What is on Your Credit Report?

Your credit report is a very important piece of the puzzle in your financial picture. It contains a historical record of your personal and financial information including a listing of your current and past debts and the timeliness of your payments. The information contained on your credit report is looked at by many people including lenders, credit card companies, landlords, telephone and cable companies just to name a few. These companies use your credit report to evaluate your reliability and creditworthiness.

With all of these people knowing what is on your credit report - shouldn't you? Knowing what is on your credit report can save you from unexpected surprises the next time you apply for a loan. Insuring the accuracy of your credit report is also very important. All too often people have found errors on their credit report that were damaging their credit score. Many times people have even been alerted to attempted identity theft by keeping an eye on their credit report.

There are several options when it comes to obtaining a copy of your credit report. For a fee, you can request a copy directly from the credit bureaus. However, with so many free routes that can be taken, there is really no need to pay to receive a copy of your credit report. There are many companies available that will provide you with a copy free of charge. Visit http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com to get a free copy of your credit report and to learn more about managing credit and debt.

Here is what you can expect to see on your credit report. There are four basic sections to the report which are broken down below:

1. Your personal information such as your name, social security number, date of birth, drivers license number, address and telephone number,br>2. Your credit history which contains a listing of all open and closed credit lines including the original amount of the loan as well as the current balance on the loan, the type of loan (credit card, department store credit, mortgage etc.), the status of the loan whether it is active or closed, and the timeliness of your payments
3. A public records listing that includes any tax liens foreclosures, bankruptcies or judgments filed
4. A listing of inquiries made on your credit report by potential lenders who pull your credit report when considering issuing you a loan or credit card.

If you do find errors on your credit report they can be disputed and corrected. Be aware that this may take some time. That is why it is always recommended to stay on top of things and know what is on your credit report. Being alert and informed will help insure that nothing sneaks its way on to your credit report.

-------------------------
Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the authors bio paragraph at the bottom of this article is included, the article is published "as is" (unedited) and all URL's are made active hyperlinks with no syntax changes.
-------------------------

This article was written by Beth Pardue who has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more about credit reports or to get a free credit report online please visit: http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Credit Information:

Related Articles

How To Choose Your Credit Card Application
The articles and tips provided on this site are intended to help you access credit card offers that suit your lifestyle. By providing you with some basic information, we are confident that you will be able to easily identify which are the best credit cards for you.
Establishing Credit - What You Need To Know Part 2
In my previous article "Establishing Credit - What You Need To Know Part 1" I discussed the need for a good credit history and what lenders were looking for prior to loaning an individual money or additional funds based on their credit history. This article will go into the necessary steps someone needs to take in order to initially establish their credit history.
Useful Tips On Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud
Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. While theft is the most obvious form of fraud, it can occur in other ways.
Inflexible Friends and Plastic Assets, Why Money isn't Buying Love Anymore
Consumers reject financial advice in favour of financial frivolityIt would appear that even though their "friends" aren't as flexible as they used to be, consumers are still stretching their credit cards beyond the comfort zone.The vicious circle of debt manipulation involving banks, consumers and commercial credit companies is putting consumer spending under strain, as funds begin to dry up.
How to Get Credit Reporting Agencies to Help You
The process of clearing credit can be laborious and frustrating. Understanding your rights empowers you and saves you time and effort.
What Is A Credit Report?
Even if you have heard of a credit report, you may not know exactly what it is. If so, this credit report article is for you.
Your Credit Card May Be Costing More Than You Think!
Do you know what your credit card is truly costing you? Manypeople assume that they do, but aren't familiar with thehidden fees that many credit card companies are charging. Infact, if you don't keep close tabs on your credit card, youmay end up paying hundreds of extra dollars per year-withoutever really knowing it!And if you're trying to budget your money, those hidden feescan add up!Let's take a look at some of the most common credit cardfees, and then talk about how you can avoid them.
Preventing Credit Card Mess
Credit card debts problem is extremely common today. It is usually the first sign of longer term financial troubles.
Credit Help for Real Estate Financing: Credit Scores
When you buy real estate, lenders run all of the "big three" credit bureau reports. Each credit reporting agency lists your credit history as supplied to them by the individual lenders and includes governmental records.
Student Credit Cards 101
If you're a college student, you probably already have a credit card. If not, you may have plans to get one or more soon.
Avoiding Credit Card Traps
The next time you open your credit card statement, take a closer look at the small insert titled "changes to your credit card agreement". You know the one I'm speaking about.
Credit Card Is Adding The Silver Lining To Your Pocket
In the new millennium plastic money or credit cards has rendered a new zing factor to your pocket. This has not only made you economically more flexible but subsequently added glamour to your financial image as well.
Which Credit Bureau Should I Use To Check My Credit Report?
There are three main credit bureaus in the United States; Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. Each bureau collects your personal and financial information which is then sold to lenders such as banks, credit unions, credit card companies, mortgage and auto loan lenders.
Comprehending a Credit Report
Obtaining a credit report is an excellent way to begin taking control of your financial future. It's recommended that you review your credit report once a year, not only to be aware of your standing with creditors but to also keep abreast of errors and fraud.
The Truth About Credit
What you might not know about credit.Some people don't know about a loop hole in the credit reporting system.
Credit and Its Cost
What is Credit?Credit is money granted by a lender (or creditor) to a debtor (or borrower) whereby the lender defers receiving payment of the debt for a period. In exchange for the credit allowed, the lender will get back the money lent plus interest.
Establishing Credit - What You Need To Know Part 1
Establishing credit is one of the most important things you can do in order to add stability to your financial record and dramatically increase your ability to borrow necessary funds in order to purchase a new home, new car or even pay for college expenses. Unfortunately credit has two sides to it that consumers can exploit.
How Your Credit Rating Affects You, and How to Check It
You might not know it, but every time you take out any kind of loan or credit or pay something back, it gets counted on your credit rating. Who keeps a record on you will vary according to where you live, but the big three credit reference agencies are Experian, Equifax and Trans Union.
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Your Credit Report
Your credit report is a very powerful report that essential controls what you can and cannot do in your life. Unfortunately many people aren't aware of what a credit report actually is and what information is contained on the report.
Defeating Credit Card Debt With Self Control
Credit card debt is a major social problem in some Western countries. To rid yourself of credit card debt, it is best to recognize the problem as both a social and individual problem.