You’ve probably heard the story more times than you would like: a happy couple frugally saves for years, then reaches their down payment goal for their first home, and is ready to buy. They might spend weeks looking at listings, traveling with their real estate agent several nights a week.
When they finally make their decision and select their new home, they are shocked to find out they have been rejected by the bank for their home loan. Their real estate deal falls apart and they cannot purchase the home. They feel helpless because they don’t have a clue about what they can do. What happened? Negative information they were not even aware of populates their credit report. Because of those negative items, the bank felt they were a bad credit risk and their loan application was ultimately rejected.The couple needed legal credit repair and was not aware of it.
How often does that really happen? More than most people think. Most people that pay their bills on time assume their credit is being accurately reported, and then they are be shocked when they find out there is negative information on their report. Sometimes people really do pay a bill late – even just a day or two – but even that seemingly innocuous little mistake shows up on their credit report as a negative item.
How long does a negative item affect your credit report? Seven years! You can make up overdue payments and their resulting late fees, but both the late payments and the fact that you are now current are included on your credit report.
Experian, Equifax and Transunion are the three major national credit bureaus. From the “big three” agencies there are an estimated 700 additional agencies that specialize in reporting consumers’ credit histories and public records information. Over one billion credit reports are issued each year, making credit reporting a billion dollar business!
These agencies gather their information from many different sources, but usually from creditors (lending institutions), you, and public records (bankruptcies, etc.).
Apply for a credit card or car loan, and the credit institutions are notified that you are seeking credit because your potential lender requests a report from them about your credit history. This type of inquiry, when listed on your credit report, doesn’t necessarily mean anything negative. However, if you were to attempt to get a car loan with three or four different lenders, your credit score will nosedive as other creditors view you as too much of a risk.You would need legal credit repair.
You probably do not have a clue as to how many ways bad credit can affect you. Like the couple mentioned earlier, you could be denied a loan for the home of your dreams. You may still qualify for a home loan with a low credit score, but it will be at a higher rate of interest. However, your monthly payment could be significantly higher with just a 1% increase in interest rate on a home loan.
Did you know employers can access your credit rating? They must request your permission first, however. Hired or fired because of your credit report? That’s right! If you are rejected from a job opening or a promotion that you apply for and your credit report is used in their decision-making process, by law, the employer must give you with a copy of your credit report. Also, they must provide you with the credit bureau’s phone number and instruct you how to have the credit bureau eliminate inaccurate information.
The American public’s habits of spending money, how we use our credit cards, and how we pay on them, is the basis of our economy. Without you even knowing it, your lifestyle could be negatively influenced by inaccurate information in your credit history and you would end up needing legal credit repair. Now that you know how important your credit report is, maybe you should get a copy and check it for errors?