How to Add History Accounts to My Credit Score
- 1). Order your credit report for free. Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA), consumers can receive one free report per year from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Order the report at the bureau's website or at the website Congress established under FACTA, annualcreditreport.com
- 2). Look over your report. Read the "Accounts Section" to ascertain exactly which accounts are reporting each month. Also check the "Personal Information" section to ensure that your name and Social Security number are listed correctly.
- 3). Call your creditor if that company's credit account doesn't appear on your credit report. Have your account number and other identifying information handy. Keep in mind that a creditor may not report to all three bureaus; some only report to one.
- 4). Inform the creditor that you account history was not reported to the credit bureau. Ask what their reporting practices are when it comes to the bureaus. Failure to report your account may have been an error on their part.
- 5). Ask the creditor to make a one time report of your information if the company doesn't normally report to the bureaus. It is within their discretion to do so or not. If the company agrees to make a one-time report on your behalf under these circumstances, remember that the account data will not update, therefore you should only add accounts with a positive payment history.
- 6). File a dispute with the credit bureau in the future once a major change occurs with the account: payoff to zero balance or an increase in credit limit. The bureau will investigate your claim, contact the creditor then update your account to reflect the current status of the account. Positive, periodic updates on the account can help increase your credit score, especially if there is a decreasing balance.
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