When one of my sisters recently tried to file her taxes ahead of the April 15th tax-deadline, she got a nasty surprise from her accountant: the IRS rejected my sister’s tax return because someone had already illegally used her child’s ...
You likely already know that it’s a smart idea to check your credit reports annually. In fact, by law, you’re entitled each year to one free copy of your credit reports from each of the country’s largest credit bureaus – ...
Credit monitoring is an electronic, subscription-based service for consumers who want to track their credit activity at the "Big 3" U.S. credit reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Credit bureaus, credit scoring firms and other companies typically sell credit ...
A credit score is simply a three-digit number that summarizes your overall credit standing and tells creditors how likely you are to either repay a debt or default on it. A credit score is calculated based on the underlying information ...
If you’ve thought about ordering your free credit report, which credit reporting bureau should you contact? Many people wonder what the difference is between the Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports. Each credit reporting agency uses a different set of ...
Question: One of my subscribers had a question. She asked, "What's the best way to have negative information removed from my credit report?" Answer: Negative information can legally stay on your credit report for seven years. For some negative information, ...
If you’ve ever pulled your credit files from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion - each of the three major credit bureaus- and tried to compare them, you know that certain information in your credit records likely to be different. But did ...
An inquiry in your credit file is a record of any application for credit that you made. For example, if you seek a mortgage, student loan or car loan, or even if you apply for a credit card or perhaps ...
Experian, Equifax or TransUnion: Which Credit Report is More Important? Q: Hi Lynnette, I have noticed a difference between my credit reports from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Can you tell me which credit report is more important to a lender? ...
Credit freezes help you thwart identity theft by preventing a crook from opening credit in your name. Credit freeze laws, sometimes referred to as “Credit Lock” laws, began in California in 2003. Now, all 50 states in American, in addition ...
You can dispute mistakes with the credit bureaus by mail or telephone, but you’ll get the fastest results if you initiate a dispute online. Here are the websites and phone numbers you should use for the credit bureaus when you ...
Q: Should I get all three credit reports at once, or view them at different times over the year? A: Once you are ready to request your free credit reports from the credit bureaus via http://www.annualcreditreport.com, you have the option ...
Federal laws dictate what personal information about you can – and can’t – be included in your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Here’s a rundown of what to expect. Personal Information – Make Sure It’s Letter Perfect The ...