Where to Find Credit Information

While applying for a credit card may not be a big deal, applying for a loan to buy a car or home is a big decision. Before delving into the details of acquiring a loan, consumers should go over their credit information on their credit report.

What kind of Credit Information is contained in a credit report?

When a lender requests a credit report, there is certain Credit Information they're looking at. The credit report will list a consumer's credit history and current obligations, such as when certain accounts were opened, what types of accounts were opened, account balances and credit limits, and payment history of each account. The lender is also looking at how many hard inquiries are on a consumer's credit report. The report contains much more than Credit Information. A credit report contains personal information, such as full name, social security number, date of birth, current and previous address, current and past places of employment and driver's license number and public records, such as liens and judgments, bankruptcies, foreclosures and accounts in collections.

How to get a copy of your credit report

Every 12 months, a consumer may request a free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Consumers can visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request a free report.

How to dispute an item on a credit report

When a consumer receives their credit report they may not be happy with the credit information it contains. Perhaps there is an old credit card that shows up that was closed years ago, a mix up with a family member's credit information, or a debt that went to collections and was paid but still shows up on their credit report. These issues can affect whether or not the consumer gets approval for a loan or credit card. However, the consumer can dispute an item on their report with the major credit reporting agencies. If the consumer visits the websites of the three major credit reporting agencies, they can find guidelines that provide explaination of the process the consumer must follow to dispute an item on the credit report.

Equifax: www.investigate.equifax.com
Experian: www.experian.com
TransUnion: www.transunion.com

For more information about credit information on a credit report and debt, contact NCO Financial Systems, Inc. today, or explore the consumer website at consumerhelpunit.org.

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