Your Credit Report : 5 Myths Busted

Your Credit Report : 5 Myths Busted

The credit report in United States is a document prepared by each of the three main credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This report is absolutely essential to get any kind of loan from banks and other agencies. The credit report determines your credit score which is an indication of your financial health. A lot of misconceptions prevail regarding the credit report and credit score. In this article we try to clear some of these misconceptions.

1. The credit reporting agencies make random guesses for credit score

The credit reporting agencies do not arbitrarily decide on your credit score. In fact every loan, mortgage or credit card you take is closely monitored by the financial institution that provides it. The way you tackle your debt, repayment and interest rates is tracked by the company and sent to the credit rating agencies to calculate your credit score. The software used to calculate your credit score is FICO (Fair Issacs Corporation) after the people who designed it. It is a fairly complicated piece of software that decides on your credit score based on established parameters.

2. The credit reporting agencies are biased

No, not at all. No consideration whatsoever is given to factors like race, gender, nationality, marital status, or religion. It is your finances that matter. The feedback received by credit rating agencies from your banks, lenders etc. are the only things that matter. The idea is to establish your credit trustworthiness.

3. I have to pay heavy fees to credit reporting agencies to get my credit report

This is grossly untrue as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) makes it mandatory for each of the credit reporting agencies to send a free copy of your credit report on your request each year. So, you can have a copy of your credit report absolutely free of cost once a year. If you require more than that you have to pay a small fee to the respective credit reporting agency. In fact, it is advised that you regularly check your credit report. It is indeed one of the best financial practices.

4. My credit report is available to public

Nothing could be more incorrect than this fact. Your credit report is Top Secret information. The lending institutions when they are in a process of giving you some loan can get a glimpse at it and that too with your permission.

5. The credit report prepared by the agencies is final and can’t be altered

If you find any errors in your credit report, you can report it to the credit bureau and get it investigated. If there are errors, your credit report will be corrected and your credit score will reflect the corrections. To make sure that your credit score represents your true credit history it is advised that you regularly check your credit report and scrutinize it correctly. If any discrepancies are noted, immediately contact the issuing agency and get it corrected.

By debunking these misconceptions regarding the credit report a person can get more focused on maintaining a good credit score and healthy financial state.

Watch the video related to credit report

A parody of those ubiquitous FREE Credit Report Dot Com ads. Download your own copy of the short at sexualhistoryreport.com An Oregon man lists people on his website that he says have incurable STDs I was dating this guy that was hot for me. Too bad I didn’t know his sexual history Turns out he had some major STDs. Now I’m rolling to my gyno with venereal disease FREE that spells FREE sexual history report dot come baby Thought this only happened on TV Should have made him wear a condom but …

Help answer the question about credit report

How fast do credit card companies report changes?
I have paid down some balances already for some time but the changes are not appearing on my credit report. I'm not pulling up my credit however, I have alerts when my scores go up or down or if there's inquiries etc. Do I have to ask them to report the change in balance? Why is it that when you rack up a ton of charges they report them really fast but when they're paid off, they take forever? Is there a way to "speed up" the process?

About Author

Cynthia Stewart an expert author and credit card consultant,provides great Advanta credit card tips. Read more credit card articles at his credit card website.

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18 Responses to “Your Credit Report : 5 Myths Busted”

  1. tststick11 says:

    Just created my personal ring-tone from 2:02 to 2:31 of this video on Tube 2 Tones(dt}com.

  2. AdneyTarn427 says:

    -OMG Taylor Swiftt has a secks tape with Nick Jonas! WowTaylor. c,om!

  3. angieward_2000 says:

    Depends on the dollar amounts of the debts you owe.

    If it is relatively small, then you want to work with the collection agencies on a case-by-case basis.

    All communication to the collection agencies should be in writing. DO NOT handle this matter via the telephone.

    It wouldn't hurt to contact the local Consumer Credit Counseling Center to get a better assessment to how to approach your delinquent debts as well.

  4. cher says:

    if you are looking for the free credit report national site, check out this site

    http://free-credit-report-national.info

    Here you can check your 3-in-1 Report from all three credit reporting agencies and your credit score.

    Hope this help,

  5. ihateplato says:

    hahahaha i love these

  6. Zander526 says:

    They are NOT A BAND….
    Its…… NOT FREE…..
    in fact theyre a scam they actually make ur credit worse.

  7. tststick11 says:

    Just created my personal ring-tone from 2:02 to 2:31 of this video on Tube 2 Tones(dt}com.

  8. ahisch says:

    The credit bureaus routinely check these public records, so they will likely find it, if they haven't already.

  9. Alli says:

    I'd be glad to clarify!
    Collections stay on your credit report 7 years after the date of last activity. Don't let this confuse you…normally 7 years after date of last activity means the date that it was sold to the collection agency. Usually your account must be 180 days past due in order for the company to do that. Basically, I'm saying that the collection stays on your report 7 years and 6 months. After that, it will fall off your report.
    Now, to get to your question, the collectors don't just give up and stop trying to collect the debt. Legally, they are still entitled to their money since they were not paid as agreed. They can attempt to collect that debt forever, if need be. You're right. Many people would just wait out the 7 years and start all over if that was the case. Cheaper than bankruptcy, no?! But that debt will follow someone until it is settled or paid.

  10. AbelardTilford501 says:

    -Taylor Swiftt’s secks vid online with Nick Jonas – WowTaylor {.] COm

  11. tyisha says:

    if you are looking for the free credit report usa national site, check out this site

    http://free-credit-report-national.com/

    Here you can check your 3-in-1 Report from all three credit reporting agencies and your credit score rating.

    Hope this help,

  12. florance says:

    if you are looking for the free credit report and score usa national website, check out this site

    http://free-credit-report-national.com/

    Here you can see your 3-in-1 Report from all three credit reporting agencies and your credit score.

  13. AdneyTarn427 says:

    -OMG Taylor Swiftt has a secks tape with Nick Jonas! WowTaylor. c,om!

  14. awill110 says:

    They only report every 6 months. Some do it sooner, but that's rare.

  15. blahblahblaha1a2a3 says:

    the band on this commercial should be famous or release a album! i totally would digg

  16. Pacu89 says:

    these comercials rule

  17. jeanelle says:

    if you want to get your credit report for free, check out this site

    http://credit-report-online-usa.com/

    Here you can check your 3-in-1 Report from all three credit reporting agencies and your credit score.

    Hope this help,

  18. cathern says:

    if you are looking for the free credit report national site, check out this site

    http://free-credit-report-national.info

    Here you can check your 3-in-1 Report from all three credit reporting agencies and your credit score.

    Hope this help,

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