Anyone that is unconcerned with his or her credit score is probably not aware of the prevalence of credit card fraud and identity theft in the U.S
. today. Did you know that 75-80% of all credit files have errors or fraudulent charges listed?
How does this happen? These errors could be anything from a duplicate charge to a stolen credit card number. How many times has a person gone into a restaurant, left a receipt showing and had their card number stolen as a result? It happens more often than you think. This is why it's important to check your credit report more than once a year. When you work with a credit-reporting agency you are not limited to three free reports a year. Instead, you can check all three bureaus and other non-public databases several times a month or even a few times a week if you so desire.
What do you need to repair your own credit? You need to be aware of your informational resources. A credit repair software system could help you in this respect. The process of credit repair will involve writing dispute letters as well as negotiating with creditors individually. Financial discipline, planning and diligence will also be required. Remember that you have the right to request an investigation of any item on your credit rating. If the credit bureau cannot verify authorization, the item must be removed.
If you are making an attempt to fix your credit then you must be able to track your results and see your progress immediately. A credit-reporting agency can help you in this regard. When you have access to your file, you can place a fraud alert status on your credit report. Even if you cannot settle a dispute, you can add a letter to your report that shows new creditors your side of the unresolved issue.
Why not keep one step ahead of all those would-be credit thieves by taking an active interest in your credit report?