CREDIT EDUCATION

What is a credit report?

credit report can be broken down into 6 parts.

credit bureau report

What is a credit report used for?

A credit report is used to determine the amount of risk in lending you money. The level of risk is determined by 6 main factors and calculated into a credit score.

The most commonly used score is the FICO score, created by the Fair Isaac Company. This score ranges from 300 – 850, the higher the score, the less of a risk you are, and the lower the score the higher the risk.

From the lender’s point of view, the lower your score is, the more likely you are to default on a loan. So they will be less likely to approve you for a loan, or if they do approve you, the interest rate charged on the loan will be very high because it’s a riskier investment for them.

Think of it this way, if you want to invest your money you can put the money into a savings account or buy some stocks. The interest rate for the savings account will be low because it’s a very low risk investment; you are basically guaranteed a return.

But, if you invest your money into the stock market, you will want a higher return on your investment because the risk of loss is so high.

Banks look as us in pretty much the same way and if you want to pay a lower interest rate and save some money, you have to show the bank that you are a low risk investment.

Currently, the only way to do that is to have a high credit score.

Ultimately, it’s all about stability, we’ll discuss this later on.

Note: There are different types of FICO scores, Mortgage companies use the Classic FICO Score, Auto Lenders use the FICO Auto Industry Option Score. The difference is quite simple, the Classic FICO Score ranks previous mortgage accounts a little higher than all other accounts. And the Auto Industry Option Score puts more weight on previous auto loans than other accounts.

Who maintains Credit Reports?

Credit Reports are maintained by the Credit Reporting Agencies, also known as Credit Bureaus. Although most people think that there are 3 credit bureaus, there are actually a lot more than that. The 5 biggest credit reporting agencies are listed below.

credit reporting agencies

Where can I get a FREE Credit Report?

There are several websites that advertise free credit reports. Most of these sites are actually owned by the credit bureaus themselves, but still require a credit card and a subscription to give you access to credit reports. Here is a list of websites where you can access your credit reports for free. You can also access your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, the government mandated site which allows you access to a free credit report from each credit bureau annually.

What is a Credit Score?

A credit score is a number which is calculated based on the information in a person’s credit report. The credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of that person. Find out more about Credit Scores.

Understanding a Credit Report

Credit Reports can be confusing and difficult to understand, especially with industry specific terminology and codes.

Use our Credit Report Terminology, Credit Report Special Messages, and Credit Repair Codes Chart to help you better understand your Credit History.

And If you need additional help, call us at 800-750-1416 and one of our Credit Consultants will be happy to answer all of your questions.

Why hire a professional to fix your credit?

credit repair

The same reason you hire a professional to fix your car, plumbing, or your air conditioner.

Because they have the knowledge and experience to do it right.

Since 1997, we have helped thousands of our clients remove millions of derogatory accounts from their credit reports and improve their credit scores.

Here are 5 reasons to hire a credit repair service to improve your credit scores.

Is Credit Firm the right credit repair company for you?

Check here.

If you decide that we’re a good fit you can get started here.