How to Fix a Mistake on Your Credit Report
You've probably heard that it's a good idea to check your credit report regularly for errors or signs of fraud. If your report contains late payments that you're sure you made on time, unwarranted collections accounts, or even fraudulent credit accounts, then your credit score could take a serious hit. But do you know what to do once you've spotted such problems?
Here's a simple how-to for spotting and resolving errors in your credit report.
At a bare minimum, you'll want to check your credit report at least once a year. You can get a free credit report as often as every four months; each of the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) will issue you a free credit report once every 12 months. Because the three different credit reports will sometimes have different information on them, you might also choose to order all three reports at the same time once every year. You're also entitled to an extra free report if you're unemployed and looking for a job or if you're on welfare. To get your free credit report(s), visit annualcreditreport.com or go directly to the individual credit bureaus' websites.
Source: Fool.com
