| Credit Scores That Hurt | | | | enough to to cause a consumerto be turned down for |
| Is your credit score being held against you? | | | | a loan or job. |
| More and more the staples of life depend on your | | | | To counteract the erronius information on your credit |
| credit score. Your mortgage, insurance | | | | score you should review your FICO scoresat least |
| premiums,employment opportunities and even your | | | | once a year, or several months before applying for a |
| landlord may be using your credit score to determine | | | | loan. Check for negative info, errorsor any suspicious |
| yourfinancial future. | | | | activity that may suggest identity theft. The best place |
| In some cases even the utility companies are basing | | | | to check is |
| the size of your deposit on your credit score. | | | | The three major credit bureaus will also sell you your |
| Landlords are determining your reliability as a tenant. | | | | credit reports, but they're not as reliablebecause none |
| Insurance companies are setting the size ofyour | | | | of them provide your FICO scores with your credit |
| premiums based on your credit score. Many more | | | | report. |
| employers are also using your score todetermine your | | | | The best strategy to stay on top of your credit |
| reliability. | | | | information is to pay the extra money to get your |
| According to a 2004 survey by the U.S. Public Interest | | | | FICO scores. Also apply for your free credit report |
| Research Group, 25% of credit reportswhich list your | | | | from one of the three credit bureaus everyfew |
| credit and borrowing activities, had errors serious | | | | months. Moniter any new activity. |