Your Credit Report
Checking your credit report regularly is very
important. Some say you should check your credit report as often as every 6
months and others suggest every year. If there are inaccuracies in your credit
report you could end up paying a higher interest rate on your car or mortgage as
well as be turned down by insurance companies. Employers are even using credit
reports now when making decisions on employment.
Who Can See Your
Credit Report?
There are a number of different people and entities
that are able to check your credit report including phone/utility companies,
landlords, medical institutions, stores, credit card companies, auto dealers and
investigators.
What's in Your Credit Report?
Your credit
report includes information such as marital status, changes in your name, your
job information, your spouse's job information for starters. The primary content
of your credit report contains information on your financial accounts including
lenders, credit cards, department store cards and more. Your account type,
payment history, joint owners, credit limit and balance information is listed
for each account.
Other accounts show up on your credit report when you
have defaulted on the account in some way. For instance, if you defaulted on
your rent payment, your landlord can report it and it will show up on your
credit report. Other people and companies can do the same including utilities,
insurance companies, stores and medical facilities.
Certain public
information can also appear on your credit report including bankruptcy, liens,
court judgments and lawsuits. Monthly credit monitoring. Also included on your credit report are all the
people and companies that have inquired on your credit report within the last
year. Note: Having a large number of inquiries on your credit report can look
bad to some potential creditors.
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