Charley M asked:


What is their business model? They advertise a lot on the Internet and TV, they must be profitable.

ANDREA

Enlightenme! asked:


The reason I am asking is because I had been abroad for a few years and am now resettling back in the States.

I went to open a bank account since I closed it and requested a credit card.

I got a letter in the mail the other day which explained I been denied a credit card. Although I did have a problem I did settle the debt less than 6 months ago.

Anyway, I went on the website as it suggested in the letter to view my credit report and it appeared to be clean with none of the reasons for my denial mentioned in the letter.

Is it common for these ‘credit check’ companies to make errors??

I would like to know:

1. What action should I take? (I plan to call them tomorrow), action I can take if they are mistaken?

2. If there is a problem and I clear it up, how long could it take for me to get approval and get a credit card?

Thanks.
I closed my bank accounts at this same bank previously and noticed it did mention that my accounts were closed previously on my credit report. Can this be perceived as a red flag?

LYNN

jim jones asked:


For the past 4 years a collection agency has been placing an account on my file that is not mine. I asked them to remove it and the “supervisor” I spoke with got a very nasty attitude with me and hung up. When I called back I heard her yelling obscenities about me to the person I was talking to, and then she began to berate me. If not for her bad attitude I would have been content with them just removing the item. But now I feel they should pay damages.

ROBERTO

Liana Mei asked:


i’ve been paying a monthly service for a while now, monitoring service, and my credit report still says last info given was in august or sept. I want to know how my credit behavior has affected my score…how can I get the updated version from identity guard, or is there even an updated version available yet?
I have several cards that I have used and paid off on a monthly basis…i want to get my credit back up to the pre-inquiry score. My reports don’t have anything listed for after august…not even a “no data” box. I thought perhaps they reported to the bureaus after a few months.
and i know this bank reports to the bureaus because my report goes from 2005 to august for the first card I opened with this bank.

FREEMAN

rnizlek asked:


I have two credit cards, of which I am the only holder and the individual responsible for making payments. I also have two credit cards which are held by each of my parents, on which I am considered an “authorized user.” On those accounts, my parents each have one card in their name, and I have a second card, but it is an individual (not a joint) account in my parent’s name (my name is only on the cards). On my credit report, my cards show, as well as each of my parents cards, where I’m listed as an “authorized user.” My question is, will my personal cards, of which I am the only user and there are no other cardholders, show on my parent’s credit report? Or are they exclusively on my credit report? Thanks!

CLAY

Sandra Stammberger asked:


Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act the reporting company and the information provider are responsible for correcting any credit report disputes. However, they must first be made aware that you have credit report disputes. A person can report and correct errors in their credit report by following two easy steps.

Step one is to report your error to the consumer reporting company in writing and make them aware that you have a credit report dispute. Make sure you include all your personal information like your name, address, and a list of each credit report dispute that have. Remember to send your letter by certified mail to prove that you have initiated a credit report dispute. The consumer reporting company will then investigate your credit report disputes and respond in 30 days. If they find there is an error and the credit report dispute can be resolved by correcting it then they will forward the information to the other credit bureaus and your credit report will be revised.

After reviewing your credit report dispute the consumer reporting company may decide that they disagree with the items raised in your credit report dispute and decline to pursue the matter any further. They will send you all of the evidence that they have and the reasons for not pursuing your credit report dispute, along with a copy of your credit report.

Another way to handle a credit report dispute is to contact the particular creditor directly. Again, send the creditor a list of your credit report disputes in writing. Be sure to call your creditor and ask for the specific address of where credit report dispute issues need to be sent to ensure that there is no unnecessary delay in the credit report dispute being investigated. Many companies have a separate address for handling credit report disputes and it can take time for it to be forwarded to the correct address if you do not send it there initially. If you are correct in your credit report dispute and there is an error they will report the error to the credit bureaus and send you notification of the change.

Below is a sample credit report dispute letter :

Date

Your Name

Your Address, City, State, Zip Code

Complaint Department

Name of Company

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. I have circled the items I dispute on the attached copy of the report I received.

This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be removed (or request another specific change) to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please reinvestigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing.)



DARIUS

Kathleen Chester asked:


 

Planning to get a house loan or buy some big-ticket item for home? For all these you will require your credit report. A credit report includes all the relevant information regarding where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued or arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. Whether you apply for a job or insurance, they refer to your credit card status to evaluate your applications.

If you do not have a credit report then you must order for one now. A credit card report will make your life much simpler and comfortable. It provides financial security and ability to afford things you like.

You can get your free credit report from the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). It requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies which includes Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

Why is getting a credit report important? The information provided in a credit report is sold by credit agencies to organizations that are evaluating whether to offer credit to individuals or companies. In certain cases, in the United States, insurance, housing, and employment can also be denied based on a negative credit rating.

