http://creditrepairnow.net/check-your-credit-score-regularly/
You are more likely to notice problems and inconsistencies if you check your credit score on a regular basis. At the minimum, you should check it once a year; however, three times a year is ideal. Also ensure that you check your credit rating with each credit bureau: TransUnion, Equifax, & Experian. If you notice anything odd or anything you don't recognize, such as a charge account you did not open, report it immediately. In addition, you may want to consider purchasing identity theft protection.
Sometimes these errors are caused by mistakes made at the credit bureau, but they could be an indication that someone is using your identity. In either ease, such mistakes can damage your credit report. Fixing these errors is crucial to improving your credit score. If you think you have been thc victim of identity theft, take these actions at once:
1) Contact the three major credit bureaus and ask to speak with the fraud department. Explain that you believe you have been the victim of identity theft and ask that an alert be placed on your file. This will let anyone looking at your report know that you may have been the victim of fraud. You will also be alerted any time someone looks at your file (lenders or criminals).
If you have an alert on your report, and a lender is suspicious that the person applying for credit is not you, they will deny the request. If it was a criminal trying to access your credit score, or take out credit in your name, this will prevent them from being able to do so. Most alerts on your report last 90 to 180 days, but you can extend this period to several years by asking the credit agencies for an extension of the "fraud alert" in writing.
You can even ask for a freeze to be placed on your credit score and credit report. This will prevent anyone but yourself and authorized creditors from accessing your file. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you feel that you have been the victim of identity theft. Be sure to take advantage of this offer so that you can check exactly how your credit has been affected.
2) Call the Federal Trade Commission (if you are in the U.S.). The number for the FTC is 1-877-438-4338. This is the special hotline that the FTC has set up to help customers deal with fraud and identity theft. You will be able to obtain up-to-date information about your rights, and advice about what you can do to improve your credit score and keep it safe in the future.
3) Contact the police. Identity theft is a crime and you need to file a report with the police (be sure to keep a copy of this report) so that you can help the police catch the criminals responsible. Contacting the police will also provide you with a paper trail and proof that a crime has been committed. Keeping a record of the crime will make it easier for you to repair your credit if it has been damaged by identity theft.
4) Contact any creditors the identity thieves have opened an account with. Ask to speak to the security department and explain your problem. You may need to close your accounts, or at least change your passwords to protect yourself.
You may also need to fill out a fraud affidavit to state that a crime has been committed. Be sure to keep a copy of this form for your records. Your creditor's security department can further advise you as to what you can do. Be sure to note who you contacted, and when, so that you have records of the steps you took to deal with the crime.
If you can prove that you have been the victim of identity theft and you are in debt as a result, you will not be held responsible for the charges. It is a frustrating experience because lenders will want to be paid and you will want to avoid paying for charges you did not make. Being persistent and keeping proof that you have been the victim of a crime will help to clear your credit score. In the meantime, you will unfortunately be faced with a much lower credit rating than you deserve and may have to put off larger purchases that require a loan.
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Create An Action Plan To Improve Your Credit Scoreby CreditScoreRepair30 views
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