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What’s in a Report?
A credit report includes a variety of information, much of which is obtained through credit applications you've completed in the past. That's why it's important to write clearly and fill out forms consistently.
What’s included in your credit report:
Identification Information
- Your name
- Your current address and telephone number
- Your previous address(es)
- Your marital status (and spouse's name, if applicable)
- Your Social Security number
- Your date of birth
Employment History (may be included)
- Your current job and employer
- Your past jobs and employers
Credit Status
Details about your credit accounts, supplied by the companies you do business with, including your:
- Total balance, credit line, monthly payments, etc.
- Record of any payments that are 30, 60, 90 days late
- Notice of more serious delinquency information (such as 120 or 150 days past due)
- Indication of any account repossessions, foreclosures, collections, or charge-offs
- Notification of "individual" vs. "joint" account status
Note: If an overdue account balance is paid at a later time, the "past due" information about that account remains on file.
Public Records
There may also be information supplied by federal, state, and county courts, such as:
- Notice of tax liens, judgments, collections, and bankruptcies
- Notice of overdue child support (depending on the state)
Note: Though most negative information on your file lasts for seven years, a notice of bankruptcy, depending on the type, can remain for up to 10 years.
What Information Is NOT Included in Your Report?
Your credit report contains information strictly related to your credit background. It would not contain personal information such as:
- Your personal income, bank balances, or assets
- Your race or national origin
- Your gender
- Your religion
- Your driving record
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Credit applications you make may affect your credit profile.
Your credit report also includes the number of times lenders have obtained your credit reports because you applied for credit. Too many "inquiries" in a short period of time may give the appearance that you're considered a higher credit risk by lenders. Be sure to carefully monitor how frequently you request credit.
Credit offers you receive won’t affect your credit profile.
When lenders send you pre-approved or prescreened offers of credit, a "promotional" or "silent" inquiry must be added to your credit file. This differs from a regular inquiry, which notes that you sought a loan, because in this case, you did not request the offer of credit. Only you and the credit bureaus can see these silent inquiries, so they do not affect your ability to obtain loans.
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