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Home › IdentityTheft Blogs › Free Credit Reports Are Golden!

Free Credit Reports Are Golden!

Several years ago, someone first told me about my ability to obtain my free credit report through www.annualcreditreport.com. Since I thought it sounded like a good idea, I went ahead and logged on.
I smirked to myself when I noticed that the very first item listed in my credit history was a gas card my dad opened for me when I turned sixteen. Back then, that card represented my freedom. Basically, my credit history told the story of my life—or at least my spending. After checking my report, I logged on again and checked my husband’s. What I found there didn’t leave me laughing. Actually, it had the opposite effect.
On my husband’s credit report there was a delinquent account that had been in collections for years. To make matters worse, the account wasn’t really his. His credit had been compromised and we had to begin the lengthy process of having it corrected. The nightmare that ensued wasn’t fun, and the horrendous way we were treated by the collection’s agency that thought we were just trying to get out of paying a debt was humiliating. That delinquent account had been on my husband’s credit for ten years, and he had no idea.
Turns out my husband wasn’t the only person in my life with that problem. When my dad went to apply for a loan for his business, a bankruptcy filing appeared on his credit report. It wasn’t the result of identity theft, and instead was a clerical error—the real gentleman who filed for bankruptcy had a social security number that differed from my dad’s by only one number. Removing the bankruptcy from my dad’s credit history was a real headache for him and prevented him from locking into a decent interest rate on his business loan.
It seems like nobody wants to believe you when you claim that the information in your credit file is not your own. But the sooner you catch a mistake the easier it will be to resolve. Not enough can be said about the incredible value of a free credit report. By checking my husband’s credit on a whim, we were able to repair his damaged credit history before we needed to apply for new credit. Unfortunately, my dad hadn’t been told about the benefits of a free credit report and he suffered with a high interest rate as a result.
So, make the time today to visit www.annualcreditreport.com and check your credit so you can make sure that the only person spending in your name is you!

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Submitted by Belinda Scheider on Thu, 01/07/2010 - 07:39.

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Submitted by Tiara Thompson on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 02:19.

Be careful with bad credit reports though. You will get loan harder than it should be. If you have to filing bankruptcy , you should ask a lawyer that can help you with the case.

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Submitted by samm on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 21:26.

Identity theft is a real problem today for too many people. Still from what you told us here this wasn't exactly identity theft, it may as well be an error that the bank employees should account for. I got me worried with this, I'll ask for a credit report too, I just had a payday loan and I don't want any "errors" involved.

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Submitted by john on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 07:02.

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Submitted by michael on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 19:47.

Other credit monitoring services in the same ilk have a similar policy of challenging anything horrible that comes across — even if it is accurate. And sometimes there is a fee for this as well. Honestly, after I've used my free reports from annualcreditreport.com, I'd rather just go to one of the bureaus and pay the fee. online payday loans canada

Submitted by <a href=http://bankfiesta.com>bank fiesta</a> on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 17:03.

I just ran my credit report and there are several hits on it to say the least. Is it better to call the collection agencies directly and work out payment arraignments or should I call the credit consolidator people. And what is the best credit consolidator co to call?

Submitted by bank information on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 08:43.

Credit history or credit report is, in many countries, 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 be used synonymous to credit history or to credit score. In the U.S., when a customer fills out an application for credit from a bank, store or credit card company, their information is forwarded to a credit bureau. The credit bureau matches the name, address and other identifying information on the credit applicant with information retained by the bureau in its files. This information is used by lenders such as credit card companies to determine an individual's credit worthiness; that is, determining an individual's willingness to repay a debt. The willingness to repay a debt is indicated by how timely past payments have been made to other lenders. Lenders like to see consumer debt obligations paid on a monthly basis.
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Submitted by pg in andheri on Sat, 03/07/2009 - 11:41.

I viewed my free credit report online from Experian. I know I can still request a free credit report from the other 2 companies this year

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Submitted by homelover on Wed, 03/04/2009 - 13:59.

I'm trying to help my step-daughter get the free credit reports which the 3 major credit reporting companies are suppose to provide. She can not find a phone number for any of the companies which is answered by a human. What must she do? Write them? If it can be done through the Internet, exactly which are the real websites?. Any and all help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.Thank you..!!!by homelover

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Submitted by ceejay2005 on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 01:29.

I just ran my credit report and there are several hits on it to say the least. Is it better to call the collection agencies directly and work out payment arraignments or should I call the credit consolidator people. And what is the best credit consolidator co to call? http://instantloan.net/instantpaydayloans.php

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Submitted by Anthony on Thu, 08/07/2008 - 19:30.

Milo - I will suggest looking at your credit report. If it is there then you should dispute the amount and let the credit bureau research it. The collection agencies will not stop calling you - I recommend changing your phone no.

Submitted by Milo on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 19:07.

I have collections agencies calling me about accounts that aren't mine. Should I be worried? They ask for me by name, but it's about a school loan for a school I never went to. Do you think this info could be on my credit report too?!

Submitted by ron141 on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 19:05.

I've had some of my dad's items show up on my credit report too...never anything in collections though. I check my credit report every June--I write it on my calendar so I don't forget.

Submitted by Erica on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 19:02.

Wow! I didn't realize so many things could cause incorrect items to appear on my credit report. I'm logging on to check mine right away. Thanks for the tip!

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