Improving your credit score: an all access look Nov 13, 2008
Toppelberg claims more than every three in four credit reports have a major error in them ... For information on how to access your three free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus click here. (KSLA.com, LA)
Social Security numbers go on Web Nov 13, 2008
In response, the firefighters union wants the parish to finance at least a year of monitoring firefighters' credit reports for signs of identity theft. Parish President Aaron Broussard's administration called the incident a clerical error that was corrected as soon as it was discovered. (Nola.com -- Sports)
Air marshals' crimes raise hiring questions Nov 13, 2008
Because air marshals receive top-secret security clearances, background checks are supposed to include criminal history searches going back 10 years, credit reports and interviews with relatives, neighbors and employers. Checks are conducted by the federal Office of Personnel Management, a separate agency, which forwards results to the Air Marshal Service. (USA Today)
Top mistakes home buyers make Nov 12, 2008
2: ignoring your credit score: One consumer group says 80% of credit reports contain errors-- some serious enough to impact your interest rate on a home loan. And #1 on smartmoney. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR -- Business)
More on Savings Bonds & Credit Repair Nov 11, 2008
Make the time to order your credit reports and fill out the simple form to dispute inaccuracies yourself ... Just go to , the government Web site set up to help you order your free credit reports from the big three credit bureaus. (ABC News -- Business)
Students to learn about transition to adult world Nov 11, 2008
The sessions will offer information about credit reports and managing finances, how to get the right training for the career path being considered, the advantages of a community college, apprenticeship programs, and how to not succeed in college and in life. In addition, all students will attend Entrepreneurship 101, where guest speakers with real life experience will offer advice on communication and problem-solving skills, and how such skills can be developed and used in all areas of life. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Bliss-building Money Tips for Newlyweds Nov 9, 2008
Look up your credit reports and scores together, and determine if you'll be better protected by joining your accounts or keeping them separate. 3. (Pekin Times, IL)
Managing Your Credit Scores Nov 8, 2008
Otherwise, you would have to go online, get all three CRA consumer credit reports, and dispute them by mail on via the internet. This will take several weeks, maybe months. (Suite101.com)
Restaurants computer hacked Nov 7, 2008
The restaurant advises customers who used their credit card at the restaurant between June 19 and Oct. 3 to check all statements for the card used at Sweetwaters to identify unauthorized transactions and to review the credit reports maintained by the nationwide consumer reporting agencies over the next 12 to 24 months. Each year a free report from Equifax, Experian or TransUnion is available. (The Business Journal of Portland, OR)
Clients' data missing, Harvard Law warns Nov 6, 2008
As a precaution, the law school will pay for a credit-monitoring service for one year for those whose Social Security numbers were on the tape and reimburse clients who order a security freeze on their credit reports. To prevent a similar occurrence in the future, the law school is encrypting the center's computer servers and backup tapes for a higher level of protection beyond the password. (Boston Globe)
How Mortgage Lenders Review Credit Nov 6, 2008
Dispute and Fix Inaccurate Credit Reports Fast. Any items that should not be on your credit reports can be remedied with documentation that proves otherwise from the court, creditor, or collection agency involved. (Suite101.com)
Electronic Privacy Information Center: Privacy Nov 5, 2008
Congressional proposals to increase wiretapping, revise government guidelines on investigating domestic political groups and obtain easier access to credit reports and transactional information ... What the FTC has done (or not done) on protecting privacy on the net and with credit reports. (Yahoo News -- Online Privacy)
Sweep by FTC nets RCA Credit Nov 5, 2008
RCA is one of the targets of Operation Clean Sweep, a federal investigation of businesses the FTC alleges were making false and misleading statements, including they can improve credit reports by removing negative information. RCA and most of the companies the FTC named Oct. 24 conducted operations on the Internet, said agency spokesman Frank Dorman. (Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL)
Things to know about your credit score Nov 2, 2008
Your FICO score is calculated using the information in your credit reports ... Credit reports show a few examples of the types of information that the credit bureaus collect, such as your credit accounts, how many times lenders have requested information about your credit (Inquiries), and how many times lenders have turned your account over to a collection agency (Collections) ... For example, having a mix of credit types on your credit reports credit cards, installment loans such as mortgage or... (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Consumer Reports Survey Finds One-Third of Americans Say They Are Worse Off Financially Than a Year Ago Oct 31, 2008
CR's advice: If your credit score is below 720, try to boost it by paying down other debt and correcting any errors on your credit reports. Save for a bigger down payment. (PR Newswire)
Contenders count down to Assembly elections Oct 31, 2008
As chair of the consumer affairs committee alone, Pheffer has helped reform or create major state laws, such as those regarding identity theft, debt practices, lemon laws for cars, free credit reports and child safety. In addition to talking up her credentials, Pheffer told voters that difficult times are here and she s the one best to handle them. (Queens Chronicle, NY)
