Taking Control of Your Credit Report

It’s a good idea to check your credit report annually to ensure sure everything is accurate and error-free.

Don’t be surprised if there are errors. Unfortunately, this happens, and it’s your job to report it.

There are several reasons errors may appear on your credit report:

• You have been mistaken for another person with a similar name, and their information ends up in your file.
• Information reported may have had data errors.
• You may have been be a victim of fraud or identity theft.

How do you check your credit report? There are three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — and you can check your credit reports for free, up to once a week from each bureau.

You can use annualcreditreport.com to check your credit at any or all of the main three credit bureaus.

How to correct errors on your credit report

If you see something on your credit report that’s not right, you can request an investigation and correction free of charge. You can do this easily online. Within your credit report, look for the “disputes” tab and follow the directions from there. The credit bureaus will investigate the error and respond to you within 30 business days. You should also report the error directly to the creditor.

If it turns out there was inaccurate information in your credit report, it will be removed.

Keep in mind that accurate negative information will remain in your file. Most information remains in your file for seven years before falling off. Unpaid liens, bankruptcies, and student loans can stay on your credit report longer.

How do you improve a negative credit history?

Raising your credit score takes time, consistency, and patience, but it can be done!

Avoid companies that offer quick credit fixes. More than a few credit repair companies have been sued for falsely promising to remove bad information from credit reports.

Follow these 8 steps for improving your credit score to get started on the right foot.