Posts Tagged ‘Equifax’

How to Boost Your Credit Card Scores

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011

how-to-boost-your-credit-card-score.jpg

Solid credit card scores are crucial for everybody. Lending is now tightening up and these financial institutions are raising the base credit scores higher and higher. There are some very simple and practical ways in order to build good credit card scores. You can use this not only to raise your rating but also maintain a good one.

Get your credit report:

You have to pay a fee to get your exact score. You can opt to get your score for free from companies like Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. They offer annual releases of credit card scores. All you need to do is request a report online. There are sites that allow you to do that but for a fee. You can find a website that offers this service with no fees at all. This site has been released as a reaction to the legislation to require the companies to offer reports.

Know your “open” accounts:

You cannot rely only on credit reports to show what open accounts you have. There are some companies that do not report at all. If you are an avid “collector” of credit cards and you have the need for more than 12 slots, then it might be best to be well aware about your accounts as long as they are open. Sometimes, people do not close an account they do not use for the “just in case” reason. Companies are now closing inactive accounts and when your account goes down, your credit card scores can go down as well. It is not safe to assume that using them again will result to better rating but it would be best to be aware of what you have open for the past year or so. This will give you an idea of what could have affected your score.

Make automated payments:

As we all know, as long as you pay your bills on time. Your credit card scores will stay in good shape. A few days of late payment can be a minus to your score. If you forget to pay, you can have a bad record and it can also worsen your score. The best way to minimize the problem of late payments is to set up automated payments especially for your recurring obligations such as your student, auto loans or mortgage. If you miss your payment, especially for credit cards, the results can be higher rates and this will not be appealing for anyone living in tight budgets.

Your balance is a serious matter:

Do you know how much balance you actually have? Do you have a record of how much money you have paid and how much is left of your debt? Knowing your balance means knowing your goal. You can make it easier for yourself to know what is coming up for you and what roadblocks might happen. If you know that you are $5000 short to fully paying all your debts, you can make preparations better. This works better for people with bigger loans.

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Free Online Credit Report: How to Order

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

How do you know if you need to increase your credit card score?  No matter what your credit history is, A free online credit report is available to everybody in the USA and many other countries too. If you have never requested to see yours, maybe it is time that you did.

free online credit report

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The Law About Free Credit Reports

Everybody needs to know their credit score. It is vital for so many aspects of life – getting a mortgage, having loans approved, being accepted to rent property or finance a car purchase. Even people who have no financial problems need to be able to check that there are no mistakes in their credit history on record with the main credit agencies.

The government recognizes this, and national law now makes it possible for anybody to order a free credit report once every year. The relevant US legislation is the Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act or FACT.

The main national consumer reporting companies are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Theoretically, they each have to provide you with an annual report. However in practice, they all subscribe to the Annual Credit Report Request Service.

Where To Order Your Free Online Credit Report

The simplest way to get your free credit report is to go to annualcreditreport.com and fill out the online request form. You can also call toll free at 1-877-322-8228.

You will need to provide certain personal information including your name, current and previous addresses, social security number and date of birth. In addition, in order to maintain confidentiality, the Annual Credit Report Request Service will ask for some information that only you would know, such as the amount of one of your monthly payments.

After you request your free online credit report it does not take long to get the information. You can usually see your report right away. If you call, your report will be printed and mailed to you within 2 weeks. The only time it might take longer is if the company requires more information in order to establish your identity, or if they have a very high volume of requests.

You may see other websites offering a free online credit report. Be aware these are not part of the national scheme. They may be able to give you a free report, but sometimes there will be hidden costs, or you may be required to give personal information that will be used to market other services to you.

What If I Already Asked For A Report This Year?

You are entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three companies mentioned above, every year. If you already requested your annual free online credit report from all three of them less than 12 months ago, then you may have to pay $10.50 for another one.

