Adapted from an article by Sophie Wilson
In today's society, the importance of knowing, managing and protecting your credit score is immense. Properly managed, your credit rating will provide you access to loans and credit at a much lower interest rate. In some cases, it is also required while getting a job. Clearly you need to know what your rating is and how to properly maintain it.
What is a Credit Report?
A credit report is essentially a legal document, which contains detailed information such as your name, address, marital status, social security number, and the like. Along with these the report contains information related to your various financial activities and dealing, any outstanding debts, available credit remaining, and the timeliness of payment. It is on the basis of these details that a credit score is assigned. If your credit score is good, then you can get access to additional benefits while availing loans or credit cards. But if your rating is not up to par, you may find it tough to get credit. By cleaning erroneous information and repaying your debts, you have a chance to elevate the credit score.
Where can I get a copy?
Your credit score is a testimonial that you are trust-worthy and have repaid your previous debts. Since it helps you secure new loans at better interest rates, proper maintenance is essential. You can check out your credit scores by obtaining your credit reports from the three accredited credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. You should obtain all three to make sure that they are all accurate and factual.
What do I do if there is a problem on the credit report?
Let's suppose that you have all three reports and after checking them you find a discrepancy. First thing to do is to contact the credit bureau to inform them of the issue. In some cases they may point you towards to original lender and ask that you work with them directly to clear up the issue. In other cases they may simply mark the complaint and take steps to remove it from the record. Either way, the ball is in your court to start the process.
What do you do if you have already contacted the creditor and the bureaus but the problem report remains?
If you have tried to make properly address the issues holding back your credit report but feel like you are getting nowhere, it may be time to contact an attorney. Attorneys can help clear the way of unnecessary red tape and expedite the cleaning process. A knowledgeable, experienced attorney is a valuable resource to help you attain your dreams.
