| A few years ago, getting a free credit report was | | | | agency associated and get it fixed right away. You |
| virtually unheard of. If there were any such options, | | | | settle or pay it as fast as possible. The effect these |
| there was a lot of fine print and hidden fees involved. | | | | blotches will have on your credit will reduce with time. |
| Over the recent past, the government stepped in and | | | | But, without careful monitoring you might've never |
| consumers are passed a law which gave consumers | | | | caught it in the first place. |
| the right to request a free credit report from all three | | | | 2) Employment opportunitiesIn todays tight job market, |
| bureaus once in a 12 month timeframe. Besides this | | | | employers are getting to pick and choose who they |
| one annual check-in, we would recommend you | | | | hire on the basis of several criteria. One of these is |
| review your credit report quarterly if you don't intend to | | | | your credit score. Is it fair? The answer is - it doesn't |
| make any major purchases such as a house or a car | | | | matter. The employers are doing it and its your job to |
| in the next 6 months. Why is constant monitoring this | | | | present the best possible picture you can of yourself |
| important? We'll give you five reasons: | | | | not just in the interview but also in your financial report |
| 1) Make the unknown knownDid you cancel that | | | | card. |
| magazine subscription? Did you take care of the utility | | | | 3) Error resolution |
| bill before you moved? Such small details aren't that | | | | Sometimes, you will see stuff on your report that |
| small in the grand scheme things when it comes to | | | | doesn't belong there. Whether its an item that doesn't |
| your credit. If these bills were substantial there is a | | | | belong to you or something that you already took care |
| chance that your creditor reported the delinquency to 1 | | | | of, you need to clear this up again. Call the creditor in |
| or all 3 bureaus. Sometimes they settle with a | | | | question and try to figure out the source of the item. |
| collection agency and someone from the agency will | | | | Keep written records of all conversations you have. |
| be banging down your door so to speak. So, what do | | | | Also, request a confirmation via email or snail mail of all |
| you do if you notice a collection activity or other | | | | communication. |
| delinquencies on your account? You call up the | | | | |