| In this article I am going to look at how it is important to | | | | perhaps even employers will look at the information. It |
| obtain and check your credit report if you want to | | | | makes sense to understand why people might be |
| improve your credit score. This is a key issue that is | | | | doing this because, if you are aware of these |
| missed by so many people with financial problems. | | | | enquiries, you may be able to take action to prevent |
| Dispute any errors that you notice on your credit | | | | them occurring and perhaps affecting your score. |
| report. Remember to check with all the credit | | | | You are able to check your own report without this |
| agencies; companies such as Equifax and Experian. | | | | affecting your credit score at all. It is what is known as |
| You should question any errors that you see by writing | | | | a soft enquiry. When a potential lender accesses your |
| a letter. In that letter explain carefully what you believe | | | | financial details then this is a hard enquiry and will have |
| the error to be and ask the credit agency to | | | | an effect on your credit score. |
| investigate. Make sure that your letter covers all the | | | | If you do find an error on your credit report remember |
| details and is written in a calm and measured tone. | | | | to also contact the creditor, not just the credit agency. |
| You do not want to come across as overly | | | | This will help to ensure that the error is corrected and |
| aggressive. You should hear back from the agency | | | | will also help to prevent it happening again in the future. |
| within a period of about a month. | | | | Do make sure that you check the internet when you |
| Another thing that you can do with your credit report is | | | | are seeking to look at your credit report. There are |
| to add a note to it. You can use this to explain why | | | | always a number of offers for free, or at least cheap, |
| you might be behind with payments on a particular | | | | credit reports. You may have to provide an e-mail |
| account. Not all lenders will take this into account but it | | | | address or some other form of contact. In this way |
| is certainly something that cannot do any harm. | | | | you will get to check your credit report and score |
| Always check who is looking at your credit report and | | | | without it costing much money. |
| why they are doing this. Of course if you are | | | | I hope that this article has provided some useful |
| borrowing money a lender will do this. However, it is | | | | information on how you can use your credit report to |
| also the case that insurance companies or landlords or | | | | deal with your credit score. |