Is there any part of the free copy of my credit report that's more important than the rest?
For most of the cases when your credit is looked at, the most important part of your report is
the record of how you've paid your bills.
If my credit is being checked for a job or getting insurance, is the bill-paying history
in the free copy of my credit report still important?
People who check your credit need to project how you'll act in the future. And the main way
they have of doing this is to see how you've acted in the past. So if you've always paid your
bills completely and on time you've demonstrated you're a responsible person. And no matter
whether it's a job or a loan you're applying for, trustworthy people are always wanted.
I'm a responsible person but how do I keep bill-paying problems out of the free copy
of my credit report when they're not my fault?
The Fair Credit Billing Act establishes the rules to be followed when there is a problem with
a credit purchase. The purchase must be on an "open end" credit account such as a credit card
or a department store account. It doesn't apply to things bought on installment contracts like
a major appliance which has a fixed repayment schedule.
I got a product through the mail that didn't work right. I refused the charge and now
it shows up in the free copy of my credit report as delinquent. Why should I be penalized for
this?
If a product that you buy doesn't work properly or isn't the item you agreed to purchase, the
FCBA gives you the right to withhold payment as long as you've notified the creditor involved.
As with all legal matters you should make at least your initial communications in
writing(preferably certified letter) or you'll be in danger of losing your rights.
I have a couple of late payments in the free copy of my credit report. But because I got
the bills late, I couldn't get them back before the due date, so what can I do?
In order to pay your bills on time, creditors are required to send them at least 14 days before
they're due if there is a penalty for non-payment by the due date. They also must credit your
account on the day they receive your payment.
If I have a bill problem and I don't pay the bill while I'm trying to resolve it, won't
that show up as a delinquency in the free copy of my credit report and mess up my credit?
While there is a billing dispute in progress, the creditor can't report negative information
about the disputed item to credit agencies. And if the problem isn't resolved satisfactorily,
you have the right to explain your position in a 100-word statement included in your
credit report.
For a free copy of my credit report and free 30 days of credit monitoring, please go to
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