Step 7 – Understand Credit Bureaus

What is a Credit Bureau?

Credit bureaus are private companies that keep track of all the credit cards and loans that you have had in the past seven to ten years. Credit bureaus do not judge whether you have good credit or bad credit. They just collect the information and share it with people who are in the business of lending money. It is the lender (or creditor) who will decide if you have a good or a bad credit history.

Order Your Credit Reports

NOTE: As of March 1, 2005 in Ohio and June 1, 2005 in Florida , individuals are entitled to one free merged credit report per year.

Log on to www.annualcreditreport.com to order your copy, call 1-877-322-8228, or write to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105283, Atlanta, GA 30348-5283.

To find out information on disputing or correcting information in your credit report file contact the nationwide consumer credit reporting company that provided the credit report.

For more information click here to view the tool Order Credit Reports