
Credit
reports are designed to provide information about your bill paying history
to businesses and organizations. Unless you have been denied credit
in the past 30 days, credit bureaus generally charge you a fee to send
you a copy of your report.
Building
and maintaining a good credit history is important. You want to be sure
the information on your credit report is accurate. Derogatory information
on your credit report is a major factor considered by creditors in determining
your request for credit. These factors could also hinder your ability
to rent an apartment, buy life insurance, or obtain employment.
The Credit
Report Review offers a personal and confidential meeting. During your
conference, your reviewer will obtain your credit report and personally
examine and clarify its content. You will also be given more information
about existing credit reporting regulations, and learn how to correct
inaccurate information. Typical credit report review is $25 for an individual.
Credit
tip
Beware of anyone offering to fix bad credit. Although "credit repair
clinics" are expensive, they often tempt consumers overshadowed
by credit problems. If you have negative information on your credit
file, it will not be removed for 7 years; 10 years in the event of bankruptcy.
The FCC has ruled that "credit repair" businesses cannot collect
fees for their services until at least 6 months after the service is
performed. This ruling helps you to verify that the correction has been
made before you pay for the service and protect you from unscrupulous
business practices.