Posts Tagged Inquiries

What is Inside a Credit Report?

S. Michael Windsor asked:


What Is Inside a Credit Report?

As we all know, our credit is one of the most important things we have, financially speaking. Keeping a regular check on it is imperative as we could face major changes at any moment due to such things as identity theft and so on. In fact, our ability to get loans, insurance and even jobs in many cases depends on it. So what exactly is inside a credit report that controls the minds of so many decision makers? This is what we will cover in this article.

Your credit report is a device used to provide lenders with the information they need in order to consider the level of risk they will be taking of a person defaulting on a loan or simply not making payments. They base these views on your credit history and more. The difference between a FICO credit score and a credit report is simply that a credit report shows not just a number but all of the details as to how they came up with your current credit score. The credit report also shows lenders how much you currently owe and how much you have available on the different types of accounts.

How well you had made payments on your loans in the past and if there are any collections notices that a person had received are included as, again, they just want to know that you will be able to pay back the loan. In addition to the payment history, lenders also want to know how long you have had the account, or accounts, that you currently have opened. If it has only been a month since you opened your mortgage on your new house, it will hold much different weight as opposed to a mortgage that has been getting paid off for 7 years now.

Account inquiries are a substantial part of the credit report as well. Now we are no talking about those “pre-approved” credit offers where the credit card company apparently looked at your credit, those inquiries do not count. We are referring to actual applications for new credit and inquiries by firms such as car dealers.

Your credit report also includes the type of account, such as a car loan versus a retail store card, which holds a substantial position in the lines of credit reports and what is actually considered more. Some individuals may believe that a new line of credit being paid off for a $1,200 HDTV holds the same weight as a car loan as it is being paid off, but this is not true. The type of account, and apparent risk on your part, has a lot to do with how much weight is placed on the given revolving debt account.

In addition to the aforementioned areas covered are such things as bankruptcies, public record, delinquent payments, collections reports and so on. These are all reported on your credit report! These are obvious “red flags” to potential lenders in that it instantly increases their level of risk in that the individual with those items on their credit report would possibly default or go to collections. So it is a very important thing to consider your credit report whenever making any financial decisions whether it is to open a new account or not to pay on money that you owe. That one month you miss a payment could put a really nasty mark on your credit report, which will be seen by those who consider you for loans, jobs, insurance and more. Also, it is a good idea to constantly monitor your credit monthly using services such as those at Experian or more. There are more details at our website. But, all in all if you continue to improve your credit score and keep on making those payments on time, your credit report will open many doors for you in the financial world of loans, jobs, insurance and more.



ANGELO

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Things You Should Know About Your Credit Report

Liz Roberts asked:


When applying for credit or taking out a loan, the first thing that your creditor will do is to check your credit report. Based on your credit report, a lender can either grant you an approval or reject your application. For this reason, everyone is advised to personally check on their credit report first before sending out an application to a prospective lender. This way, rejection and unnecessary inquiries in your credit report can be avoided.

What factors affect the status of your credit report? Your credit report is divided into four sections- the identity information, credit history, public records and inquiries. Checking the accuracy of the details in your ID information section is important. One minor error can cause serious problems or mistaken identity.

Meanwhile, your credit history section is what your lenders is most interested about. The types of accounts you own, your debts, your payments, credit limit, and everything that concerns you and your creditors are listed here. Naturally, you’ll want to check if all the charges that are billed in your account are correct and if all the payments you’ve submitted to your lender are recorded accordingly.

The next part of your credit report is the Public Records section. You’ll want this section to be empty unless you’ve filed for bankruptcy once or if you have tax liens or have been through foreclosure. Obviously, a remark listed in this section of your credit report will have a negative impact on your status and your credit score.

Last but not the least, the inquiries section of your credit report contains information about past and present lenders who have made an inquiry in your report. If you frequently submit applications to various lenders and often get rejected, this will all be reflected in your credit report. Take note that too many inquiries and rejections will badly affect your credit score.

Now that you know the factors that make up your credit report, take the time to review every detail in your report. In case you’ve errors, you are free to dispute about them by sending a dispute letter to the credit bureau who issued your report and to your creditor as well. Remember, being aware about the status of your credit report is your personal obligation and is the best way to protect yourself from erroneous reporting and fraud.

What if you found out that your credit score isn’t enough to get an approval from a lender? Do not lose hope. You can still work out on improving your credit score by paying your unpaid debts and keeping up with your payments to your present creditors. By being timely in submitting your payments, significantly reducing the amount owed, and staying within your credit limit, you can be assured that your credit score will improve. So instead of rushing in submitting your credit card or your loan application, take a moment to review your credit report and see if you are in the right position to apply for new credit.



VINCENT

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