How Do You Obtain Credit Report Information?

There are times when we need information about our credit reports, whether it's because we're making a big purchase or for some other reason. That's why it's good to know how to obtain credit report information.

At some point in time, you will need to have access to your credit report information. Your credit report contains such information as your birth date, social security number, address, amount of income, your spouse’s name, and your place of employment, as well as if you have paid your debts on time. Businesses report credit information about you to the credit bureaus, and that is how this information is obtained. If you have ever filed bankruptcy, had judgments or liens placed against you or your assets, been sued, or arrested, these events will be there, as this is considered to be part of the credit report information.

Consumer reporting agencies, such as Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax, gather all this information on you and then sell it to creditors, insurance companies, employers, and other businesses for a fee. Everyone has a right to know what is included in their credit report information, including medical information and the sources of all information provided. It is recommended that you request a copy of your credit report every so often, so that you can address items that have been omitted or are incorrect. If you have been denied credit for any reason, are not granted insurance coverage, or even employment, the company that ran the credit report must give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting agency that provided the credit report information, and the reason for the denial.

This is a good time to review your credit report information. You should have some idea why you have been denied credit, insurance, or employment. If you had to file bankruptcy for example, you can add a note of explanation to your credit report information as to why this occurred.

There could very well be some erroneous information on your credit report that is keeping you from getting credit, and you would have no way of knowing unless you reviewed your credit report information. There could, for example, be an incorrect entry regarding a bill turned in for collection that has long been taken care of, or a debt that you isn’t yours at all, but is listed in your credit report information in error. You can dispute any entry in your credit report information, and if the consumer reporting agency cannot verify the entry it must be deleted.

You can get a copy of your credit report information for $9, or you may be entitled to a free copy of your credit report information at least once a year, if the following conditions apply. If you are unemployed and seeking employment within sixty days, are on some type of public assistance, or if you are claiming fraudulent actions or identity theft, you are entitled a free copy of your credit report information.