How can you check if the information in your credit report is accurate?
When you get a credit report, first look it over and see if you recognize each account. If you are uncertain about anything listed, you can contact the account issuer to confirm that you have an open account with that company and find out the account’s balance.
You may see an account under a name you don’t recognize but perhaps with a balance similar to one of your credit cards. This could be because credit cards associated with certain retailers, or stores, may be listed under the name of the bank they work with and not their store name. Before assuming a mistake, verify whether or not the account listed is the bank who holds your credit account or not.
Be aware that amounts may not line up exactly. That’s because you may have paid a bill or made more purchases on an account after the month your data had been reported to the credit bureau.
If you’re not able to confirm the account, or see an amount that does not make sense, it is important to open a dispute with the credit bureau so that they can verify the accuracy of the data.
