Hi, My name is Erin and I found this website a few days ago. I am very interested in cleaning up my credit report because my husband and I want to buy a house this fall when he gets home from Korea. I know my credit report is probably bad due to filing bankruptcy in 1998 with my ex-husband. I have spent the past 2 days reading and re-reading the posts here trying to learn how to go about raising my credit score and honestly, I feel very overwhelmed and lost. The reason I am posting this is to ask a question, and I apologize if this has been asked before, but I could't find the answer anywhere. I read in the Newbie section about the 3 credit report agencies to write to get your credit score, but they all want $$ to get it. Is this typical? Or is there somewhere that I can get this info for free? I don't mind paying the $$, but I don't want to if I don't need to either. I see on the myfico site they have an option to get this info from all 3 credit agencies for $39.95. Would this be the smart thing to do? I am sorry for all of the questions, but like I said before I am feeling really overwhelmed by all of this information and don't want to screw up before I even get started! Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me, I really appreciate it. Erin
Some states are entitled to a free report at least once a year. What state are you in? If you have recently applied for credit and was denied, you are entitled to a free report. To get the most accurate info about your credit, it would be best to get a report from each credit bureau, not a merged one.
I am in NY, is this one of the free ones? I haven't been denied credit in the past year so I guess that is not an option for me. Thanks, Erin
I could not find any info on what states get a free report each year but you can call each credit bureau and ask unless someone else on the board chimes in. Experian P.O. Box 2104 Allen, TX 75013-2104 1-888-397-3742 Equifax P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 1-800-997-2493 Trans Union P.O. Box 1000 Chester, PA 19022 1-800-888-4213 Got this from http://www.creditreportcenter.com/credit-bureau-report.htm
You qualify for a free report regardless of state of residence if one of these fit you: -You've been denied credit or insurance within past 60 days: -Receiving public welfare assistance; -Your credit file contains inaccurate information due to fraud; or -Unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days
Wow, thank you for all of the information! I am unemployed, and who knows, I may be thinking about getting a job in a few months. I guess I will look into that option. Erin
I would like to first commend you by taking what is the most important first step -- looking at your reports. I know when you suspect there is something bad on them, it can be difficult to take the plunge, but often our fears are worse than reality. Now, about 3 in 1s -- some people don't like them because they are not as detailed as the indiviudal reports from the 3 credit reporting agencies (Equifax/CSC, Experian and TransUnion). For example, the 3 in 1s I have gotten do not have addresses for the creditors listed on my report. That said, 3 in 1s can be a good start to just see what is one there in the first place. I would recommend www.privacyguard.com. They have a promotion right now with daily access to a 3 in 1 report and 1 bureau's credit score (Equifax) for 90 days for $1. good luck and remember persistence and patience. peace, delilah
Hey Erin: You need to get all 3 of your reports and your new husband needs to get all 3 of his reports. They are not merged. Get your scores and your reports (Like 12.95 or so)on all three. Just so you have a reference point. I like to get it either on-line individually or in the mail individually, not merged ones. Once you get them, let us know how things look. I had a Bankruptcy in 1993 and didn't check my reports for 3 years afterwards and was SHOCKED at the inaccuracies. Good Luck and let us know...... We have all been there...... ICU
Thank you all for your advice. I did the privacy guard thing just to get an idea of where I stand and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It says my equifax score is 647, which is very surprising to me. I don't really see too much that is wrong, but then again it is really confusing to try and figure out what everything means on the report. And I am amazed at the differences within the same accounts among the 3 agencies. There are a few things on my report that I don't recognize and don't know how to find out what they are! Example, there's something from Compucredit, opened in Mar 1999, and still shows as open....I have NO clue what this is or how to go about closing it. I guess I have my work cut out for me trying to decipher all of this. I have a feeling you all will be seeing a lot of me here in the future!! Erin
Erin, I also have Compucredit on my Cr and I believe that is a fingerhut acct, have you ever had one of thesE?
