Do you know the difference between 550 and 780? Yes, they are 230 grades apart, but they are also examples of bad and good credit scores, respectively.
Win $329 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Enter hereno purchase necessary!
If you don’t check yours regularly, now is the time to start. Small mistakes are much more common than you think, and they can seriously damage your credit score. Let me tell you about some of the most common credit report errors and what you can do to fix them.
5 MINUTE CLEARANCE OF YOUR PHONE AND COMPUTER
Step 1: Get your free credit report
The three credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) are required according to the law to provide you with one free credit report per year. Sweet. There are a number of ways you can request a copy from each agency.
Online is the fastest route. When you submit a request via telephone or by mail, expect to wait two weeks after paperwork is received.
- Online: www.AnnualCreditReport.com
- Telephone: 877-FACT (877-322-8228)
- Mail: Download and complete the annual credit report request form. Send it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
For a tip: Collect your report from the fourth credit bureau, Innovisat.
Close up of a man with a smartphone and laptop computer on January 31, 2019. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)
Step 2: Look for the most common errors
Typos or incorrect information: Everything from your misspelled name to your address or your date of birth with one digit. Small mistakes can confuse your credit with someone else’s.
Accounts you don’t recognize: If you see something you don’t recognize, don’t ignore it! This includes credit cards you never applied for, loans in your name or purchases you didn’t make it.
Duplicates: It is not normal to see a debt twice on a credit report. This includes things like the same collection account, transferred debts that are shown as separate accounts or paid off debts that are still there.
Incorrect account information: Sometimes payments can incorrectly show up as overdue, or closed accounts can still show up as active. Other times, reports can show the wrong credit limit or mess up your payment history.
AI GOES NOWHERE: DIRECTIONS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER
Outdated information: Bankruptcies older than ten years, delinquencies older than seven years, and outdated collection accounts should not appear on your credit report.
Make sure websites follow your rules: Check permissions
Step 3: Report something strange
Don’t panic! Write down and make copies of anything that doesn’t look right, then file a dispute with the credit reporting company by mail, phone, or online.
If you file the return online or by mail, explain in writing exactly what is wrong and why, and include copies of supporting documents. Be sure to include your contact information, credit report confirmation numbers, and a copy of your copy of your credit report.
Close-up of the top corner of a consumer credit report from credit agency Equifax, showing the text Credit File and Personal Identification, on a light wooden surface, September 11, 2017. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
And always follow it! Agencies are required to investigate your disputes within 30 days. Monitor progress until you have a written solution. If your dispute is valid, the agency must resolve it and tell the other agencies as well.
Many of these problems come down to old-fashioned human error. It happens, but don’t let that stop you from taking charge.
Related: How to run a 5-minute privacy check on your phone
While you’re at it, look up your job number
Equifax also manages a database of 716 million revenues and labor registrationsincluding possibly yours. It’s called The Work Number and employers use it to make sure you are who you say you are.
Your Employment Data Report (EDR) includes things like where you worked, when you worked there, and your exact past payroll numbers.
TECH TIP: SAVE YOUR MEMORIES BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
Are you trying to get a new job? An employer can use your EDR to find your past salary range and hold you down during negotiations. And of course, Equifax sells your EDR to anyone who buys anything, including collection agencies.
Money smart: It’s not just bogus phone calls and emails that put your banking information at risk
How to stop it
That’s possible freeze your EDR just like a credit report. You can also see who has tried to access the data in the last two years. To do this you must create an account with The Work Number.
- Find your current or former employer(s) through them name or employer code (the nine-digit number on your W-2).
- Click on their name, followed by Register now. Please note: you will be asked for your citizen service number.
After you register, review your report and ensure it is accurate. Fill this in data dispute form if you find something strange.
A credit card is depicted next to a restaurant bill. (iStock)
Then go back to the dashboard and click Freeze your data. Fill the Freeze data posting form and submit it. The work number will send you a freeze confirmation letter, along with a PIN. Save your PIN in your password manager. You’ll need this if you ever want to unblock your report.
You can always log in to Het Werknummer or call to unblock your report.
If you cannot find your employer: They may not be registered with the work number. Call the Freezing Hotline at 1-800-367-2884 to double check.
Unless you are actively applying for a loan or benefits from the governmentor unless an employer is actively requesting your EDR, it’s a good idea to freeze it. And if a potential employer insists on checking your EDR to hire you, it may not be the right choice after all.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Become technology smarter on your schedule
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating technology.
Copyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.
