There’s no easier way to shine a light on your personal financial situation than through your credit report. If you’re not so familiar with your credit report, it’s time to get into the habit of reviewing this handy online document regularly and making sure you’re keeping track of the information that’s displayed – because it’s very easy for a mistake to make its way onto there that can come across as quite negative to outside reviewers.
Credit reports are free and easy to obtain, so they’re worth dedicating your time to look over. It’s important that you frequently check that the information included is accurate, especially if you take out monthly loans or are an active credit card user. Take a moment to have a look through the details of your past credit card accounts and loans, and confirm that everything is accurate.
What should I do if I find inaccurate information?
Sometimes, an error can make its way onto your credit report that might potentially harm your credit score for no good reason. If you’ve noticed an apparent mistake, first analyse it to be certain that it’s not supposed to be there. Then follow these simple steps below for the easiest resolution:
1. Directly contact the credit agency
Your first port of call is to get in touch directly with the credit agency that has made the mistake on your report. Often, there’s an option to do this online, which takes only seconds. If the mistake is noted for what it is, you can expect the information to be removed or updated within thirty days of contact.
2. Give the credit agency a call
If you’re still to hear back from the credit agency after the thirty-day investigation time, try to contact an appropriate company representative over the phone. This more direct form of contact isn’t always necessary, but you might feel it’s more suitable for you if you could do with a bit of speed in the process (for example, if you’re trying to get a mortgage and don’t want the credit dispute showing up on your report).
3. Seek outside help
Sometimes, major credit disputes can end up staying on your report for months and months, and the best alternative is to seek outside help from a specialist lawyer. It may be useful to have a legal team on your side if you’re looking to quickly dispel inaccurate negative information from your report. If you need help sourcing the right contact, you can find a useful link to a specialist in credit disputes on Crediful.com.
4. Check, recheck, and check again
The easiest way to maintain a healthy credit is to check and recheck your credit report. Even if you’ve closed up one dispute, don’t rule out the possibility of another error being made in the future. Try to make a habit out of checking your credit report at least twice a year, and comparing what’s on there with the information you have to hand.