CREDIT REPORTS

You know that your credit is important. However, many people focus on their credit scores without realizing the impact that their credit reports are having. Indeed, in some cases, it can be difficult to separate your credit score from your credit report. However, these are two information sources for lenders and others to use when determining your creditworthiness. Understanding the relationship between the two can help you make better credit decisions that will benefit you in the long run.

Your Credit Score is Based on Information in Your Credit Report

A new study has released its findings that less than 1-percent of consumer credit reports contain errors that lead to significant changes in scores. The report, which was commissioned by the three largest credit-reporting companies, said that after surveying 2,338 people the vast majority of credit reports are accurate.

Significant Reporting Errors Don’t Occur Often

Worrying about how finances need to be managed is a common beginning-of-the-year concern. Many people create their New Year’s resolutions with personal finance somewhere in the picture, which is actually a great idea. The only problem is if money was their enemy in the past, the idea of making new financial decisions can feel overwhelming.

A great way to overcome this feeling is by creating a love affair with finances. By thinking about the great benefits that money provides and how paying bills can make life easier–not more difficult–along with what it is doing for you instead of to you, you could very well fall in love with your finances.

Struggling with bad credit can be daunting and frustrating. The negative impact on your financial future can overwhelm even the most optimistic of people. Don’t lose hope; there are legal ways to get back on track and improve your credit score. Read on for some helpful information.

Are There Laws Related to Credit?

Those in the market for a new home will receive an addition to their mortgage loan applications starting Jan. 1, when lenders begin including information regarding how individual credit scores might affect mortgage interest rate quotes and terms.

This is good news for individuals looking to purchase a new home, as they will not only have a chance to compare rates and price mortgage loans, but will also have an opportunity to make changes to their credit before agreeing to a mortgage.

Obtaining a high credit score is an objective that was handed to consumers decades ago. In order to qualify for just about any kind of loan, including a credit card, car financing or mortgage, you need to show that you can handle the credit extended to you and pay it back on time.

The closer you are to the perfect score of 850, the better your chances are of qualifying for just about anything you want. But is it even possible obtain this score, or is the number like Big Foot–supposedly real but no one ever sees it? To get some answers, let’s explore the 850 credit score and just how possible it is to see it on your credit report.

Photo: Adland.tv

You might recognize the name Todd Davis from LifeLock commercials and billboards. In fact, you may also recognize his Social Security number from the same places. Davis is the CEO of LifeLock identity theft protection, who demonstrated his unwavering loyalty to the product by publicizing his SSN in order to prove how fail-safe it was.

By Casey Bond

By now, you’re probably well aware of how important your credit score is to your financial well-being and you do your best to carefully dodge all the potential threats to that precious number. Late payments, hard credit inquiries–you avoid them like the plague. It can be exhausting keeping up with it all, so is there anything at all that doesn’t affect your credit score or is every detail of your financial life fated to influence your credit in some way?

You may not be aware that the three credit bureaus are selling information in your credit report to lenders, credit card companies, insurance companies, telemarketers and direct mail marketers. You may also not be aware that this type of information gathering and selling is perfectly legal.

Whenever you receive a “pre-approved” or “pre-screened” offer of credit, this is because the bank or company who is offering credit to you has either pulled your credit information through a “soft inquiry,” or the credit bureau has sold your information to them as part of what’s called a “trigger lead” program.

What is an Investigative Consumer Report and how does it differ from a credit report? As it turns out, there is quite a substantial difference between the two, and any savvy consumer should learn the differences as they can have an impact on your credit history.

What is a Credit Report?