Lowering credit limits can hurt credit scores
Posted on Oct 10 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I have heard that requesting lower credit limits can hurt your credit scores. Is this true?
-MMB
Why closing a credit card can hurt your credit scores
Closing an account causes your overall utilization rate to increase. As a result, your credit scores my decrease.
Balance on collection account may not be updated until it is paid in full
Once an account is charged off and/or sent to collections, it is considered a “final” status, and will show the amount that was written off as a loss.
Removing ex-spouse’s name from your credit report
Posted on Sep 26 2012 by experian.team
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
Posted on Sep 26 2012 by experian.team
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
Collection account added after declining settlement offer
Posted on Sep 26 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
A debt collector contacted me about a debt that isn’t on my credit report. If I don’t pay him the settlement offer he proposed, can he then add the account to my report?
- RBL
New spouse’s old debt won’t hurt your credit scores
Posted on Sep 26 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
If I have a very good credit score and I marry someone with a bad credit score and previous debt, does that affect my credit score?
- DTR
Eviction is not shown on a credit report
Posted on Sep 12 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
How long does it take for an eviction to show up on your credit report?
- PHF
Executor of an estate can obtain the deceased’s credit report
Posted on Sep 12 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I am the personal representative for my brother’s estate. I’m trying to identify his active credit accounts so that I can compile a list of creditors for the estate. Is it possible for the estate executor to order a credit report for the deceased?
- NJN
Individuals cannot report their own accounts
Posted on Sep 12 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
How do I submit payment history for an account not listed on my credit report, therefore, adding a new account?
- CRT
Impact of having a repossession reinstated
Posted on Sep 12 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
If you have a repossession and then a reinstatement, does the reinstatement help your credit scores?
- CBN
Declined because “the amount of revolving balances is too high”
Posted on Aug 29 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I would like to clean up my credit, but want to know if it is beneficial to close revolving credit accounts that I am not using or will never use again or if I should leave them open. I have never missed a payment on multiple accounts and usually pay more than the minimum payment due. However, I was recently denied increases in limits as well as declined for new accounts. The reason given was “the amount of revolving balances on credit report is too high.”
- HST
Recent college graduate may not have a credit report
Posted on Aug 29 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
What should I do if I cannot be found in your system? I am trying to obtain a credit report since I have just graduated college and would like to start building credit.
- AGB
Medical collection accounts can be part of a credit report
Posted on Aug 29 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
On my credit report there are two collection items. One says Medical Payment Data. The other just says Emergency Physician. I need their contact information, such as address and phone, so I can get in touch with them. Can you please help?
- NYW
The meaning of “derogatory public record”
Posted on Aug 29 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
My credit score states “time since derogatory public record or collection is too short.” What is a “derogatory public record”?
- JTR
Discharged bankruptcy will still affect credit scores
Posted on Aug 15 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Once a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is discharged, will it still affect my credit score?
- ADZ
“Foreclosure” worse than “paid for less than full balance” but not much
Posted on Aug 15 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Which has a more negative effect on my credit score, “Account Paid In Full For Less Than the Full Balance” or “Foreclosure”?
- ZPT
Revolving accounts paid in full and closed but still showing on report
Posted on Aug 15 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
All my credit cards are paid in full and closed but still showing revolving on my credit history. I want to clean up my credit history. What steps do I need to follow?
- SHS
Account reported for first time shows it is 90 days late
Posted on Aug 15 2012 by experian.team
Account reported for first time shows it is 90 days late
Dear Experian,
In what instance does a credit profile reflect a 90 day late when it never reflected a 30 or 60 day late? Is it possible to just be 90 days delinquent without first being 30 or 60?
- ADC
It is possible to owe debts not on your credit report
Posted on Aug 01 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Everything shows on the credit report right? Every debt you owe? I currently have two debt collectors harassing me claiming I owe them money and threatening to sue me. But when I look on my report, there is nothing that is open against me. How do I get them to send me actual proof that I owe?
- JYG
Actions to take after receiving a security breach notification
Posted on Aug 01 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I work for a school district and its information has been hacked. They advised us to contact the credit companies. What I should do to protect myself? They are not sure how much information was stolen, and the hackers are threatening to release the information to the public. Please tell me what I need to do.
- AAD
Notifying other credit reporting companies about dispute results
Posted on Aug 01 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I used your system to dispute an error on my credit report. I received the confirmation back that the error has been deleted. Do I now have to go to the other credit reporting companies to dispute or will Experian notify them so they will remove the error?
- JPH
Qualifying for new credit when you have no credit history
Posted on Aug 01 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I have no credit score and am unable to get credit for a car loan. How do I get a credit score? I have my own apartment and am paying all utilities. Will that help? If so how long does it take, or where should I start?
- KNY
Secured credit card application denied, but not by Experian
Posted on Jul 18 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
In order to establish credit, I recently deposited $500 into a checking account and applied for a secured credit card. I received a letter from Experian stating that the secured credit card application was denied based on my past credit history. If the credit card is secured by the money in the account, why is my past credit history being considered by Experian?
- KDH
Employers, credit scores and freezing your credit file
Posted on Jul 18 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
Can a prospective employer get a credit score on me if I have a security freeze, or do I need to remove the security freeze?
- ARJ
Deciding whether to close paid off accounts
Posted on Jul 18 2012 by experian.team
Dear Experian,
I have four accounts that have a limit of $300 each. I have had these accounts for years. I would like to know if I should close them once I pay them off. I am concerned that having credit cards with low credit limits is negatively affecting me.
- JLD
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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