Credit Report Information - Check Your Credit Report -  Budget and Plan for the Future
Correting errors on your report - Qualilying for discounted or free reports

  Credit report information Details about your financial behavior and identification information are contained in your personal credit report.

   This consumer-friendly report is sometimes called a credit file or a credit history. A copy of your credit report makes it easy for you to understand the information a lender would be seeing if they review your credit history. The typical consumer credit report includes four types of information. By law, we cannot disclose certain medical information (relating to physical, mental, or behavioral health or condition). Although we do not generally collect such information, it could appear in the name of a data furnisher (i.e., "Cancer Center") that reports your payment history to us. If so, those names display in your report, but in reports to others they display only as medical payment data.
   
   Consumer statements included on your report at your request that contain medical information are disclosed to others. Public record information in some states may also include overdue child support. Bankruptcy information can remain on your credit report up to 10 years; unpaid tax liens can remain for up to 15 years; other public record information can remain up to seven years. Credit information includes specific account information, such as the date opened, credit limit or loan amount, balance and monthly payment and payment pattern. The report also states whether anyone besides you (a joint account holder or cosigner, for example) is responsible for paying the account. Active positive credit information may remain on your report indefinitely, while most negative information remains up to seven years. Requests by others to view your credit history will show you who has received information from your credit report and who was given your name during the recent past, as allowed by law.

   According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit grantors with a permissible purpose may inquire about your credit information without your prior consent. This section includes the date of the inquiry and how long the inquiry will remain on your report. On your personal credit report ordered directly from Experian, information about those who inquired for the purposes of extending a pre-approved credit offer are included for your information. These inquiries are not revealed to creditors and do not impact your ability to obtain credit. Personal information can include your name, current and previous addresses, telephone number, reported variations of your Social Security number, date of birth and current and previous employers.

   "Statements of dispute" also may be added by you or your creditors. Creditors report temporary dispute statements when you challenge an account's status with them. The statement is no longer reported when the dispute is resolved, usually within 30 days. If you and your creditor cannot agree on an account's status, you may have a statement added to your credit history. The statement will remain for seven years. Because the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that we add statements at the consumer's request, we cannot mask medical information contained in a statement. Statements display to anyone who reviews your information so it may not be in your best interest to share your medical information in a statement. Your credit report does not contain and does not collect data about race, religious preference, medical history, personal lifestyle, political preference, friends, criminal record or any other information unrelated to credit. Nor is there information about your checking or savings accounts.

Check Your Credit Report
Review your consumer credit report
Whenever you apply for a new credit card, loan or extension of credit, the potential lender will most likely review your credit report before making a decision. You should too! Check it several weeks or even months prior to making a large credit purchase.

Get an easy-to-read summary of your credit accounts and total debt – both existing balances and available limits.

Budget and plan for the future.

Assure the accuracy of the information reported about your credit. This is especially important when you're getting ready to buy an expensive item such as a car or new home.

If you haven't reviewed your credit report recently, get an immediate copy of your credit report delivered online.

Correcting errors on your report
Federal law allows consumers to challenge inaccuracies and correct their credit files, and Experian encourages consumers to dispute incorrect data. There is no fee. If you believe there is an error on your report, dispute it online for fast resolution. We will verify your dispute with the source of the data and receive a response within 30 days. Once we receive the response, Experian will send you the results of our investigation.

Qualifying for discounted or free reports

You may be eligible to receive a discounted or free credit report if you meet one of the following conditions: Your request for credit, insurance, employment or rental housing is denied based on information received from Experian, and you contact us within 60 days of the denial.

"Adverse action" was taken against you based on information in your credit report (e.g., your interest rate was raised or your credit limit was decreased). The name of the credit-reporting agency that provided your credit report and how to contact them for a copy will be provided by the company that declined your credit application or took adverse action.

Some state laws require credit-reporting agencies to provide their residents a free or discounted report each year even if they are not denied credit.

If you certify in writing that you are unemployed and seeking employment or receive public elfare assistance.

If you have reason to believe your credit file contains inaccuracies resulting from fraud. If you'd like a copy of your credit report, call us at 954-318-7800.