Big Brother Knows Whats in Your Credit Report - How About You?


Whether you are aware of it or not, credit bureaus have been keeping tabs on you and how you use credit. When it's time for you to apply for a mortgage, credit card, or personal loan, your credit report is what lenders look at to decide to approve you or not.

Information about you is collected and stored in national repositories. Every time you apply for credit, whether it's a retail store charge account or an auto loan, the information you provide gets sent to the credit bureaus. When you are late paying a loan, it shows up on your report. If you have ever been in a dispute with a merchant and you refused to pay them, the merchant can report your non-payment to the credit bureaus for all lenders to see.

Your credit history is an important part of getting a loan. By getting a glimpse of how you handled debt obligations in the past, lenders can estimate the likelihood that you will pay back their loan in the future.

What's in your credit report?
Credit reports are chock full of goodies to keep your lender busy. If you have never seen your report, you may be surprised at how much information is actually gathered.

  • Personal Information.
    This section includes information that identifies you by name, address, and Social Security number. It gives your date of birth and employment history. Information in this section is not used for scoring purposes.
  • Credit Lines.
    This is the meat and potatoes of the credit report. It shows all of your credit accounts and lists the details of each. These details include creditor's name, type of account (credit card, auto loan, school loan...), account number, date the account was opened, current balance, past due amounts, credit limit, and payment history. It will list whether you usual pay on time or are normally late 30, 60, or 90 days. The report will also show any closed accounts that you have.
  • Credit Inquiries.
    An inquiry is an event where a company asks the bureau for a copy of your credit report. Any company that has accessed your credit report in the last two years will be listed.
  • Public Record and Collection Items.
    Any information about you that is public record from courts or debts reported by collection agencies will be listed here. Court information can include bankruptcies, foreclosures, liens, and other judgements.

Who is Big Brother?
The three major credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. The information that they have on you may not be identical. One may have accurate records, but another might have an error that can prevent you from getting a loan. Since you do not know which bureau a lender will use to base their approval decision, you should inspect your report from all three bureaus. Equifax offers a 3 in 1 report where you can view your credit report from all three bureaus in a single transaction.

Before you apply for any loan it is wise to review your credit report. This way you can fix any errors before the loan process begins, saving you time and frustration if you get rejected due to a correctable problem caused by big brother and not you.

Jon Galanty is a financial writer for eMoneyCentral.com. Visit http://www.emoneycentral.com to find out more about credit, loans, banking, and to get other great money tips.



RELATED LINKS

Accept Credit Card Payment Online

Accept credit card payment online and increase sales by 400% or more.... Find out how ...

 

Advanta Credit Cards

Apply for an Advanta credit card with 0% APR, rewards and cash back.

 

American Express Credit Card Application

Apply online for a new AMEX rewards credit card. See special offers.

 

Best Airline Miles Credit Card

Earn Frequent Airline Miles for Every Dollar Spent with No Annual Fee.

 

Best Cash Back Credit Card

Earn Up to 5% Cash Back on Every Day Purchases. Apply for Yours Today.

 

Best Reward Credit Card

Compare & Apply for the Best Reward Credit Cards with Up to 5% Cash Back Rewards and more.

 

Business Credit Card Online Application

Compare Business Credit Cards from All Major Banks. Apply Online Now

 

Chase Credit Card Application

Find Credit Card Applications from Chase & Apply Online in Seconds.

 

Citi Credit Card Application

Citibank offers credit cards that have 0% APR balance transfer options, Rewards, Cash Back, and much more

 

Credit Card Application For Bad Credit

Great card for bad credit just got better. 8.9% APR, instant decision.

 

Credit Card Balance Transfer Deal

Great Rates: Balance Transfers and Purchases. Capital One Credit Card

 

Debit Cards

Control Your Spending with a debit card. Guaranteed Approval.

 

Discover Credit Card Offer

Discover Credit Card Offers with 0% for 12 months, no fees & cash back.

 

Gas Credit Card Application

Save money at the gas pump with a new gas credit card. Apply now.

Fast Easy Payday Loan

Get the fast cash you need with an easy payday loan. Compare and apply

 

Hotel Rewards Credit Card

Earn Free Stays with a Hotel Rewards Credit Card. Apply Online Now.

 

HSBC Credit Card Application

Get 0% Intro APR, No Annual Fee, Great Service, Benefits. Apply Now.

 

Low Interest Credit Card List

Compare & Apply for Credit Cards w/ 0% Intro APR for Up to 15 Months

 

Master Card Application

Apply for MasterCard Credit Cards with 0% APR, Cash Back & No Fees.

 

No Annual Fee Credit Card

0% APR with No Annual Fee. Compare No Fee Credit Cards & Apply Online.

 

Online Car Loan Application

Loans and Refinancing for New and Used Cars. Online Approval.

 

Online Debt Consolidation Services

Consolidate your debts today - ease the strain of monthly bills.

 

Online Foreign Currency Trading

FOREX is a serious game. Play it with the pros. Start with just $50. The best trading platform available today. Start Trading and see why.

 

Online Mortgage Application

Apply online for a mortgage for your home. It's fast and easy. Great Rates!