The Importance of the Tenant Selection Process Oct 30, 2008
You look at the credit reports, the background checks, the cash flow form, and anything else that you have that you accumulated in the paperwork process to put a nice puzzle together and see what kind of picture you can develop on these people. The conversations you have with these people are going to open up stories. (RealtyTimes)
Tightened credit terms could hurt credit scores Oct 30, 2008
Right now, companies can raise rates or lower limits based on information that shows up on credit reports, such as taking out new loans or defaults on other cards - whether or not such activity had an impact on your credit score. Some credit card companies have already stopped engaging in such practices. (AZCentral -- Business)
McCain's health care numbers don't add up Oct 28, 2008
Then they could set their own fees and accept or refuse patients based on credit reports ... " true cubbies ELECTIVE procedures have a wait in Canada but to sy they don't in the USA is totally incorrect. You neglect to add the many weeks patients wait to get into their specialist to get that MRI order in the first place. Now, on the other hand talk to PATIENTS in Canada and their story is the real story...they have no complaints with their health care system and will tell you they don't have the... (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Police detail local identity theft problem Oct 28, 2008
By , Staff Writer Monday, October 27, 2008. Event speakers focus on crime prevention, awareness. (Coos Bay-North Bend The World, OR)
LETTERS: NCT, Oct. 25, 2008 Oct 26, 2008
Stop stigmatizing credit reports. I have submitted this idea to the Obama campaign, Larry King, etc. (North County Times)
Getting A Car Loan In A Tough Economy Oct 26, 2008
Consumer credit experts say shoppers should check their credit reports for accuracy, and correct any errors before they apply for a loan. They also recommend buyers explore alternative financing to that provided by dealers. (W-USA News, DC)
ID theft top consumer issue Oct 25, 2008
Parsons urged purchasing a shredder to destroy information that contains personal identifying information and checking credit reports once a year, and more often if large purchases will be made ... Checking credit reports from all three credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion will allow consumers to stay on top of what is being placed on their credit reports. (Sealy News, TX)
FTC sweep includes Largo business Oct 25, 2008
RCA claims on its Web site to be able for fees ranging from $500 to $3,000 to boost credit scores and remove negative credit information from credit reports. Reader Comments. (Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL)
Casper briefs Oct 25, 2008
The program will include a talk show called "Credit: myth or truth" to help teens learn about credit problems, credit reports, credit cards, and the differences between debit and credit in a fun and inclusive atmosphere. . (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)
Seven Common Credit Myths Dispelled Oct 22, 2008
Myth: Reviewing any one of my three credit reports occasionally will tell me everything I need to know about my credit standing ... You should, instead, check all three of your credit reports and scores frequently throughout the year because the information and scores contained in each of those reports can vary at any given point in time ... Myth: Closing old credit card accounts will clean up your credit reports. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
How to Rescore a Low Credit Rating Oct 22, 2008
The problem is that 90 percent of credit reports contain incorrect information, and if your credit report is wrong, then your credit score is probably wrong, too. Credit rescoring is only available through lenders when you take out a mortgage or refinance. (ABC News)
National Protect Your Identity Week Oct 21, 2008
Check credit reports at least once a year to make sure all information is accurate. Only use secure and trusted sites for online shopping. (Suite101.com)
Identity theft nations fastest-spreading crime Oct 20, 2008
The site is a centralized location where consumers can request free credit reports, created by the nation s three consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Since one report a year is free, Mills suggests spreading the three out over a year. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
Saland hosts a golden event for seniors Oct 19, 2008
We give people useful information to protect their identity, make sure there is no inaccurate information on their credit reports, and basically give them information to protect themselves there are lots of scams out there, said Georgeanne Stevenson of the New York State Consumer Protection Board. One of the most common scams seniors should be on the lookout for is when unsuspecting people are targeted to purchase an extension on their car warranty, then give out their bank account information... (Hudson Register Star, NY)
$12.5 million offered for theater Oct 18, 2008
The City of Roanoke Rapids should obtain credit reports on all other major stockholders of the limited liability corporation. The proposed contract is prepared with the understanding the theater be used for what it was originally intended, an entertainment venue to help spur development in the Carolina Crossroads Music & Entertainment District, Bazemore told Council. (Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald, NC)
Lipstick doesn’t hide Thad’s slant Oct 16, 2008
He jettisoned sound business practices: no down payments and/or credit reports. People with l5 maxed-out credit cards got sub-prime loans. (Logan Herald Journal, UT)
Identity theft: What you should know Oct 15, 2008
