Explaining what a credit report is and why it is important
Posted on Dec 22 2010 by experian.team
You may still be liable for balance owed on deleted account
Just because an account no longer appears in your credit report does not mean you no longer are responsible for paying it.
Debit bureau reports not a part of your Experian credit report
ChexSystems is a type of consumer reporting agency called a debit bureau.
Defining “potentially negative, closed”
Posted on Dec 22 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Does “potentially negative, closed” mean the account was paid?
- MLL
Cosigning mortgage for daughter can impede access to future credit
Posted on Dec 22 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I cosigned on a mortgage loan for my daughter. My credit report shows this as my mortgage, even though I am not making payments. Does this reflect on my credit if I want to take out a loan in the future? And if it does, what can I do about it?
- ZIM
Inquiry for credit line increase could impact scores, but is not the only issue
Posted on Dec 22 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
If I ask for a credit line increase on my credit card, part of the credit card process is to do a credit check with Experian. Does this type of credit inquiry affect my credit score?
- RYC
Why both creditors appear on your report after a loan is sold
Posted on Dec 08 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
One creditor sold an account to another. Why are they both showing up on my credit report?
- DSH
Why you can’t retrieve a credit score from last year
Posted on Dec 08 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Can I see what my score is now and what it was last year?
- LOU
The impact of using 99% of your available credit before applying for a mortgage
Posted on Dec 08 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I was looking at my credit report online and it showed that I am using 99 percent of the credit available to me. What does that mean? Also, I know that I have one student loan that is at almost $60,000. How much effect is that going to have on me if I am trying to get a home loan?
- RAH
You don’t need a textbook to learn how to read your credit report
Posted on Dec 08 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Do you have online booklets explaining how you can read a credit report?
- ECL
Never send debt payments to credit reporting companies
Posted on Nov 24 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
How and where can I repay or pay on a debt that’s on my credit report?
- TCP
Bankruptcy has greatest impact on scores, collections a close second
Posted on Nov 24 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
What is worse, having several credit cards in collection or having a bankruptcy on your credit report?
- JUA
Rebuilding credit after job loss
Posted on Nov 24 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I lost my job two years ago and have had a bad patch paying my bills. My credit score dipped substantially. I managed to get on plans with my late accounts and am on track to be debt free in about three years. Can my score ever improve?
- THO
Why high school students do not have a “beginning credit score”
Posted on Nov 24 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I teach seniors in high school. They want to know what a beginning credit score would be if you’ve just turned 18 and you are applying for your first credit card.
- RRY
Preventing stolen checks from impacting your credit report
Posted on Nov 10 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
About a year ago my checkbook was stolen. Whomever it was stolen by has continuously written bad checks in many places. I filed a police report and closed my bank account one week after I discovered my missing checkbook. I was honestly unaware that this would affect my credit report. How do I get all this fixed?
- CKE
Getting your personal report does not affect credit scores
Posted on Nov 10 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Does it affect my credit score if I pull my own credit report more than twice a month?
- LAK
Paying off all debts will help scores in the long run
Posted on Nov 10 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I was told by a realtor that paying off everything on my report will cause my score to drop. Is this true?
- STM
Canadian credit history will not transfer to the United States
Posted on Oct 27 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Will my Canadian credit history transfer to the USA?
- ERS
Tax identification numbers do not replace a Social Security number
Posted on Oct 27 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I do not have a Social Security number. Instead, I have an EIN number. Does the EIN number replace a Social Security number when placing a fraud alert?
- NKO
Fraud alerts do not interfere with making credit card purchases
Posted on Oct 27 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Am I able to use my credit cards with a fraud alert?
- AJL
Pre-paid cards will not help credit scores
Posted on Oct 27 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Is there a pre-paid credit card company that I can use to help improve my credit score?
- MBM
How to remove a fraud victim statement from your credit report
Posted on Oct 13 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Can I cancel a fraud victim statement so I’m not asked a billion questions anymore when I apply for a loan?
- RST
How to dispute information in your credit report
Posted on Oct 13 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
How do you dispute something on your credit report?
- ONT
Secured credit card could help build a positive credit history
Posted on Oct 13 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Will a secured credit card establish and built a credit score for my 19-year-old son?
- WND
Deciding whether to cosign a car loan for your son or daughter
Posted on Oct 13 2010 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
My son has less than perfect credit but was told by his bank he could get a car loan with a co-signer. I have extremely high scores and do not want them lowered for any reason under my control. Assuming all of his loan payments are made on time and the loan always remains current, will this negatively affect my credit scores?
- BOA
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.
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