 

Online Visa Credit Card Application

Compare & Apply for Visa Credit Cards with 0% APR and No Annual Fee.

 

Prepaid Credit Card

Get a Prepaid Credit Card with Free Direct Deposit. No Credit Check.

 

Shopping Reward Credit Card

Shopping Reward Credit Card. Fast Online Credit Card Application ... You have found the best shopping reward credit card site on the Internet!

 

Student Credit Card Application

Pay 0 Interest for 6 Months & Earn Rewards with a Student Credit Card.

 

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Apply Now and Start Earning Miles.


MORE RESOURCES:

ABC News

US August consumer credit falls by $7.88 billion, first decline in ...
Forbes, NY - 9 hours ago
WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - Americans unexpectedly decreased their credit borrowing for the first time in more than ten years, mostly cutting back on ...
Video: Bernanke: More Economic Pain Ahead AssociatedPress
Inflation becomes afterthought as credit crisis worsens Reuters
Consumers Trim Their Borrowing Wall Street Journal
Houston Chronicle - Bloomberg
all 1,276 news articles


Credit cards next in line for tightening
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 14 hours ago
By MARK GONGLOFF As consumers watch their wealth disappear in the markets, some are also at risk of losing one of their last spending lifelines: credit ...
Video: Dow Dips More Than 500 on Worries About Financia AssociatedPress
Bailout should not include price controls on low-limit credit cards San Francisco Chronicle
Fed's new arsenal firing blanks Globe and Mail
Forbes - CNN
all 1,918 news articles


US consumer credit posts worst drop ever
National Post, Canada - 6 hours ago
US consumer credit plummeted by US$7.9-billion dollars in August - its sharpest drop on record, US Federal Reserve figures showed Tuesday. ...
US consumer credit declines for first time in over decade Xinhua
Consumer Credit Drops for First Time in 10 Years Wall Street Journal Blogs
US Consumer Credit Dropped by the Most on Record (Update1) Bloomberg
Reuters - CNNMoney.com
all 224 news articles


Providence Journal

Credit markets ease on Fed move
CNN - 12 hours ago
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Credit markets eased ever so slightly Tuesday after the Federal Reserve announced plans to help unclog the pipeline by buying up ...
Credit markets still tight as stocks plunge The Associated Press
Why This 'Credit Crisis' Hits Everyone Wall Street Journal
Fed May See Lending to Companies, States as Next Crisis Fronts Bloomberg
San Francisco Chronicle - USA Today
all 412 news articles


Reuters

With Credit Drying Up, Car Buyers Bring Cash
New York Times, United States - 3 hours ago
Tighter credit was a crucial factor in the stunning 26.6-percent drop in September vehicle sales in the United States. In September, sales fell below 1 ...
Credit crunch hits auto market's weak link Reuters
700 US dealerships could close this year, says head of dealer group Detroit Free Press
Auto dealers looking for the end of the credit crisis tunnel Crain's Detroit Business
DetNews.com - BusinessWeek
all 91 news articles


Reuters

Former AIG CEOs back credit default swap regulation
Reuters - 12 hours ago
N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said they would back regulation of the credit default swaps market in testimony at the US House Oversight and ...
Unregulated swaps hastened Wall Street collapse The Associated Press
New York insurance regulator calls for regulation of credit ... Canadian Underwriter
Greenberg Says Federal Loan to AIG Is Bad Deal Wall Street Journal
New York Times Blogs - Indian Express
all 282 news articles


Thanh Nien Daily

Credit gears of commerce are still jammed
Houston Chronicle, United States - Oct 6, 2008
By MADLEN READ AP NEW YORK — The jammed credit markets barely budged Monday as governments around the world scrambled to prop up their failing banks and ...
Credit woes: More than home loans CNNMoney.com
Credit still tight after House OK's bailout CNN
Credit tightens as rescue bill heads back to House The Associated Press
BusinessWeek - Wall Street Journal Blogs
all 992 news articles


Fresh News

Crude Oil Falls as Demand Slumps, Credit Market Turmoil Worsens
Bloomberg - 31 minutes ago
Global stock markets have plunged as banks freeze credit lines to investors and companies. ``Demand destruction is prevalent in developed countries with ...
Canada energy stocks slump on credit woes, outlook Canada Digital
Crude Oil Falls as Worsening Credit Crisis May Curb Fuel Demand Bloomberg
all 1,462 news articles


Corporate America Credit Union and FIMAC Reach Agreement to Offer ...
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
Based in Birmingham, Alabama, CACU has over $1.4 billion in assets, and serves the financial needs of 174 member credit unions. ...


Voice of America

Small US Businesses Feel Pinch of Tightened Credit
Voice of America - 7 hours ago
By Mike O'Sullivan As the US Federal Reserve System announced measures to ease the credit crisis Tuesday, small business owners around the United States say ...

Credit - Google News

home page | article index | site map
Credit  |  Currency Trading  |  Debt Consolidation  |  Debt Relief  |  Insurance  |  Investment  |  Leasing  |  Loans  |  Mortgage and Refinance  |  Personal Finance  |  Real Estate  |  Stocks and Mutual Funds  |  Taxes

 

© Copyright 2006 - SmarteCredit.Com. All rights reserved