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Step 1
Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), you are entitled to a copy of your free credit report, once a year from the three major credit-reporting agencies. In addition, if you are denied credit anywhere, you are entitled to another free report within 30 days.
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Step 2
Contact TransUnion, Experian and Equifax online and order a personal credit report from all three. It pays to get all of your reports because errors might appear on one but not another. (See Resources below for links to your free credit report)
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Step 3
Go through the credit reports with a fine toothed comb. Look for accounts you never signed up for, even if there is no bad credit involved with them. They may be a sign of identity theft in progress.
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Step 4
Make a list of any mistakes you find and contact each credit-reporting agency through the dispute button provided.
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Step 5
Check back with the agencies if you hear nothing within 30 days. After that, write a snail-mail letter using their printed form and send it by certified mail.
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Step 6
Dispute mistakes repeatedly until they remove them. Some agencies seem to lose information in a black hole somewhere. Don’t give up. Your good credit is at stake.
Comments
Artsyvite said
on 8/14/2008 I'm glad you emphasize being persistent...it seems they're not as concerned about your credit as you are. Great article!
almondspecial said
on 8/10/2008 Good article final point is very important consitency is crucial.five *****
Tippy said
on 8/9/2008 Thanks for sharing.