Dear Experian,

I placed a security freeze on my account and have misplaced the PIN needed to temporarily remove the freeze. How do I get a replacement PIN?

- MCH

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Dear Experian,

Am I still liable for an account that I disputed and that was deleted from my credit report?

- MGB

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Dear Experian,

How long does ChexSystems information remain on file? Why does it prevent one from opening a CD, savings account or mutual fund?

- SHF

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Dear Experian,

Recently we were told my husband’s credit report with Experian was not reporting and that his credit score is not available. We received a message that says “Factor 9002, Risk Score not available due to model exclusion criteria.” What do we need to do to correct this?

- RCH

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Dear Experian,

I have a “Foreclosure was started” comment on my Experian report. We have made our payments on time for the last 30 months. What should the comment be changed to in order to show that we are no longer in foreclosure and that we are now current? I have seen “Paid Foreclosure.” Would that be accurate?

- RJP

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Dear Experian,

Will a period of unemployment hurt my credit scores?

- JNO

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Dear Experian,

Why was I turned down when I asked to remove my husband’s name from our electric bill and place it in my name instead? The electric company told me to contact Experian to see why there was a “hold.”

- SRH

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Dear Experian,

I disputed items on my credit report and they were deleted by the other credit reporting companies, but not Experian. The results say it was considered verified. How is it possible that there are different results? I know that these are errors. What steps should be taken?

- MSA

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Dear Experian,

If a family member were to open college savings accounts in my children’s names, would that appear on a credit report? I’ve had to deal with identity errors with my husband, and I’m concerned that my sister would do this using her address and mess up my kid’s identities.

- CLE

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Dear Experian,

I don’t have any open credit accounts, so how do I inform Experian of my new home address?

- VLK

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Dear Experian,

I just reviewed my credit report and found that a significant credit purchase was not listed. All my payments were made on time. Can this be reflected in my credit report?

- BLR

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Dear Experian,

Is there any way I can check my credit score without it hurting my score? How much does it hurt me to order my credit score?

- KWS

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Dear Experian,

Can I use my employer tax ID number to repair my damaged credit?

- KMR

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Dear Readers,

The threat of identity theft this tax season leaves consumers with more to worry about than whether or not a tax return is in the mail. A thief may use sensitive information, such as a Social Security number, to claim a fraudulent tax refund, open fraudulent credit cards or commit other criminal acts. It is especially important to protect the personal financial information found in your tax returns.

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Dear Experian,

I have an eviction on my credit report which is inaccurate. I have proof that it was paid. Every time I apply for an apartment I am denied because of this eviction on my record. I have ordered my credit reports and it does not appear on any of them, yet it’s on every tenant screening report. I would like to know how to have it removed.

- VLK

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Dear Experian,

I pay my credit cards off in full before the payment is due, yet my report shows a 60 percent utilization ratio. Why is this happening and how can I prevent this besides getting more available credit or not using my cards?

- RBR

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Dear Experian,

I have a dispute with a security alarm company. They have implied a contract extension on a policy that I did not approve. I have not made a payment on the policy since November 2012 and am concerned that they may eventually turn the balance over to collections, thus negatively affecting my credit, though they have not threatened such action yet.

Is there an arrangement I can make with the credit reporting companies that can prevent harm to my credit in the event that issues with this company escalate? That is, can I prevent them from damaging my credit history by reporting this unpaid balance? Or is my only option to pay them?

- JSS

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Dear Experian,

I am married for a second time. Can having my maiden name and two married names negatively affect my credit score? My “middle” score is 780 but I am trying to improve to 800 plus.

- TEV

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Dear Experian,

I am a cosigner and the secondary user on a credit card. I am not the primary user. I want my name removed from the account. I called the credit card company, and they will not remove me. Is there a way to remove my name? The primary user tried also, and they still won’t do it.

- WKN

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Dear Experian,

I have been married for many years and have always had credit with my husband. If I ever need to apply for credit on my own, will I be able to get approved based on the good credit I have had with him?

- EDD

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Dear Experian,

If an account is “charged off” and sold to collection agency, how can both accounts be used against you? My credit report shows two negative accounts. I owed $1,900, but now one account shows the original amount owed and a separate account shows $2,300 owed to a collection agency. Will both accounts stay on my report for seven years? The original account was four years ago, but the collection is only three months old.

- VNW

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Tweet Dear Readers, Consumers have reported receiving automated calls asking for their Social Security numbers and other personal information in order to opt out of marketing mailing lists. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm [...]

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Dear Experian,

Do creditors have any obligation to notify you directly of an impending report of a late payment other than a monthly statement?

- BNF

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Dear Experian,

Last year, I disputed an account with you and the other CRAs. About a month after the dispute, you and the other CRAs deleted that item off my credit reports. Now the company that placed that erroneous account is attempting to sue me. Can I request a document from you and the other CRAs validating that the account was deleted?

- AFG

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Dear Experian,

If an account is paid off/closed, settled, or charged off, why would it still be showing as potentially negative? Is there any way to get these removed so they no longer affect me negatively?

- JNG

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