Posts
When is the last time you checked your credit report? The information it contains may matter more than ever in this digital age, and 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft looked into an alarming number of mistakes on the reports that can affect a consumer's entire financial life.
Find out how to make credit report disputes to the three major agencies. 60 Minutes: Experian Vs Transunion Vs Equifax "A mistake on your credit report can cost you money," Kroft noted, citing loan interest rates, car financing, mortgages, and even job searches or security clearances.
Like previously mentioned, identity theft is in fact the fastest growing crime in the United States today. The Federal Trade Commission reported that the number of identity theft occurrences exceeded over 9 million last year. Looking at it from more of a micro point of view, it is estimated that roughly 19 consumers will fall victim to this crime every minute. On the average, it is approximated that it will take the average casualty 500 dollars and upwards of 30 hours to straighten out each individual account where an identity theft has occurred. Unfortunately, research has revealed that it is becoming more and more ordinary for criminals to actually prey on the individuals that they are closest to, an uncle or a grandparent perhaps. The research also revealed that 20% of victims were exploited by a close friend, a neighbor or an in house employee. Usually only about 27% of identity theft happenings actually center around financial or credit card fraud. The more common forms here seem to center more around bank, employment, utility or phone fraud which actually account for roughly 50% of identity theft cases. On a more positive note here, it has been proven time and time again that if the criminal act of identity theft is caught in the early stages, the likelihood of any real significant financial damage becomes a lot less. Lastly, and on another positive note, lending agencies and financial institutions like banks, credit unions or creditors, will normally only hold the member accountable to pay back the initial 50 dollars of the criminal charges.
Make a few sacrifices, and you will find the extra dollars needed to increase your debt repayments dramatically. Those increased payments will save you hundreds, if not thousands, in interest payments. Plus, you will get out of the hole you've dug for yourself much more quickly. Is it fun? No. But it sure beats living a hand-to-mouth existence, fearing bills each month.
You will be afforded the opportunity here to review detailed and precise credit reports, as the credit monitoring service you sign up with will pull your information through the three major credit bureaus; TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.
60 Minutes: Fair Credit Reporting Act Mike DeWine, the Ohio attorney general, is investigating the credit reporting industry as well, and he thinks the findings are only going to make consumers more angry. He believes that the companies are violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
"If you believe that there is a mistake, you can go to them and they have an obligation to do a reasonable investigation. They're not doing a reasonable investigation," DeWine said. "They're not doing an investigation at all." Credit reporting agencies are being accused of stonewalling customers who are desperate to correct errors. DeWine said the problem isn't making mistakes, but a refusal to fix them.
60 Minutes: Credit Report Customer Service About eight million consumers file disputes every year, visiting the credit reporting websites to begin the process, if they can first navigate sales pitches for financial products offered by the companies. Steve Kroft called a customer service number and got a call center in India, where he was not given much help after a 15-minute phone call to a toll-free number. What about that post office box number? According to Kroft, "it's extremely unlikely that anyone with the authority to resolve your dispute will ever actually see it."
Find out how to make credit report disputes to the three major agencies. 60 Minutes: Experian Vs Transunion Vs Equifax "A mistake on your credit report can cost you money," Kroft noted, citing loan interest rates, car financing, mortgages, and even job searches or security clearances.
Like previously mentioned, identity theft is in fact the fastest growing crime in the United States today. The Federal Trade Commission reported that the number of identity theft occurrences exceeded over 9 million last year. Looking at it from more of a micro point of view, it is estimated that roughly 19 consumers will fall victim to this crime every minute. On the average, it is approximated that it will take the average casualty 500 dollars and upwards of 30 hours to straighten out each individual account where an identity theft has occurred. Unfortunately, research has revealed that it is becoming more and more ordinary for criminals to actually prey on the individuals that they are closest to, an uncle or a grandparent perhaps. The research also revealed that 20% of victims were exploited by a close friend, a neighbor or an in house employee. Usually only about 27% of identity theft happenings actually center around financial or credit card fraud. The more common forms here seem to center more around bank, employment, utility or phone fraud which actually account for roughly 50% of identity theft cases. On a more positive note here, it has been proven time and time again that if the criminal act of identity theft is caught in the early stages, the likelihood of any real significant financial damage becomes a lot less. Lastly, and on another positive note, lending agencies and financial institutions like banks, credit unions or creditors, will normally only hold the member accountable to pay back the initial 50 dollars of the criminal charges.
Make a few sacrifices, and you will find the extra dollars needed to increase your debt repayments dramatically. Those increased payments will save you hundreds, if not thousands, in interest payments. Plus, you will get out of the hole you've dug for yourself much more quickly. Is it fun? No. But it sure beats living a hand-to-mouth existence, fearing bills each month.
You will be afforded the opportunity here to review detailed and precise credit reports, as the credit monitoring service you sign up with will pull your information through the three major credit bureaus; TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.
60 Minutes: Fair Credit Reporting Act Mike DeWine, the Ohio attorney general, is investigating the credit reporting industry as well, and he thinks the findings are only going to make consumers more angry. He believes that the companies are violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
"If you believe that there is a mistake, you can go to them and they have an obligation to do a reasonable investigation. They're not doing a reasonable investigation," DeWine said. "They're not doing an investigation at all." Credit reporting agencies are being accused of stonewalling customers who are desperate to correct errors. DeWine said the problem isn't making mistakes, but a refusal to fix them.
60 Minutes: Credit Report Customer Service About eight million consumers file disputes every year, visiting the credit reporting websites to begin the process, if they can first navigate sales pitches for financial products offered by the companies. Steve Kroft called a customer service number and got a call center in India, where he was not given much help after a 15-minute phone call to a toll-free number. What about that post office box number? According to Kroft, "it's extremely unlikely that anyone with the authority to resolve your dispute will ever actually see it."
About the Author:
The indicated contributor is very knowledgeable on the subject matter of credit monitoring services. Please have a look at their blog for more relevant information.
Great blog post, informative list. Thanks so much. I’m enjoying devouring your site!!
ReplyDeleteCredit Reporting
It’s refreshing to read a good quality article for a change. You’ve made many interesting points and I agree. This has made me think and for that I thank you.
ReplyDeletesummer management program
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. Credit monitoring services
ReplyDelete