Understanding The Information In Your Credit Report

What kind of information is on a credit report?  If you’ve never seen a copy of one, the information provided on this quality-of- life impacting document is probably a mystery to you. 

COVER PAGE
- Your Name
- The Report Date
- The Report Number
- Address of the Credit Bureaus
- Federal Trade Commission Disclosures

CREDITORS AND COLLECTION AGENCIES
- Name and Address of Creditor or Collection Agency
- Partial Account Number to Protect From Identity Theft

TYPE AND RESPONSIBILITY
- Loan Type
- Who’s Responsible for the Loan

DATE OPEN AND DATE OF STATUS
- Account Open Date
- Date the Creditor or Collection Agency Reported Your First Payment to the Credit Bureau

REPORTED SINCE AND LAST REPORTED
- Date the Creditor First Reported Your Payment History
- The Last Date Your Status Was Reported

CREDIT LIMIT AND ORIGINAL AMOUNT
- Credit Limit on the Date Account was Opened

RECENT BALANCE AND HIGH BALANCE
- Your Most Recent Account Balance
- The Highest Balance You Had With the Trade Line.

STATUS AND ACCOUNT HISTORY
- Are Your Bills Current
- Account Closed or Paid
- Payment History.

COMMENTS
- Creditor Notes Who Closed the Account 
- Other Comments

HISTORY OF YOUR ACCOUNTS
- Your Account’s Paying History
- Your entire paying history since you opened the account,
- Each Account Held

RECORD OF REQUEST FOR YOUR CREDIT HISTORY
- Who Request to Evaluate Your Credit Report 
- Most companies looking at your information are your current creditors and collection agencies. 
- The Shared Inquiry Area - Companies Trying to Offer Pre-Approved Credit Applications 

PERSONAL INFORMATION
- Your name
- Address
- Date of Birth
- Telephone Number
- Co-Applicant’s Name
- Employer’s name

PUBLIC RECORDS
- Bankruptcies
- Judgements
- Tax Liens
- Civil Lawsuits
- Overdue Child Support Payments
- Criminal Records

THE REMAINDER OF YOUR CREDIT REPORT
- Addresses of Companies Requesting Your Report
- Federal Trade Commission Laws
- Contact Numbers
- Occasionally Dispute Forms