My Credit Report

Typical credit report would include:

1) Identifying Information: Your name, current and previous address, telephone number, Social Security number, date of birth, as well as current and previous employers.

2) Credit Information: Specific Information about each account, such s the date the account was opened, the credit limit or loan amount, the balance due, monthly payment and payment history during the last several years.

For open accounts, positive credit information remains on the credit report indefinitely. Information on closed accounts and negative payment notations remain up to seven years. The report also states whether a spouse or co-signer is responsible for paying account.

3) Public Record Information: Bankruptcy records, tax liens, monetary damages, debt referred to collection agencies and, in some states, overdue child support.

Bankruptcy information can remain on a consumer's credit report for up to 10 years. Unpaid tax liens can be reported indefinitely, and paid tax liens remain for 7 years from the date paid. Other public information can remain for up to 7 years.

4) Inquiries: The credit report also lists the names of those who obtained information from the credit report for the past 2 years. Some types of inquiries, such as those that result when a consumer requests a copy of his or her own report directly from the credit reporting agencies are recorded and remain on the report from one to two years.

You should be aware that when you request copies of your credit report from third party vendors, rather than directly from the credit reporting agency, the inquiry often looks like a request for credit.

Other Information that your credit report may contain:

-Your job title and employer
-Your spouse's name, Social Security number, and your telephone number
-Information as to whether you own or rent your home.
-Other names and aliases that you may have used to obtain credit such as maiden name.
FICO score
-Information about fraud.

The credit bureau's business is credit reporting. What they do is collect information about consumers from banks, savings and loan institutions, credit unions, finance companies and other businesses. This information is stored in a database and when you apply for a new loan, the creditor orders information on you from the bureaus.