If your credit score means a lot to you, what do you do about it? Most likely you pay your bills on time, never get near your credit limits, and you work hard to pay off of your loans so you are debt free. Yet the credit report comes and you practically faint at their accusations. Your cousin who has the same first and last name has their credit report mixed with yours, someone from a different state is using your name to pay for their internet bill, and those concert tickets you bought when you were eighteen on your family credit card are still unpaid.
Sadly, individuals aside from you can play a factor in your credit report. There are many different ways this can happen - usually through identity theft or identification mistakes. No matter how bad the damage may seem, just relax and figure out exactly what is going on in the report.
If your credit report has been mixed up or intertwined with someone who has not kept up with payments; it is okay. This is something that happens to a lot of people and is a common mistake. When this happens it gives more reasons of why you should always apply to get credit reports on a more frequent basis. However when you are ready to get it sorted out; just pick out everything on the report that you did not do and dispute it.
The second big thing is the pre-adult credit cards. When you were in high school and your parents gave you a credit card with your name on it for gas and food - those concert tickets were never part of the deal. So instead of paying the bill, they cancel the card and those debts still linger. Now that comes back to haunt you. Do not be too concerned as these can be disputed and often times taken off with patience and time.
Your credit/identity has been stolen: Just like your cousin with the same name, that cable bill in another state may be a coincidence, especially if you have a common name. However, it is also possible that your identity has been stolen. In addition to disputing the charges on your credit report IMMEDIATELY, you should take some other actions.
A great way to start is to look at your bank account and your credit cards to check and see if anything has ever been taken out without your approval. Say you see something you did not buy or money you did not take out - contact the bank or card company immediately. That way you can put a stop to the withdrawals or spending and hopefully catch the person responsible.
If this happens or an identity mix up, sometimes it is best to file a report with your state and the FTC, or Federal Trade Commission. This ultimately shows the credit report agencies you mean business with their mistakes and want them corrected as soon as possible. Not only will it save you the trouble of dealing with the credit report agencies but it can also help other people who are suffering the same issues.
So now you know how other people can mangle your perfect credit score. What does it all mean? Overall, you should always be very cautious when talking about your finances and should keep your information and account data secure at all times. One small account number can lead to a world of problems; so be safe to keep your credit score safe.
Sadly, individuals aside from you can play a factor in your credit report. There are many different ways this can happen - usually through identity theft or identification mistakes. No matter how bad the damage may seem, just relax and figure out exactly what is going on in the report.
If your credit report has been mixed up or intertwined with someone who has not kept up with payments; it is okay. This is something that happens to a lot of people and is a common mistake. When this happens it gives more reasons of why you should always apply to get credit reports on a more frequent basis. However when you are ready to get it sorted out; just pick out everything on the report that you did not do and dispute it.
The second big thing is the pre-adult credit cards. When you were in high school and your parents gave you a credit card with your name on it for gas and food - those concert tickets were never part of the deal. So instead of paying the bill, they cancel the card and those debts still linger. Now that comes back to haunt you. Do not be too concerned as these can be disputed and often times taken off with patience and time.
Your credit/identity has been stolen: Just like your cousin with the same name, that cable bill in another state may be a coincidence, especially if you have a common name. However, it is also possible that your identity has been stolen. In addition to disputing the charges on your credit report IMMEDIATELY, you should take some other actions.
A great way to start is to look at your bank account and your credit cards to check and see if anything has ever been taken out without your approval. Say you see something you did not buy or money you did not take out - contact the bank or card company immediately. That way you can put a stop to the withdrawals or spending and hopefully catch the person responsible.
If this happens or an identity mix up, sometimes it is best to file a report with your state and the FTC, or Federal Trade Commission. This ultimately shows the credit report agencies you mean business with their mistakes and want them corrected as soon as possible. Not only will it save you the trouble of dealing with the credit report agencies but it can also help other people who are suffering the same issues.
So now you know how other people can mangle your perfect credit score. What does it all mean? Overall, you should always be very cautious when talking about your finances and should keep your information and account data secure at all times. One small account number can lead to a world of problems; so be safe to keep your credit score safe.
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