When a bank or other creditor is deciding whether to approve a loan they look very closely at the applicants credit score; it is one of the most important parts of the application. Your credit score is created through an analysis of how you have previously handled the credit extended to you. Unfortunately, more and more people are finding incorrect or incomplete information on their credit reports. This false information can lower your overall credit score and make it much more difficult to obtain a loan with acceptable terms.
The first step is to obtain a free copy of the credit reports from each of three primary credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It is necessary to get all three reports because each of them are based on different databases and a mistake on one report may not be recorded on another. The lender is likely to look at all three scores; therefore, the savvy borrower should as well.
Once you receive the free credit report copies the next step is to look at each part very closely, even line by line. This report will show every creditor, the amount owing, and whether your payments are on time or late, or if the loan is in default. Make sure that everything on the report is actually your loan or credit card account, also making sure that all of your loans are indeed reported and that the available credit is listed. Each bit of this information is a part of your overall credit score.
With the monumental task of collecting and sorting credit data and then entering it into the companys database it is not surprising that mistakes get made. The difficulty increases with common names and when people do not review their credit files regularly.
Once mistakes are located, the next step is to appeal the entry on the credit report. All three of the primary credit reporting agencies have claims forms available on their websites. When filing a claim it is important to explain why the reported information is incorrect and to include any additional documentation that may be available to substantiate the claim. It is also worth noting that more recent items are less likely to be removed, than old items that have been included for a long time.
Once the claim is initiated, it usually takes 30 days for the agency to investigate the matter. Depending on the results of the investigation, the item may or may not be removed. It is not uncommon for lenders to fail to respond after a claim has been initiated. If this happens, the bureaus are required to remove the information from your credit file.
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