Get credit reports, shred documents. I encourage people to get one free credit report each year, he said about obtaining the credit report through annualcreditreport. (WWalker County Messenger, GA)
Tips for boosting your credit score Oct 14, 2008
People have seen credit reports before, but to most people, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. They are not very easy to someone who doesn't read them all of the time. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Improving Your Credit Score Oct 14, 2008
Bizbox by Slate - Small Business Help and Tips (Slate)
TMW Fraud: ID Theft Safety Tips Oct 13, 2008
Review your consumer credit reports annually. Shred and destroy unwanted documents that contain personal information. (KOLD.com, AZ)
SMART CENTS Ways to raise your credit score Oct 13, 2008
Surveys have shown that up to 25 percent of all credit reports contain errors serious enough to warrant the denial of credit. If you find an error, contact the credit reporting agency immediately, in writing, to dispute the error. (Republican-American)
Consumer Loan Underwriter Oct 8, 2008
Dependent on division and complexity of underwriting, functions may include reviewing financial statements, credit reports, and applicable ratios(i. e. Debt ratios, loan-to-value); evaluating; examining transactions to ensure accuracy and completeness; preparing formal reports for review; ensuring that documents are consistent and uphold to credit union and industry guidelines; implementing fraud detection techniques, performing compliance reviews; assisting with re-negotiations of loans based... (Florida Today)
Seminar Teaches Residents How to Avoid Scams Oct 8, 2008
Southern Pines Police Chief John Letteney said he checks his credit reports every year around his birthday. The speakers said people should never give out personal information on the phone unless they called the company themselves. (The Pilot Newspaper)
How to survive the mortgage crisisLocal realtors, experts offer tips Oct 3, 2008
In particular, sub-prime mortgages, or mortgages issued by lenders to borrowers with less-than-stellar credit reports, have created much of the problems in the mortgage and credit industry. The ripple effect has reached major Wall Street firms such as Lehman Brothers, which declared bankruptcy recently and Merrill Lynch, which was sold for $50 million to Bank of America. (West New York Reporter, NJ)
Volusia contracts with company to collect library materials, fines Oct 3, 2008
Unpaid accounts will be put on credit reports at least 120 days from when they're turned over to the company, but not before the patron gets ample final notice, she said. Before employing the new approach, the library system will offer a one-week "amnesty" where people get a 50 percent discount on the amount owed if they turn in all overdue materials. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
Five Things Not to Do During Credit Crisis Oct 3, 2008
According to the Public Interest Research Group, one in four credit reports has errors that are serious enough to disqualify consumers from opening a bank account, purchasing a home or even getting a job. The easiest way to obtain a free credit report is to log on to. (ABC News -- Business)
TheLegalEdge.com: Gavel-to-Gavel Coverage of O.J. Simpson Trial Exposes Police Bias, Racial Slurs, Extortion and Killer for Hire Oct 3, 2008
Request your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion credit reports for free. www. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Methods in Keeping Identity Safe Sep 25, 2008
Place a fraud alert on credit reports and review the reports carefully. Close the accounts that have been or are believed to have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. (The Daily Universe, UT)
FBI to Increase Secret Powers in the Near Future Sep 24, 2008
Last May, the FBI was to withdraw an unconstitutional National Security Letter (NSL) and in March to improperly accessing telephone records, credit reports, and Internet usage of American citizens. Further, in a report to Congress, it underreported the number of NSLs it had issued by 4,600. (OMB Watch)
Countrywide advises customers: Your information was stolen! Sep 23, 2008
Rigby checked credit reports and put fraud alerts on her accounts--something Countrywide is encouraging. Right now, they say, no identities have been stolen. (WSJA.com, AL)
Arrests made in ID theft case Sep 23, 2008
Another way to protect oneself is to check credit reports at least once a year. If these people would have checked their credit reports, it wouldn t have prevented it from happening, but they would have found out about (the fraudulent loans) sooner, Fredericksen said ... The loan companies removed the loans from victims credit reports. (Sealy News, TX)
Home prices fell 5.3 pct in July, gov't says Sep 23, 2008
Over the past year, the companies have tightened requirements and raised fees substantially, making it hard for borrowers with any blemish on their credit reports to qualify for a loan. Lockhart explained the government had little option but to seize control of Fannie Freddie. (Florida Times-Union)
Possible identity theft hits close home for El Paso couple Sep 22, 2008
He has signed up for the lenders offer for free monitoring of his credit reports and opened new checking and credit card accounts. He also made a report to El Paso police about the identity theft. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Your Shrinking Credit-Card Limit Sep 22, 2008
Credit-card issuers review consumers' credit reports for red flags, like late payments to other credit cards, a sudden build-up of debt or high credit utilization rates, says Kaplan. Check your credit report for free at annualcreditreport. (SmartMoney)
New ID Theft Scam Hits Town Sep 20, 2008
