The Equipment Leasing Experts -- Our 35th Year!

Where Your Credit Comes From...
Different credit reporting companies use and obtain their information from different sources including credit applications that you have submitted to various vendors and service providers--from department stores to credit card issuers to vehicle and installment loans.

The credit information that you provide on most credit applications is compared to (and used to update) any information already on file.  Further your payment history after credit has been approved by a "subscriber" company will most likely be reported back to the same (or all) credit reporting companies on an ongoing basis.  This establishes your "payment pattern."  

Consumer Credit Reporting Companies
The big three: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.. Chances are that some or all of your credit records (history) are listed in the files of all three companies.  It is unlikely however,  that all three credit reporting companies ("credit bureaus") have the exact same information on you.  Credit reporting companies also regularly search federal, state and county government files for "public records."  These are law suits, judgments, tax liens, bankruptcy and other filings... that can have a substantial (and negative) impact your credit score (rating).

Everyone should know what's in their credit report
and if it's accurate--preferably before it becomes an issue with an important, prospective credit grantor.

Paying Attention Is Your Responsibility.
If your credit file contains incorrect/inaccurate data, your request for credit may be declined when you would otherwise have qualified for that credit..

Where To Get  Your Own Credit Report:
The three major credit reporting companies are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Some states require each credit reporting company to provide one free report per year upon request. 

You Have Specific Legal Rights.
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you specific protections when you have been denied credit.  When the denial is based (in whole or in part) on information contained in a credit reporting company's report, the company making the credit decision must tell you the name and address of the credit reporting company that provided that information.  

In such cases, the credit reporting company must provide a free copy of your credit report, provided you request the copy within 60 days of the date you were declined.

The Credit Bureau MUST Investigate.
If you believe information on your credit report is inaccurate, the credit bureau must investigate the item within "a reasonable time," generally defined as 30 days, and remove the item if it is inaccurate, or cannot be verified as accurate.