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Credit Reporting
- What’s in a credit report?
- How can you check it?
- How can you improve it?
There are three credit reporting agencies in the United States: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. A credit reporting agency gathers information from various providers and supplies credit data on individual consumers. Each credit reporting agency has its own formulas for calculating credit scores.
Companies that supply your credit information to consumer reporting agencies have to follow specific credit reporting rules, as listed under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. The act stipulates who can obtain a copy of your credit report and in what circumstances.
Arm yourself with the basics of consumer credit reporting:
Your Credit Report
Find out what’s included in a credit report, and see a sample Experian credit report. You’ll discover what kind of information lenders see when they review your credit history.
Check Your Credit Report
Review your credit report before making a large credit purchase, and make sure the information is accurate. If it’s not, you can dispute it online.
Your Credit Score
Find out what a credit score is, what it means and how you can improve it.
Improve Your Credit
Create a positive credit history. Learn tips on how to set up your credit history from the beginning and the importance of paying your bills on time. Need help? Learn where you can go for assistance.