How can i get a completely free credit report without having to order anything?
Posted in Other - Pregnancy & Parenting on 10/18/2010 10:01 pm by
Archive for October, 2010
Is there a central location to view and print all three of your credit reports?
Posted in Credit on 10/18/2010 06:06 pm by
~just.me~ asked:
From Transunion, Equifax and Experian? I need copies of all three, but each you must pay 14 to 30 dollars EACH for. Is there one place I can pay One fee and get all of the TRUE reports. I need to dispute a few things on my credit, but I already viewed my free credit reports around 6 months ago, and I am not eligible to view for free.
Yes, I already went to annualcreditreport.com and got my reports around 6 months ago, so they no longer let me in. Should I wait until I am eligible again to view for free, and then do my disputes? I just don’t understand my I have to pay for my reports and send them in to the company I got the report from in order to file a dispute.
Theresa
From Transunion, Equifax and Experian? I need copies of all three, but each you must pay 14 to 30 dollars EACH for. Is there one place I can pay One fee and get all of the TRUE reports. I need to dispute a few things on my credit, but I already viewed my free credit reports around 6 months ago, and I am not eligible to view for free.
Yes, I already went to annualcreditreport.com and got my reports around 6 months ago, so they no longer let me in. Should I wait until I am eligible again to view for free, and then do my disputes? I just don’t understand my I have to pay for my reports and send them in to the company I got the report from in order to file a dispute.
Theresa
Credit Delinquencies for Beginners
Posted in Finance on 10/18/2010 05:46 pm by
Frank Bruno asked:
Depending on how long your past dues remain unpaid, your delinquencies can be considered as simple delinquent payments or become charge-offs or collection accounts. To help you understand these type of delinquencies better, here are some helpful facts.
Simple Credit Delinquencies
If you managed to pay your dues after their due dates, these are considered as late payments. However, if they remain unpaid for more than 30 days, then they would be considered as delinquencies. Unfortunately, even after you pay these, they would already show up on your credit history and would cost you some points. Still, you should try to settle them these unpaid debts at once before they reach 180 days.
Charge-offs
Typically, creditors who failed to collect debts after 180 days will decide to consider them as charge-offs. This means that these uncollected debts will become part of their losses in order to be free from paying its taxes. Charge-offs on your credit reports does not mean you no longer have to pay them. they would still be there until such time you contact you creditor and arrange payment terms, after successfully paying off this type of delinquencies, then it would be noted on your credit report as paid or paid in full. You can also try to negotiate with the creditor to remove the charge-off entry. These entries usually stay on your history for seven years from the date of the original delinquency.
Collection Accounts
Those that have remained uncollected and were already written off are, most of the time, sold to collection agencies as collection accounts. These agencies purchase them for a fraction of their original amount. When you have collection account entries in your credit report, this could really be inconvenient. Aside from the harassment associated with collection agencies, this type of delinquency will make you a high-risk borrower and would have to be content with low credit limits and higher interest rates.
Edith
Depending on how long your past dues remain unpaid, your delinquencies can be considered as simple delinquent payments or become charge-offs or collection accounts. To help you understand these type of delinquencies better, here are some helpful facts.
Simple Credit Delinquencies
If you managed to pay your dues after their due dates, these are considered as late payments. However, if they remain unpaid for more than 30 days, then they would be considered as delinquencies. Unfortunately, even after you pay these, they would already show up on your credit history and would cost you some points. Still, you should try to settle them these unpaid debts at once before they reach 180 days.
Charge-offs
Typically, creditors who failed to collect debts after 180 days will decide to consider them as charge-offs. This means that these uncollected debts will become part of their losses in order to be free from paying its taxes. Charge-offs on your credit reports does not mean you no longer have to pay them. they would still be there until such time you contact you creditor and arrange payment terms, after successfully paying off this type of delinquencies, then it would be noted on your credit report as paid or paid in full. You can also try to negotiate with the creditor to remove the charge-off entry. These entries usually stay on your history for seven years from the date of the original delinquency.
Collection Accounts
Those that have remained uncollected and were already written off are, most of the time, sold to collection agencies as collection accounts. These agencies purchase them for a fraction of their original amount. When you have collection account entries in your credit report, this could really be inconvenient. Aside from the harassment associated with collection agencies, this type of delinquency will make you a high-risk borrower and would have to be content with low credit limits and higher interest rates.
Edith
Credit After Bankruptcy – 3 Tips on Rebuilding Credit
Posted in Finance on 10/16/2010 12:36 pm by
Carrie Reeder asked:
Rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy can seem like a daunting task at first. But remember that in two years, you can have a good credit score. The key is to start small and use credit responsibly. In no time, you will have a good enough record to qualify for low mortgage and car loan rates.