You can get your free credit report ordered online. Here is some of the important information that you may require to provide in order to get a free credit report from the agencies:

· You need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. This is to maintain your individual identity.

· If you have changed your place of stay in the last two years then you may have to provide your previous address along with your present one.

· In order to maintain the security of your file, each nationwide consumer reporting company may ask you for some information that only you would know for example, the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

· You may be asked for different information by each of the companies because the information each has in your file may come from unlike sources.

Whether you order your free credit report online, by phone, or by mail, it may take longer time than usual to receive your report. It is so because the nationwide consumer reporting company needs more information to confirm your identity.

So, what are you waiting for? Make your financial life more stable and secure. If you still do not have a credit report then order for your free credit report today.



CARY

Gene Pimentel asked:


So many people are worried about identity theft and the status of their credit report these days. But with so many companies claiming to offer you a free report, it is no wonder consumers are confused and overwhelmed about how to get the information they need. The truth is many companies are not entirely interested in giving you a free credit report, as they are in making money off of you with their other products and services. How does a consumer know where to turn for the information they need?

The Federal Trade Commission is Your Friend

The Federal Trade Commission, a Federal agency set up to protect consumers, is the only place online that offers a truly free credit report through Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You can receive reports on your credit every 12 months with no strings attached. Consumers often times are not even aware that they are entitled to review reports on their credit at least once a year, much less get it from a government agency.

Pitfalls to Getting Your Credit Report

Other companies will entice you to their website by stating you will receive a free credit report. Once at the website, you will often times find that you have to buy other products or services before your report will be issued to you. That’s great, if you are interested in the other products and services, but most times consumers just want to see their credit records only.

You may see ads on television or the Internet, or hear ads on the radio from companies offering free credit reports. Be alert to the fact that when you visit the website you might be obligated to buy additional products or services before receiving a report on your credit status. The FTC receives many complaints from consumers who have fallen into this credit report trap. In fact, they encourage you to report any spam websites that you come across.

How to Get Your Free Credit Report

The FTC advises consumers that you cannot get your free credit report directly through Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. You must contact these companies directly through the FTC website. Simply type in “annual credit report” and look for the official website in your search engine. There are many websites that will have a similar name to this one, so be sure you are on the correct website by typing your search carefully. The site will guide you through the appropriate steps to receive a free report on your credit status.

Consumers typically type in search phrases such as “free credit score,” “free credit history,” and other similar phrases only to land in a website that wants to sell you something you don’t need. Avoid using these searches in the future to avoid spam websites.

You can get your annual report on your credit status for free. You can keep a watchful eye on your credit history in these days of high identity theft rates. You just have to know where to go to get the information you need.



DONNY

Trukey asked:


So when someone checks their credit report, if they have an account in collections will it show up on all three reports? Thanks.

NICKOLAS

Tom Tessin asked:


A bad credit report causes your credit score to reflect a negative debt policy. This lower score causes you the inability to buy things that you need or want. You may not deserve this report for a variety of reasons that can be fixed. When you buy an item from a rent-to-own place as an example and you ask for a certain pay day but their computer systems requires you to pay a day or two before this may get reported on your credit report as slow pay. The slow pay often causes your credit score to drop. The manager who operates the local store tells you not to worry he knows that you will be in on a certain day and of course he does not call. The corporate office only knows what is put into the computer which shows your two days late sending off a bad credit report. In order to fix this first, have the local manager contact the main office getting them to put a letter in your report stating that this is the error of the local store for not setting up the right pay date. Secondly, find out how much more you would need to pay in order to have your pay date set up to a new date that fits within your budget to pay. Then do follow up to make sure that you are no longer in the reporting credit agencies as a slow pay.

You might have a bad credit report because of a lay-off in ability to pay for an item in the time period required. Then you should make an agreement with the creditor to pay off the bill asking for an extension of pay or even asking if you pay less would they defer late fees and interest charges. After you made a pay arrangement make sure that a copy of this is put into your credit report. This will help to fix your credit report in order to give you a better score. You should check your credit report periodically to make sure that you are not being charged with a debt that you do not even owe. Often a bad credit score is reflecting a bill that is not yours which gives you a bad credit report.

You will need to immediately start to fix the problem. You can take several steps to clear up the issue but start by putting a letter in the reporting credit bureaus that this is not your bill. Afterwards you will need to get as much information as possible about the bill before you can proceed to get the situation taken from your credit report. It is always advisable to have a good credit report and remember, having a good credit report helps with your future interest rates. Keep up with your credit and make sure your credit report is not a bad one and if a problem arises take steps to fix it so that you will not have a bad credit report.



HUGH