How to Fix and Watch Your Credit

A credit bureau is a company that collects and reports information about your credit accounts to others. In the United States, the three major credit reporting bureaus are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. In most cases, only time will remove accurate, negative information from your credit reports. However, you can dispute and request removal of all inaccurate information from your credit report. Several companies also offer credit monitoring services that allow you to watch your watch and will notify you of major changes to your credit profile.

Instructions

1

Order a copy of your credit report from each of the credit bureaus. You can purchase a copy of your credit report directly from the credit bureaus' websites. You are also entitled to a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the credit bureaus. To obtain a free copy of your credit reports, go to annualcreditreports.com.

2

Review your credit report from each of the credit bureaus. Make sure you review all three reports. Information listed on each report is sometimes different. Determine if there is any inaccurate, negative information on your credit report. Dispute any inaccurate information by following the online "Dispute" link on the credit bureaus' websites. You will need to dispute the information with each credit bureau that reports the inaccurate information. You can also dispute the information by calling the phone number listed on the credit reports. List the reasons for the dispute as specifically as possible.

3

Wait for the credit bureaus to remove the inaccurate information. This process takes no longer than 30 days. The credit bureaus will notify you online or by mail with the results of your dispute.

4

Subscribe to a credit monitoring service so you can continue to watch your credit, or request your reports again in a year. Subscribe to a service that monitors your credit from all of the credit bureaus. The credit monitoring service will automatically notify you if there is a significant change to your credit profile.