Both Cheatum and Ellis cautioned that credit reports can be obtained by third parties, providing enough personal information about a person to enable a scammer to convince victims they are agents of financial institutions. "The people getting these call really believe they are talking to their institution," he said, "and that's where the problem comes in." Ellis said part of the vulnerability of seniors stems from the pleasure they get from phone calls. (Pocatello Idaho State Journal, ID)
Wornick wows Senior Center crowd Sep 19, 2008
She encouraged audience members to request the free annual credit reports to which they are entitled by law but to forego the extras, like credit monitoring, the companies offer through their Web sites. Just keep clicking next, next, next, she said. (Marblehead Reporter, MA)
Forecast Loan Performance With Informative Research's New Mortgage Portfolio Credit Review Tools Sep 18, 2008
The service is customizable, returning any combination of credit scores, full credit reports or over four hundred selectable attributes. With Portfolio Credit Review, clients can submit large batch credit data requests to receive results in as few as three business days. (PR Newswire)
AG urges protection after Coutnrywide data breach Sep 17, 2008
Because this data breach involves a Countrywide employee who allegedly sold consumers personal information to unauthorized third parties, we are urging Massachusetts residents who receive notice from Countrywide that they are victims of this breach to be vigilant in monitoring their financial statements and credit reports for any unauthorized or suspicious activity, said Coakley. If you believe that you have been the victim of identity theft, you will need to take additional steps to protect... (Lincoln Journal, MA)
Paulson's Courageous Action Sep 17, 2008
There is nothing on the books or in the law that mandates that banks loan money to people who had no down payments, accept false or faulty credit reports without even verifying them, nor mandated that they give out interest only loans in order to qualify borrowers, knowing that when the time came to pay the principal as well, that they didn't remotely have the income to do so. And, there is nothing on the books that said the banks had to make any kind of residential mortgage loan at all, if they... (Townhall.com)
Financial makeovers Sep 14, 2008
" Foreclosures and debt have scamsters out in force. Even those groups hailing themselves as "nonprofit" can be scams. Do they pledge to remove all negative - but accurate - information on your credit reports? Require your first-born as a down payment? For help: Florida's Office of Financial Regulation offers tips on spotting foreclosure rescue scams at #FRS. Attorney General Bill McCollum has a list of questions to ask any consumer credit counselor at (click under "consumer protection. "). Look... (The Palm Beach Post)
SMART CENTS: Why good credit is important Sep 14, 2008
As a loan officer, I see the credit reports of many people every day. Unfortunately, alot of well-intentioned people, through either stubbornness or ignorance, have hurt their credit unnecessarily. (Republican-American)
Countrywide alerts victims of data theft Sep 13, 2008
Givens added the safest step for people who won't be seeking credit in the near future is to put a security freeze on their credit reports. The move costs $10 per credit-reporting agency. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
The Color of Money: Deadline on TransUnion free monitoring is Sept. 24 Sep 12, 2008
Spouses have separate credit reports even though they may have joint credit accounts. Under the settlement, which still needs final approval, you have to choose one of the following options. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
Fed takeover of lenders may help some borrowers Sep 9, 2008
Over the past several months, the companies have tightened requirements substantially, making it hard for borrowers with any blemish on their credit reports to qualify for a loan. However, brokers hope the government will eliminate or reduce fees that the pair have been charging lenders to gird against increased credit risk and losses from mortgages they buy. (Ontario Argus Observer, OR)
Electronic Privacy Information Center: Privacy Sep 8, 2008
Congressional proposals to increase wiretapping, revise government guidelines on investigating domestic political groups and obtain easier access to credit reports and transactional information ... What the FTC has done (or not done) on protecting privacy on the net and with credit reports. (Yahoo News -- Online Privacy)
ID protection can be do-it-yourself Sep 7, 2008
However, what they do provide is policing of your credit reports and regular communication with the credit bureaus. But is it worth the money. (Boston Globe)
Almost everyone can benefit from TransUnion suit Sep 7, 2008
Spouses have separate credit reports even though they may have joint credit accounts. Under the settlement, which still needs final approval, you have to choose one of the following options:*Six months of credit monitoring. (Fresno Bee -- Business)
Mastering Personal Finance 101: Tips for managing money while away at school Sep 6, 2008
As students use credit cards and start paying other bills, it is important to check credit reports. By law, consumers are entitled to free copies of their credit reports once a year from the three major credit reporting agencies ... Free annual credit reports are available from the only online authorized Web site, , or by calling 1-877-322-8228. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
Part of state's financial privacy law upheld Sep 5, 2008
Ruling on legal challenges by banks and the Bush administration, the same appeals court and a federal judge found in 2005 that the California statute conflicted with a federal law that set nationwide standards for regulating consumer credit reports. But in a 2-1 ruling Thursday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said portions of the California law had nothing to do with consumer credit and could be salvaged. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Business)
