Credit-Report-Free.org - History, score and identity theft

(we know this site is not ready yet, we do not have that much time)

Free links on the internet

FTC.gov - Free reports will be phased in during a nine-month period, rolling from the West Coast to the East beginning December 1, 2004. Beginning September 1, 2005, free reports will be accessible to all Americans, regardless of where they live.

    "Soon you’ll be able to get your credit report for free. A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies.

    A credit report contains information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home. There are three nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union."

Bankrate.com - More info on how to get a free credit report for a non-usa citizen

Moneycentral.msn.com - Free report and 30-day trial of CreditCheck

Spendonlife.com - Receive your free Experian credit report online in seconds today. Get exclusive credit tips, tools, information, and expert advice from credit experts.

Creditreporting.com - Commercial

debt consolidation

About credit history and report

Credit history or credit report is a record of an individual's or company's past borrowing and repaying, including information about late payments and bankruptcy. The term "credit reputation" can either used synonymous to credit history or to credit score.

This information is used by lenders such as credit card companies to determine an individual's or an entity's credit worthiness; that is, the means and willingness to repay an indebtedness. This helps determine whether to extend credit, and on what terms. With the adoption of risk based pricing on almost all lending in the financial services industry, this report has become even more important since it is usually the sole element used to choose the APR (annual percentage rate).

How to improve your credit rating

  • Maintain a good payment record - Pay your bills on time, this is very important. A lot of late payments can lower a credit history record.

  • Control of debt - Lenders want to see that you are not living beyond your means. Experts estimate that non-mortgage credit payments each month should not exceed more than 15 percent of your after tax income.

  • Signs of responsibility and stability - Lenders perceive things such as longevity in your home and job (at least two years) as signs of stability. Having a respected profession can improve a credit rating

  • Credit inquiries – Keeping credit enquiries to a minimum can help your credit rating as whenever you apply for a credit card, the lender accesses your credit rating from a credit rating agency as part of the approval process. When your credit rating is accessed, a note is made of this access on the record for two years. Credit companies perceive many inquiries on your report as a signal that you are looking for loans and will possibly consider you a poor credit risk. To keep your credit rating good, try not to let companies access your history unnecessarily.

  • Keep cards you don't use - Although it is believed that having too many credit cards can have an adverse affect on your credit score, closing lines of credit can not improve your score and may even hurt it. The credit rating formula looks at the difference between the amount of credit you have and the amount you're using, so reducing your total credit can make the balance you carry seem larger and take points off your score.

    Correcting Your Credit Report

    If you see anything you don't recognize on your credit report, someone may be using your credit information for fraudulent purposes. Notify the credit bureau at once and call any creditors that filed complaints or incorrect information. The credit bureau can attach a fraud statement to your report and let you know which creditors to notify, and a creditor can notify credit bureaus that the information is incorrect. Keep track of your efforts in writing. According to federal law, the credit bureau and any creditor that filed incorrect information must resolve the issue within 30 days.

    • Products or trademarks named are used for reference, without any implied endorsement by their holders and
    without intent to infringe. Copyright 2005 - feedback hulsman @t h0tmail