However, there are some circumstances where you can get another report for free. This includes if you are unemployed or on welfare, if your previous report had errors which you have requested to have corrected, if you were the victim of identity theft, or if you have recently been turned down for credit or insurance on the basis of a credit check. If you think you fit one of these cases, call the Annual Credit Report Request Service and ask them if you can order another online credit report for free.

Armed with the knowledge that you will obtain from your report you will now be able to make a plan to increase your credit card score.

Apply for Your Free Credit Report Online

Check Your Free Annual Credit Report

Credit Cards Score, Keep the Score High

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Credit Card Score In Depth

Monday, June 14th, 2010

In the United States, a credit card score is representative of the credit worthiness of a person looking to borrow money. Creditworthiness is defined as the likelihood of a person paying his or her debts. In the past the credit card score has been shown to be very accurate and has enabled lenders to make credits more widely available to the public at a much lower price than before the score was introduced.

The score itself is largely based on the statistical analysis of the borrower’s credit information as collected by one of the major American credit bureaus. The three major credit bureaus in America are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Another important company to know in this context is the Fair Isaac Corporation, also known as FICO. FICO created the first credit scoring system back in 1958 and followed this ground breaking invention with the introduction of the credit card score system in 1970. The latter system was first installed with the American Bank of Trust.

Credit card scores are often used by lenders to assess whether the person who wants to borrow money will pay back the debt or if the chance of bad debt is too high, thus effectively minimizing the chance of losses due to bad debt.  Credit card scores are therefore used to first of all determine who qualifies for a loan, what is the credit limit and the interest rate.

Currently there are many different credit scores in use and thus one person might have more than one credit card score at the same time, due to the different scoring models used by each of the three large American credit bureaus. These different scoring models include, but are not limited to, the following: The FICO scoring model, NextGen, VantageScore or the CE Score.

In the United States the system of using credit card scores is widely recognized as being the most fair and by far the most objective system, as neither race, ethnicity or sex play any kind of role for the loan offer made. In addition to this, there have been studies that have shown a decrease in risk of bad debt and an increase in the availability of credit since implementing the credit card scoring system. In other studies, the evaluations and assessments based on each individual’s credit card score have proven to be very accurate and reliable, especially in the credit card industry.

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Credit Report and Score

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

Do you know what your credit report and score say about you?  Though there has been a lot of talk about these issues, many people still don’t understand how these work together.  A person’s credit score can help them or harm them in financial terms.  A low score might mean that they can’t get a secured credit card or a loan from their bank.  It might even keep them from getting things they need such as a car or household appliances.

There are three major institutions that provide a person with their credit scores.  It’s a good idea to look at your scores from all three places, as they may not all agree on your number.  Those companies are Equifax, Experion, and TransUnion.  Though each one will have a detailed record of your financial history, they might differ slightly as to what your score should be.

Keeping your credit report and score in the higher numbers is as easy as paying your bills on time.  This includes not just your domestic bills, but you bank loans and credit cards bills as well.  Also, paying only the minimum balances on your credit cards may do more harm than good.  The minimum payments usually only cover the interest on the cards and it could take years to get them completely paid off.

Staying on top of your credit report and score could mean the difference between renting a home and owning a home.  When you know your score, and know how to keep it in the higher numbers, you’re giving you and your family a chance at a brighter tomorrow.

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The Three Credit Reporting Agencies

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

How much do you know about your credit score?  When identity theft is so high, and credit scores are everything, it’s important to know exactly where you stand with your credit rating.  You can get an annual report from any of the three major Credit Reporting Agencies for free.  This will tell you whether or not you need to work on your credit, or if you’re already in good standing.

The three major bureaus are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.  These companies keep track of everything we as consumers do.  They know when we miss a payment on a credit card bill.  They know when we purchase a major appliance.  And they know when we apply for a home or student loan.  It’s because of these bureaus that we have the ability to do such things.

