Archive for December, 2009

One of the most frequently asked questions about credit reports is whether it is actually possible to get your credit report for free rather than having to pay for it.
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Well, I’m pleased to tell you this; yes, you can get a copy of our credit report free of charge. That was the good news, but as so often in life, there is the bad news as well. In this case, it is that you should be very, very careful where you get the free report from.
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Now you may think that it would not matter in the slightest where you order your free credit report from, but you would be very wrong in your assumption, and it could cost you very dearly. Certainly, you might actually receive your credit report for free (if you are lucky), but you could also be giving away more than sufficient details about yourself to allow someone to steal your whole identity.
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For the last few years the authorities have been warning people about “con men” and women who use free credit reports to steal the identity of the person asking for it. The scam works like this.
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You go to a seemingly professional website, and you fill in a form which asks you for all the details you would normally expect to give for properly identify yourself to a credit bureau. The only problem is those are the exact same details a con artist would use to impersonate you with.
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So to ensure you don’t fall victim to this potentially devastating con make sure that you only ever use a trustworthy and reputable site such as http://www.nationalcreditreport.com. That way you will make sure that getting your credit report for free does not end up costing you a fortune.

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Having a good credit score is important to all of us, and if you have found yourself in a situation where your credit rating has slipped a little or if you happen to have bad credit, here are 5 tips that will help you to regain your good standing with the credit bureau.

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1. Speak to your creditors. If you haven’t already spoken to the companies that you owe money to this is a number one priority. You will probably be surprised just how helpful they can be when you give them a call. They usually have a specially trained team of people whose sole job is to help you get things sorted out.

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2. Don’t make arrangements you know you won’t be able to keep to. If you’re talking to your creditors, and they suggest ways you can fix your credit don’t be tempted to accept something they suggest just to try and keep them happy. You will end up making the situation much worse. It’s always best to tell them the truth rather than to have to go back and renegotiate.

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3. Stick to all the arrangements you make. Ensure that you make the re-arranged payments on or before the date, they fall due. This will be shown on your credit report, and it will help to re-establish your credit rating much faster.

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4. Don’t be tempted to try to borrow any further loans until you have sorted out your existing problems. Each inquiry will be shown on your credit report, and it will make you look very unreliable if you are trying to take out more than you currently are able to pay.

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5. Always tell the truth on future loan applications. Tell companies that you have had a problem in the past, what you did to solve it and how you are now able to stick to your financial commitments. Don’t try to fool them – they will find out!

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If you are serious about repairing your credit you should get hold of a copy of your credit report for free and see exactly what is being reported about you so you can discuss it with your lenders. You can find your credit score for free clicking this link:
What is your credit score? Click here

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