How to Add a Positive Account to a Credit Bureau
Adding paid-as-agree accounts to your credit report is a simple process that may improve your credit score. Your credit report probably won't reflect an accurate picture of your payment history if your accounts are not reported accurately. While most creditors supply information to the credit bureaus, some do not. Often, medical offices, local retailers, credit unions and gasoline creditors do not report credit history. Consider a few steps to take to add positive accounts to your credit report.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer with Internet access
- Credit report
- List of all debts (including account numbers, original and current balances, and monthly payments)
Instructions
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Get a current credit report. Go online to the official site to obtain your free online credit report from the three nationwide credit reporting agencies---Equifax, Experian and TransUnion---at AnnualCreditReport.com. Print the reports from all three credit bureaus.
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Compare your list of debts with each of the credit reports. Make sure there are no errors. If there are any inaccuracies, submit disputes online to each credit bureau. This will trigger an investigation and the credit-reporting agencies will have 30 days to verify your claims. When the investigation is complete, the credit bureaus will send you a corrected credit report.
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If you notice there are debts that do not appear on your credit report, contact each creditor and request the accounts be added to each of the three credit-reporting agencies. This might be a good time to ask for reduced interest rates and fees on your other accounts.
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Contact each of the three main credit reporting agencies and request that your unreported debts be added to your credit file. Keep copies of any correspondence and receipts, and never provide original documentation.
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Tips & Warnings
You can add a consumer statement on your credit report that might explain any negative accounts, omitted debts or clarifications. The statement remains on your credit report until you request its removal, and lenders might take your statement into consideration when granting credit. Also, keep the credit bureaus updated with your most current personal information.
Credit-reporting agencies are not required to add verifiable debts to your credit report and may do so at their discretion for a fee. Also, remember that not all creditors report to all three nationwide credit agencies.
