in your credit file.
You may have been denied credit because of an insufficient credit file, yet you have credit. Some creditors -- such as travel, entertainment, gasoline card companies, local banks and credit unions -- may not report your credit history to the credit bureaus. You can try asking the credit grantors to report your account information and monthly payment history to a credit-reporting agency. Not all will do that. So, in the future, before opening a new account, ask if your on-time payments will be reported monthly to a credit-reporting agency, recommends Myvesta.org.
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Useful phone numbers and addresses: |
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