Maintaining a solid credit history is an important part of managing your finances. A good credit record can make future borrowing easier and help you qualify for lower rates. Three large credit reporting companies compile credit reports on millions of individuals and make those reports available to businesses. Making sure the information in those reports is correct is important.
You can request copies of your credit report, sometimes at no cost, by contacting the following companies.
- Experian (888) 397-3742
- Equifax (800) 997-2493
- TransUnion (800) 888-4213
Do not be surprised if the reports are somewhat different. Each company gets information from many sources. If you find the information in your file is inaccurate or unfair, you can take steps to correct it or at least get your side of the story attached to your file. If a creditor has made an inaccurate complaint, you can write to the creditor and insist the record be corrected. You should also write to the credit bureau and request their records be corrected.
To review the credit record of a business, contact Dunn & Bradstreet at (800-234-3867). There is a charge, but the information is useful. You can also order from their web site.
Having an inaccurate credit report can cause problems at the worst possible times. Review your credit report annually and make sure it is accurate. A solid credit record and an accurate credit report are valuable assets.
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