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 – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
10 Surprising Things That Are and Are Not In Your Credit Report Read More »
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 monitoring services for a fee ranging from about $10 to $20 a month. But some
Credit Monitoring Explained Read More »
How would you like to get one-on-one, personalized credit education information directly from a credit bureau? Actually, it’s now possible. In October 2011, Experian, one of the big three credit reporting agencies, announced the rollout of a new program that they’re calling Experian Credit Educator. It’s a dedicated consumer education service that’s available to consumers
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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 that is contained in your credit reports. But a credit score is not automatically included
What is a Credit Score? Read More »
By federal law, you are entitled to receive one free credit report annually from each of the three main credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. If you want to know what your Experian PLUS Score is, you typically have to order your credit report directly from Experian. That will cost you money, because Experian does
How to Get Your Experian PLUS Score Free Read More »
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 criteria and variables to calculate your credit score, and some lenders prefer to use one
How to Compare Your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion Credit Reports Read More »
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, such as a bankruptcy, it can be as long as 10 years. The subscriber didn’t
What’s the Best Way to Get Negative Information Removed From My Credit Report Read More »
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 you also realize that the manner in which the credit bureaus present your credit data
Differences In Equifax, Experian and TransUnion Credit Reports Read More »
In addition to your FICO credit scores, you should also get your Experian PLUS score. In recent years, consumers got all three FICO scores – based on their TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian reports. But as of 2009, you can now only get two FICO scores (based on what’s in your Equifax and TransUnion files). You can no longer get an Experian-based FICO score. So what should you do to get a score based on all three credit files? My recommendation is to get your third credit score directly from Experian via its www.creditexpert.com consumer website. This score is known as your Experian PLUS Score.
Do I Need My Plus Score or Just My FICO Score? Read More »
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 the best or more critical to a lender? A: Generally, no credit bureau report is “more important” than the others. In today’s economic environment, they are all vitally critical to
Which Credit Report is More Important: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion? Read More »
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 to Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, have laws permitting residents to lock or shut down
What is a Credit Freeze and How Can I Use One to Protect My Credit? Read More »
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 contact them to dispute errors: http://www.investigate.equifax.com or 888-800-8859 http://www.Experian.com/disputes or 866-200-6020 http://www.Transunion.com/investigate or 800-916-8800 It’s
What’s The Fastest Way to Get the Credit Bureaus to Fix Mistakes In My Credit Reports? Read More »
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 of getting those reports in one of two ways: all at once, or over a
Should You Get All Three Credit Reports at One Time? Read More »
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 top part of your credit report contains a condensed set of personal facts about you
What Personal Information is Included in Your Credit Files Read More »
