Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Check Your Free Credit Report

Your credit score affects you in more ways than you realize. Your credit score will tell lenders how likely you are going to pay your bills. As such, the credit score becomes their basis whether they should approve your credit application or not. The exact formulas for calculating credit scores are closely guarded secrets.

The three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) that are responsible for assigning credit scores to consumers based on information found in their credit reports charge a small fee whenever you request a copy of your credit score. Lenders use credit scores to determine who qualifies for a loan, at what interest rate, and what credit limits.

When you apply for a loan or a credit line, usually it’s because you are in need of the line of credit. Banks and other institutions that use scores as a factor in their lending decisions may deny credit, charge higher interest rates, or require more extensive income and asset verification if the applicant's credit score is low.

When you want to purchase a car or acquire a land through mortgage, it is wise to know your credit score. You are advised to regularly check your free credit report and score to keep track of any adverse changes that could lower down your score. To guard against inaccurate information or fraud more often than yearly, one can request a report from a different credit reporting agency each four months. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

According to Jan Davis, Executive Vice-President of TransUnion, opening a new line will just decrease your score because you do not have a track record. Some lenders do not rely solely on the credit score scales released by these three credit bureaus. In the United States, credit rating attempts to measure the comparison of a potential borrower who fails to pay or other required obligations in a specific period of time.

Now, you can find out what your credit score is by contacting any credit reporting agency authorized to release free credit scores or accessing their respective sites. There are several ways for you to repair credit score and the following steps guarantee that it will happen, though not overnight: Get Your Credit Reports and Remember, it’s credit reports get them all. Any outstanding bills at or on the limit credit line will factor deeply with your credit score. It is important to bring down the total amount of outstanding debt you have.
Your credit score affects you in more ways than you realize. Your credit score will tell lenders how likely you are going to pay your bills. As such, the credit score becomes their basis whether they should approve your credit application or not. The exact formulas for calculating credit scores are closely guarded secrets.

The three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) that are responsible for assigning credit scores to consumers based on information found in their credit reports charge a small fee whenever you request a copy of your credit score. Lenders use credit scores to determine who qualifies for a loan, at what interest rate, and what credit limits.

When you apply for a loan or a credit line, usually it’s because you are in need of the line of credit. Banks and other institutions that use scores as a factor in their lending decisions may deny credit, charge higher interest rates, or require more extensive income and asset verification if the applicant's credit score is low.

When you want to purchase a car or acquire a land through mortgage, it is wise to know your credit score. You are advised to regularly check your free credit report and score to keep track of any adverse changes that could lower down your score. To guard against inaccurate information or fraud more often than yearly, one can request a report from a different credit reporting agency each four months. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

According to Jan Davis, Executive Vice-President of TransUnion, opening a new line will just decrease your score because you do not have a track record. Some lenders do not rely solely on the credit score scales released by these three credit bureaus. In the United States, credit rating attempts to measure the comparison of a potential borrower who fails to pay or other required obligations in a specific period of time.

Now, you can find out what your credit score is by contacting any credit reporting agency authorized to release free credit scores or accessing their respective sites. There are several ways for you to repair credit score and the following steps guarantee that it will happen, though not overnight: Get Your Credit Reports and Remember, it’s credit reports get them all. Any outstanding bills at or on the limit credit line will factor deeply with your credit score. It is important to bring down the total amount of outstanding debt you have.