These companies also share this information with your creditors.  When you go in to apply for a loan, your banker will take this information to determine whether or not you qualify.  If you’ve kept your credit rating up above the 650 mark, there shouldn’t be any trouble.  If your score is lower than 620, you could still get your loan, but you could end up paying high interest rates.

When it comes to your personal credit rating, there is no reason why you should be left in the dark.  When you take the time to get your score from any of the major Credit Reporting Agencies, you’ll know exactly what you need in order to obtain that loan.  It could also help make sure you don’t end up paying overly high interest rates.  It might even help you determine if someone else has been using your name to obtain credit.  And that’s something we all need to know.

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Get a 3 in One Credit Report

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Learn how to get a 3 in One Credit Report.  For some people, keeping on top of their credit score is no problem.  But, for others, getting a report from all the major credit bureaus can be a daunting task.  There is a solution.  You can get a 3 In 1 Credit Report, which will tell you what’s on all your credit reports at the same time.  What most people don’t realize is that all three reports may not tell you the same thing.

The three major bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.  These are the agencies that all creditors use to determine whether or not your credit score is high enough to qualify for a loan or for financing on a large appliance.  It also determines the amount of interest you end up paying for those loans, and for your insurance rates.

Your credit score is averaged out from these three reports, and if your number is below 620, you might have trouble with your financial situations.  Even if your number is below 620, you could still qualify for that loan, but your interest rates will be very high and you might find that you spend more time trying to pay off the interest, than the loan itself.

With a 3 In 1 Credit Report, you’ll know exactly where you stand financially, and what it will take to bring your credit score up.  The higher the credit score, the lower the interest rates.  It’s the thing that will tell your creditors that you can be trusted to pay off your loans in a timely manner and that you have what it takes to make things happen.

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More About Your Free Annual Credit Report

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

In this high-tech world where everything is based on numbers, it’s a good idea to know your personal credit score.  Every day, we here about more and more people losing their life savings to identity theft.  And in the end, we all lose.  However, there is a way to stay on top of your credit score.  You can get a Free Annual Credit Report from any of the three major credit bureaus.

The three major bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.  Each of these bureaus will give you a free credit report, so you’ll know if someone has been using your name to get credit cards, airline tickets, or making any other major purchases.  They will also tell you whether or not your score is high enough to safely apply for a home or business loan.

Each of these companies look into your credit history and assign a credit score number to you.  However, not all of them will give you the same number, so it’s important to know what those numbers are as these are the facts that your creditors will be looking at.  This can mean the difference in the interest rates you’ll be paying on your loans, and the premiums you could end up paying for your insurance.

You shouldn’t take a chance with your personal credit score.  If you stay on top of your credit, and get a Free Annual Credit Report, you’ll always know just where you stand financially.  If your creditors are going to check into these numbers, shouldn’t you know what they’re looking at?  Don’t hope for the future.  Take matters into your own hands and stay on top of your credit score now.

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Apply for Your Free Credit Report Online

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

Though you may have seen all the silly commercials about it on television, there is nothing funny about your credit. In a day and age when identity theft is so rampant, it’s important to keep on top of your credit line and where your credit is rated. The easiest way to do this is by signing up for a Free Credit Report through one of the three major credit bureaus.

Knowing the condition of your credit determines whether or not you will be able to apply for a home or student loan. It can keep you from obtaining certain credit cards, and you might end up paying higher premiums on your insurance costs. By not keeping up on your credit score, you could be doing severe damage to your future.

The three major credit bureaus are designed to help you keep up with your credit score. TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian allow you to see where you stand with your credit. It can help you determine whether or not your identity has been compromised or not, and will give you ideas on how to fix your credit. Plus, you can get a free report from these companies each year so you always know what’s happening.

Don’t take your personal credit score lightly.
With all the reports of identity theft and higher rates for those with bad credit, you can’t be too careful. Take the time to get your own Free Credit Report and make sure that your credit is where it should be. If not for yourself, then do it for the people who depend on you.

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