There is a lot more to worry about in today’s financial world than ever before. We have gone from times where your word and handshake meant everything to the current day where your credit score means everything. The only way to ensure that your score is correct and there is no false information clouding your name, is to view credit report history for your social security number online.
The mistakes that can be on your credit report right now may surprise you. Some people find that there are even alias names attached to their reports which are not legal names they have ever gone by. This happens when a creditor or debt collector makes a report under your social security number but gets your name wrong. This associates that name with your real name and your only recourse is to catch the mistake and dispute the alias.
There could be a variety of collection accounts and other negative information that is not accurate on your report right now. The only way to figure out the mistakes that may have been made and fix them is to gain access to your own records and dispute the inaccurate flaws. A lot of this stuff may be collected electronically these days, but we still have imperfect humans inputting the information.
So, how do you do this? First of all, realize that you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report from all three reporting bureaus every year. You can look at all three versions of your report at once through websites that allow you to prove your identity and access them online, or you can look at one every few months so you have your eye on the records throughout the year.
Of course, there is a downside no matter which method you select here. If you space them out over the year you could miss something. Many businesses only report to one or two of the agencies, so there are usually differences between reports.
Then again, if you check them all at once you will either have to pay for another copy of your report during the year or leave it unprotected and unchecked for a solid year.
So, what is the solution? The safest and smartest way to handle this is to find a reputable service that will allow you to view credit report information year round for a small fee. Some will even watch over your name and notify you whenever anyone tries to use your credit or inquires into your credit.
Related posts:
