Control Your Credit, Protect Your Future
- Credit Reports
- What is a Credit Report?
- What is a 3 in 1 Credit Report?
- Checking your Credit Report
- Credit Report Errors
- What is a Credit Bureau?
- What types of Credit Reports are there?
- Who can access my Credit Report?
- What info is on a Credit Report?
- Do all bureaus have the same information?
- Credit Report Glossary
- Credit Scores
- What is a Credit Score?
- Average Credit Scores by State
- How to improve my credit score?
- What affects my credit score?
- How do I get my credit score?
Credit Reports
What is a credit report?
A consumer credit report is a factual record of your credit activities. It reports all your credit accounts and outstanding loans, the balances on your credit cards and loans, and your bill paying history. Lenders are permitted by credit report laws to check your credit report and review it in order to determine whether or not to grant you credit. In order to start to build a credit report, all you have to do is establish credit in the form of a credit card account, car loan, mortgage, or student loan. Most of the information on your credit report comes directly from the business you have accounts or outstanding loans with. When you pay your bills or fail to pay your bills, lenders usually report your credit information - good or bad - to credit report agencies.
What is in a credit report?
There are four main categories of information in your credit report:
1. Personal information: Your credit report contains information that identifies you, including the following:
- Your name
- Your social security number
- Your current address and previous addresses
- Your phone number
- Your date of birth
- Your current employer and previous employers
2. Your credit history: Your credit report includes your history of bill paying with lenders such as:
- Banks
- Mortgage companies
- Retail stores
- Finance companies
3. Inquiries: Your credit report lists the lenders and credit grantors that have requested or received your credit report. The general rule is the fewer inquiries on your credit report, the better.
4. Public records: Your credit report lists any items that may affect your credit, including:
- Court judgments, including child support judgments
- Tax liens
- Bankruptcies
Your credit report is available for public viewing by a few different types of organizations, including lenders who are considering granting you credit and government agencies who are reviewing your financial status for government benefits. In addition, potential employers may do a credit check for employment to determine whether you're financially responsible. And landlords often do a credit check for renters.
This is why it's so important for you to be aware of what your credit report says about you and your financial history. If you find errors on your credit report, you should verify those errors and then take the necessary steps to improving your credit report and credit score.
For more information on how to check your credit report, or how to instantly get your 3 in 1 credit report, FREE credit score, and identity theft insurance, go to www.CreditReport.com now!
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- Credit Reports and Credit Scores – What’s the Difference?
- Credit Report and Home Buying – What You Need to Know
- Credit Report and Automobile Buying – What You Need to Know
- Credit Report and Boat Buying – What You Need to Know
- Credit Report and Renting an Apartment – What You Need to Know
- What Is Your Credit Score and How Is It Computed?
- How Major Life Events Impact Your Credit
- Why You Should Establish a Good Credit History As Soon As Possible
- The Art of Getting Credit