1. Start Rebuilding Credit Score with a Credit Card
After your bankruptcy has been discharged, apply for a credit card. That might seem like the last thing you would want to do. But, it is the only way you can rebuild your credit. Financing companies won’t punish you forever for a bankruptcy, but they need proof that you can handle credit.
Start with a secured card and use it. Make monthly payments. You may decide to pay off the entire balance or only a portion. Keep your account to 20% or less. Larger amounts can hurt your score.
2. Check Your Free Credit Report Online
After six months, check out your credit report. There are several places to get a free copy. With this information, you can check two things. First, you can see the good standing of your new credit card account. It should show payments paid on time. The longer you keep that account, the more it will improve your score.
The next thing to check is that all your old accounts have been properly closed after the bankruptcy. If they remain open, notify both the credit reporting agency and the creditor. Unresolved accounts will unnecessarily hurt your score.
You can also decide to include a letter explaining the circumstances of the bankruptcy. In some cases, this can improve the rates you qualify for.
3. Continue Applying for New Credit Over Time
After six months, open a new credit line. By this time you should be able to qualify for an unsecured card. Use this card and your first card. The same principles of good credit management apply. Keep balances small and make monthly payments.
In another six months, open a third account and use it. In 24 months, your credit should be in good standing and you will have many more credit options.
Scott
Rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy can seem like a daunting task at first. But remember that in two years, you can have a good credit score. The key is to start small and use credit responsibly. In no time, you will have a good enough record to qualify for low mortgage and car loan rates.
1. Start Rebuilding Credit Score with a Credit Card
After your bankruptcy has been discharged, apply for a credit card. That might seem like the last thing you would want to do. But, it is the only way you can rebuild your credit. Financing companies won’t punish you forever for a bankruptcy, but they need proof that you can handle credit.
Start with a secured card and use it. Make monthly payments. You may decide to pay off the entire balance or only a portion. Keep your account to 20% or less. Larger amounts can hurt your score.
2. Check Your Free Credit Report Online
After six months, check out your credit report. There are several places to get a free copy. With this information, you can check two things. First, you can see the good standing of your new credit card account. It should show payments paid on time. The longer you keep that account, the more it will improve your score.
The next thing to check is that all your old accounts have been properly closed after the bankruptcy. If they remain open, notify both the credit reporting agency and the creditor. Unresolved accounts will unnecessarily hurt your score.
You can also decide to include a letter explaining the circumstances of the bankruptcy. In some cases, this can improve the rates you qualify for.
3. Continue Applying for New Credit Over Time
After six months, open a new credit line. By this time you should be able to qualify for an unsecured card. Use this card and your first card. The same principles of good credit management apply. Keep balances small and make monthly payments.
In another six months, open a third account and use it. In 24 months, your credit should be in good standing and you will have many more credit options.
Scott
How can I order my free credit report online?
Posted in free credit report service recommended by clark howard on 10/14/2010 03:35 pm by
nakisha asked:
I’ve been to the website to order my free credit report but it always tells me to pay. How can I order my free credit report online?
Kyle
I’ve been to the website to order my free credit report but it always tells me to pay. How can I order my free credit report online?
Kyle
Repairing Your Credit Score and Clearing Derogatory Marks on Your Credit Report
Posted in Finance on 10/11/2010 07:57 pm by
Justin Smith asked:
Raising your credit score can be a fairly simple and straightforward process unless you have derogatory marks that need to be disputed (which will be explained below).
The reasons for bad credit can be as follows, high balances, bankruptcies, late payments, and many others. The most significant thing you can do to raise your score is to change your financial habits. Chances are that if you have a bad credit score, you did something to make it that way. Here are some of the best ways to quickly raise your credit score:
1. The most obvious: pay off your debt! This doesn’t include a home mortgage, but revolving balances such as credit card debt, a car loan, etc.
2. Make every payment on time. This is the most important factor in your credit score rating. If you have had late payments in the past, it will take some time to see real results from your on-time payments, but keep it up, sooner or later the credit bureau will notice the change in your payment habits. Develop the mentality that no late payment is acceptable!
3. If possible, pay over your minimum amount. This is especially important with credit card balances, and will reflect a slight boost in your score.
4. If you have paid off all your debt, and your credit score seems to be at a stand still, you might want to make small purchases each month with your credit card and pay them off immediately. Often times the credit bureaus like to see at least some kind of activity. Otherwise, they have no way to gauge how you are doing financially.
5. Be patient! Sometimes repairing credit can be a long and arduous process. Especially if you have had a bankruptcy. It can often take the better part of a year or more to see any significant raises in your score.
Clearing a derogatory mark on your credit report:
This is probably the most difficult in regards to credit repair. If you have requested a copy of your credit report, and notice a problem (an example would be a late payment mark), that shouldn’t be there, you need to take action to get the derogatory mark cleared as soon as possible. It is extremely important to get your credit score cleared before you attempt to get prequalified for mortgage.
