How to Fix Errors on your Credit Report

We are now coming to the end of the year and one thing that we should also be working on about is our credit report. Everyone is entitled to check on their credit report and you can obtain a free copy once a year. We all know that our credit report is as important with anything else because having black marks on your files could mean higher interest rates on loans, higher insurance rates, denial for credit and what’s worst is denial of job offers. However, this does not mean the end of the world because when you know that you can actually do something to fix errors on your credit report, then you should do just that.

If you have requested for a credit report and found any errors you can be able to fix errors on your credit report. It may not be as easy but it is doable. In order for you to get a free copy of your credit report, you can go online to this website www.annualcreditreport.com. This is a legit site where you can obtain free a copy.

If you can remember a woman from Oregon who sued Equifax for $18 million because of the fact that she tried to dispute the errors on her credit report but they just don’t seem to fix it. This includes the incorrect identifying information on her credit report which is very much unacceptable.

In case you have found errors on your credit report and filed a dispute to fix it but you have been pushed back, you don’t just sit there and do nothing. It is not dead end. Instead, you have to report, document follow up, report and follow up again. If there is no progress or you are just going on circles, take it to the next level.

Fixing errors on your credit report is as easy, just follow this helpful advice:

File your dispute at the same time with both the credit issuer and the credit bureau. This will ensure that you did not fail to report the error on both parties.

Use the manual form to file a dispute. Never use the automated system because it may incur errors which would be another job for you. There are separate manual forms for each credit bureau which you can find below:

Equifax - http://www.equifax.com/cp/MailInDislcosureRequest.pdf

TransUnion - http://www.transunion.com/docs/personal/InvestigationRequest_Chester.pdf?channel=paid&cid=affiliate%3Alc%3Atucm%3A1offer%3A%25zp%3A%25za&utm_source=linkconnector&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=tucm%3A1offer

Experian - http://www.experian.com/disputes/experian-mailing-address.html

Send all documents using certified mail and request for a return receipt to ensure that they have received it.

If the problem has not been resolved, file another dispute with the credit bureau and credit issuers. If it fails, sue the credit bureau and credit issuer in small claims court. You do not need to go to a lawyer to do this; you can ask the clerk of court for guidance on how to do this. Call your state’s corporation commission to find out where the registered agent of the credit issuer and credit bureau is in the state. Then serve them with the lawsuit.

Most of the time, they will remove the black mark from your credit report before the court date. If this still fails, take it up to the next level by contacting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for assistance.

Having to fix errors on your credit report would take time and a lot of persistence, but as long as you are doing the right process then it would not be as complicated as it seems. You just have to know the right tactics in order to fix these errors and put you right back to where you should be in terms of your credit rating and avoid denial and high interests on loans, credit and mortgages.

Just bear in mind that you should always use the manual form when filing a dispute because there is a possibility that the credit bureau won’t pass them on when they get in touch with the credit issuer. This will give them the true nature and background of your dispute backed up with your supporting documents.

Source: http://www.clarkhoward.com/challenging-errors-your-credit-report?ecmp=clarkhoward_social_facebook_sfp