How Healthy Is Your Credit ?
There's only one way to discover the "health"
of your credit. You need to examine your credit
report. Your credit report is your "consumer
identity" that potential lenders will use to judge your
credit worthiness.
Use these tips to give your credit profile the
"tune-up" it needs for 2003.
Tip #1- Check for Errors
Your credit report or profile is more than just a
collection of who your creditors are and how much
you owe them or have paid them.
The first thing you need to do is carefully check that
your credit report is accurate. Nearly 70% of credit
reports contain errors.
These errors may be as simple as an incorrect
middle initial or address. Or it could be as serious
as a creditor reporting that you were late with a
payment when in fact you were not late at all.
This error might not seem like a big deal to you. However,to a future lender
like a mortgage company it makes a big difference !
Carefully examine your credit report and if you find an
error contact your creditor and the credit bureaus. Catch
and correct these errors now before it hurts your chances
of securing credit in the future.
Tip #2 - Correcting Errors
The two most common errors contained in credit reports
are:
1) wrong account information
2) incorrect recording of late payments.
If you find an account reported that does not belong you,
you need to contact the credit grantor or issuer immediately. Remember, finding
accounts that you have not personally opened is a sign of possible identity theft.
Hopefully you'll discover that this error is nothing more than an oversight and not an
identity theft problem. Most often this occurs when they report an account belonging
to a family member or someone with a similar name on your credit report.
If your problem is an error in reporting a late payment
you will need proof to back up your case before this error
can be corrected or removed. The most common error occurs when a payment is
reported as "late" when it was actually a current or "on time" payment.
In either case, the problem can and should be corrected.
You will need to correct the error in writing. Keep a journal or log of all
calls and correspondence.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires the credit
bureaus and the agency reporting the information to the
credit bureau to correct inaccurate information in your
credit report. Therefore, it is important that you contact
both the credit bureau and the creditor whose information is in dispute.
A sample letter is included here to help you in correcting
your credit profile. Make sure that you clearly identify the information that you dispute,
include copies of receipts or documents that support your position. Then request that
the information be corrected or deleted from your file.
Send your letter by certified mail and request a return receipt from the recipient.
Keep all correspondence that you mail out. Give the agencies involved 30 days to begin
their investigation. You can call them but be aware that phoning them does not protect
your consumer rights! You must notify them in writing to protect your rights.
They must notify you of the results of their investigation.
Although the process will take time, it's important to do it. This is your credit profile,
your "consumer identity" that is at stake. Don't expect an error to correct itself.
At your request, the credit bureaus must send notices of
corrections to your credit profile to anyone who has requested your report in the last
six months. If you applied for a job and were turned down because of inaccurate
information in your credit report, you can have the corrected report mailed to anyone
who received a copy in the past two years.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sample Dispute Letter
Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Complaint Department
Name of Credit Reporting Agency
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute are also
encircled on the attached copy of the report I received. (Identify item(s) disputed by name
of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit
account, judgment, etc.)
This item is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe
what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted
(or request another specific change) to correct the information.
Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed
documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position.
Please reinvestigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s)
as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Your name
Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)
Originally Posted at http://www.ftc.gov/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tip #3 - Budget Planning
You can also use your credit report to help you plan and
implement a personal budget. Your credit report will show
you where you are spending your hard earned dollars. While the credit card balances
may not be completely current, you'll still see which of your cards has the highest
balance outstanding.
If you have more than one major credit card you should
compare the annual percentage rate (APR) you are paying
on each account. If you are working on a budget to "pay
down" your credit cards, start by paying down the one with the highest APR or interest.
Once that credit account is paid off, move toward paying
off the account with the second highest APR. Using this
method you will be able to concentrate your efforts toward paying down your
outstanding credit obligations.
You should also check with your credit card company to see what's the best annual
percentage rate (APR) they can offer you. If you are a good customer, you can often
qualify for a lower rate than what you are currently being offered.
Caution: Ask if the new rate you are getting is a "promotional" rate or a "contract" rate.
A promotional rate will expire at the end of the promotional term, for example 6 months.
A contract rate does not have an "expiration" as long as you continue to meet the terms
outlined by your creditor for that rate.
Tip #4 - Making a major purchase
If you are considering a major purchase such as a car or a
home, checking your credit report gives you the chance to see what a potential lender
sees and uses to judge your credit worthiness.
You want to make sure that your credit report is accurate
before you apply for that sports car or new home. Errors
or problems can be corrected before your lender can use
those against you and deny your credit request. You'll also have a better idea of what
type or rate of credit you should expect from a potential lender.
Tip #5 - Check your credit report regularly
Check your credit report regularly. Guard your "consumer identity" as you would anything
else you treasure. Use your credit wisely, along with these tips, and you will enjoy the benefits
that your good credit and your good name deserve now - and for years to come.
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