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Full account numbers not shown on your personal report
Dear Experian,
I see that your report displays my bank account number, as well as several current account numbers for credit cards, etc. Does anyone who requests a credit report on me see all this personal information?
- GNG
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It’s free to dispute information
Dear Experian,
We want to fix our credit report, but when we called Experian we were told that we would have to pay money for it. Why do you say on your website that it is free to fix credit reports?
- PSL
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Medical collection accounts and your credit report
Dear Experian,
Can a collection agency sell your medical debt to another collection agency in order to keep it on your credit report when it’s coming close to the seven year mark?
- BTL
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“Requests viewed only by you” do not affect credit scores
Dear Experian,
On my credit report in the section “Requests for your credit history summary,” there is a “Requests viewed only by you” section. One creditor has about 62 requests in the past two years, and I don’t have an account with them. Does this affect my credit score every time they check my credit? Or, is this just for their records to send me offers and does not affect me? I did not apply for a credit card from them ever.
- JYG
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Mortgage application denied because of inactive credit history
Dear Experian,
How can I get my credit file updated? I have paid off two loans and made every payment on time. However, when I tried to get preapproved for a home loan I was told my credit report was inactive because there has been no change to my report in six months.
- PAT
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Lender may check credit report after car is repossessed
Dear Experian,
Why is my old creditor pulling my credit report? I had a car that I could not afford after being laid off. I ended up giving the car back and my account was charged off. I have no open accounts with them, so why are they pulling my credit report one year later?
- CLU
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“Missing accounts” might not be reported by your lenders
Dear Experian,
There are four accounts missing on my report, and the one account listed has the wrong creditor’s name on the account. What can I do to correct this?
-TMM
Lack of mortgage loan listed as credit score risk factor
Dear Experian,
I was looking at my credit report and it stated, “You do not have a mortgage account in good standing.” What does this mean? I do not own a house.
- JKL
On-time cell phone payments are not currently reported
Dear Experian,
If I have a two year contract with a cell phone company, and if I pay my cell phone bill on time in full every month until the contract is up, does that build my credit score?
- CMR
Student loans reported as “claim filed with government”
Dear Experian,
My student loans were consolidated into a new loan. My old student loans now state “closed/paid collection” and, “Claim filed with government for insured portion of balance on loan.” Does this negatively impact my credit scores? I see “potential negative account” on all of the old loans. Can I get these old student loans removed to improve my credit scores?
- JNN
How consolidated student loans will appear in your credit report
Dear Experian,
I recently consolidated my student loans with one vendor, but all my other accounts still appear on my credit report. It says it has been transferred, but I would like to know if I can remove those accounts from my report since they are counting as open installment loans.
-SCB
Tax liens in your credit report
Dear Experian,
How long do public tax liens stay on your report after they have been released?
- SVB
The difference between Chapter 13 bankruptcy and Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Dear Experian,
What is the main difference between a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and a Chapter 7 bankruptcy? Also, how do the two types affect your credit rating differently?
- SRD
Inquiries can be removed only if fraudulent
Dear Experian,
Can inquiries be removed from your credit report?
-VNT
Removing an incorrect address in your credit report
Dear Experian,
You have me listed at an address I have never lived at. How is this removed?
-DNW
Cosigning a loan could affect your ability to get credit in the future
Dear Experian,
Will cosigning a student loan hurt my chances of receiving a car loan in the future?
-SWK
Credit scores not impacted by employer listing or income
Dear Experian,
It appears all three credit reporting agencies had listed my employer incorrectly. What impact does my correct employment and earnings have on my credit rating?
-RCH
Moving from Canada to the U.S.
Dear Experian,
I moved to the U.S. in January 2012 from Canada. I obtained a Social Security number and got a secured credit card, and I was lucky enough to get a car loan. I have been paying both accounts on time every time. This all occurred in February and March and still I have no credit report. When can I expect to have a credit report? I tried today, and Experian is still not showing any information for me.
-BMR
Paying off closed or charged off accounts
Dear Experian,
Does paying off a closed or charged off account raise your credit scores?
-TYC
Lifting a credit freeze to apply for credit
Dear Experian,
I do not want to lift my security freeze but want to apply for a new credit card. Is that possible to do without lifting the freeze?
-HPD
Lowering credit limits can hurt credit scores
Dear Experian,
I have heard that requesting lower credit limits can hurt your credit scores. Is this true?
-MMB
Removing ex-spouse’s name from your credit report
Dear Experian,
I just got my credit report, and I see my ex-husband listed as my husband. We are already divorced. What can I do in this case? I have never paid any bill late, and my credit score is low. I want to make sure his credit is not affecting me.
- MTR
Application declined because credit score can’t be calculated
Dear Experian,
I am trying to get a loan and am being denied because your company won’t list a score on me. Why?
- LRT
About Ask Experian
Welcome to Ask Experian, hosted by Maxine Sweet, Experian's Vice President of Public Education. The blog responses draw on the knowledge of Experian's experts in credit reporting, credit scoring, direct marketing, automotive history, identity theft and other areas from across the company to answer readers' questions about these and other important topics.