Here are the steps you should take:
First of all, if you are in contact with a loan officer, you may want to describe the problem you are having to them. They can be very helpful when it comes to credit repair, and should know exactly what to do if you have a bad mark on your credit that is a mistake. In some cases, they may even call the creditor for you to address the situation.
Second, you should call your creditor and each credit bureau to find out which course of action you should take. In most cases, writing a letter will do. Here is an example letter:
Date 00/00/00
Dear Big Credit Bureau,
This letter is a complaint that you are reporting inaccurate and/or incomplete credit information on my credit report.
I am displeased that you have included the below information in my credit profile that includes the following errors. Credit reporting laws ensure that bureaus report 100% accurate credit information.
The following information concerning my credit report needs to be re-investigated. I respectfully request to be provided proof of this alleged item on my credit report. If this cannot be provided, the item must be deleted from my report as soon as possible:
CREDITOR AGENCY, acct. 123-34567-ABC
The listed item is inaccurate and/or incomplete, and is a serious error in reporting. Please delete this information, and supply a corrected credit profile to all creditors who have received a copy within the last 6 months, or the last 2 years for employment purposes. Also, please provide the name, address, and telephone number of each credit grantor or other subscriber.
Under federal law, you have 30 days to complete your re- investigation. Be advised that the description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information is hereby requested as well, to be provided within 15 days of the completion of your re-investigation.
Sincerely,
your signature
Your Name
SSN# 123-45-6789
Unfortunately, you will need to write 3 separate letters to each of the 3 major credit bureaus. Here are the contact addresses for each:
Trans Union
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
1-800-888-4213
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
1-800-997-2493
Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
1-888-397-3742
Bill
Raising your credit score can be a fairly simple and straightforward process unless you have derogatory marks that need to be disputed (which will be explained below).
The reasons for bad credit can be as follows, high balances, bankruptcies, late payments, and many others. The most significant thing you can do to raise your score is to change your financial habits. Chances are that if you have a bad credit score, you did something to make it that way. Here are some of the best ways to quickly raise your credit score:
1. The most obvious: pay off your debt! This doesn’t include a home mortgage, but revolving balances such as credit card debt, a car loan, etc.
2. Make every payment on time. This is the most important factor in your credit score rating. If you have had late payments in the past, it will take some time to see real results from your on-time payments, but keep it up, sooner or later the credit bureau will notice the change in your payment habits. Develop the mentality that no late payment is acceptable!
3. If possible, pay over your minimum amount. This is especially important with credit card balances, and will reflect a slight boost in your score.
4. If you have paid off all your debt, and your credit score seems to be at a stand still, you might want to make small purchases each month with your credit card and pay them off immediately. Often times the credit bureaus like to see at least some kind of activity. Otherwise, they have no way to gauge how you are doing financially.
5. Be patient! Sometimes repairing credit can be a long and arduous process. Especially if you have had a bankruptcy. It can often take the better part of a year or more to see any significant raises in your score.
Clearing a derogatory mark on your credit report:
This is probably the most difficult in regards to credit repair. If you have requested a copy of your credit report, and notice a problem (an example would be a late payment mark), that shouldn’t be there, you need to take action to get the derogatory mark cleared as soon as possible. It is extremely important to get your credit score cleared before you attempt to get prequalified for mortgage.
Here are the steps you should take:
First of all, if you are in contact with a loan officer, you may want to describe the problem you are having to them. They can be very helpful when it comes to credit repair, and should know exactly what to do if you have a bad mark on your credit that is a mistake. In some cases, they may even call the creditor for you to address the situation.
Second, you should call your creditor and each credit bureau to find out which course of action you should take. In most cases, writing a letter will do. Here is an example letter:
Date 00/00/00
Dear Big Credit Bureau,
This letter is a complaint that you are reporting inaccurate and/or incomplete credit information on my credit report.
I am displeased that you have included the below information in my credit profile that includes the following errors. Credit reporting laws ensure that bureaus report 100% accurate credit information.
The following information concerning my credit report needs to be re-investigated. I respectfully request to be provided proof of this alleged item on my credit report. If this cannot be provided, the item must be deleted from my report as soon as possible:
CREDITOR AGENCY, acct. 123-34567-ABC
The listed item is inaccurate and/or incomplete, and is a serious error in reporting. Please delete this information, and supply a corrected credit profile to all creditors who have received a copy within the last 6 months, or the last 2 years for employment purposes. Also, please provide the name, address, and telephone number of each credit grantor or other subscriber.
Under federal law, you have 30 days to complete your re- investigation. Be advised that the description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information is hereby requested as well, to be provided within 15 days of the completion of your re-investigation.
Sincerely,
your signature
Your Name
SSN# 123-45-6789
Unfortunately, you will need to write 3 separate letters to each of the 3 major credit bureaus. Here are the contact addresses for each:
Trans Union
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
1-800-888-4213
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
1-800-997-2493
Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
1-888-397-3742
Bill