Check Your Credit Report
Credit card companies and lenders rely on credit scores, which determine someone’s chances to borrow money — and how favorable the terms will be. Scores range from 200 to above 800. Scores below 620 are considered risky; 720 and over are excellent.
There are five categories of scoring: payment history (35%); amount owed (30%); length of credit history (15%); new credit (10%); and types of credit (10%). Lenders receive your score and “reason codes,” which are the keys to improving your score.
Check your own score yearly by ordering reports from the three major credit scoring companies: Equifax (www.equifax.com), Experian (www.experian.com), and TransUnion (www.tuc.com), OR check out where you can order a yearly free credit report from here:
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/get-my-free-credit-report
Notify the credit bureau of inaccuracies, along with copies of documents that dispute incorrect entries. Close accounts not in use. Request that late payments older than seven years be removed. Verify and update accounts and account numbers. Verify your address and Social Security number.
To improve your score: Pay your bills on time. Reduce outstanding debt. Build up your savings. Don’t fall for illegal schemes that help create a new credit identity.
Start the dispute process. You have every right to dispute inaccuracies in your credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and the credit bureaus and your creditors are obligated to correct inaccurate information in a timely manner.
How to file a dispute. Contact the creditor with the incorrect information.
Some creditors will correct minor errors over the phone, so it is recommended that you contact the creditor first.
Your list of creditors can be found in the Creditor Contact section of your credit report.
Contact the credit bureaus. Disputes may be sent to the credit reporting agencies online or in a letter:
Experian - Disputes are not accepted by mail or telephone, but you may file a dispute online (link to Experian online form)
Equifax - Disputes are accepted online (link to EFX dispute page), or you use one of our sample letters and mail your dispute
Trans Union - Disputes are accepted online (link to TU dispute page), or use one of our sample letters and mail your dispute
Once the credit reporting agency receives your request, it has 30 days to investigate and provide a response to you in writing. During its investigation, the credit reporting agency will contact the institution that provided the disputed information to seek verification of its accuracy. If the disputed information cannot be verified, it must be removed from your credit report or updated per your request. Information that is verified as accurate may remain in your credit files for as long as allowed by law.
You may file more than one dispute at a time. You may also file disputes with more than one credit reporting agency. Each dispute will be investigated separately, but may be processed simultaneously.
Follow up. If you have not received a response to your request after 30 days, write a letter to the credit reporting agency indicating that you have not been notified of the results.
Don't give up. If upon receiving the results of the investigation you are still not satisfied, you may request information regarding the person or institution that supplied the information.
If you do not recognize information on your credit report and suspect that you may be a victim of identity theft, in addition to filing a dispute, it is recommended that you file an Identity Theft claim.
I would be happy to offer you some sample dispute letter templates that you can customize as necessary to explain your case. You may also wish to add a 100-word consumer statement to your credit file explaining the reason for the disputed information so potential creditors have the total picture. Print, sign and mail the letter to the appropriate credit reporting agency, keeping a copy for your records. Email me at Elaine@BestPlacerCountyHomes.com if you would like to have any of these dispute sample letter templates sent to you.
Sample Dispute Letter Templates I offer you:
Account Closed
Account in Bankruptcy
Account Paid before Collection Proceedings
Account Paid in Full
Disagree with Investigation Results
Former Spouse's Account
Inaccurate Account Balance
Investigation Results Pending
Late/Missed Payments on Account
Account Does Not Belong to Me
Unauthorized Inquiry