by: Michael Saunders

Don't let the condition of your credit report stop you from gettting the credit that you need and deserve.

Most Importantly, don't be fooled by the come-ons. According to the Federal Trade Commission - you see the advertisements in newspapers, on TV, and on the Internet. You hear them on the radio. You get fliers in the mail. You may even get calls from telemarketers offering credit repair services. They all make the same claims:

* Credit problems? No problem!

* We can erase your bad credit — 100% guaranteed.

* Create a new credit identity — legally.

* We can remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit file forever!

Do yourself a favor and save some money, too. Don't believe these promises. Only time, a conscious effort, and a personal debt repayment plan will improve your credit report.

Your credit history reported is shown as a three-digit number, and you should know what that number is, especially if you plan to purchase anything on credit soon. This three-digit number is most commonly known as a FICO score. (FICO is an acronym for Fair Isaac and Co., the company that began developing credit-scoring systems in the 1950s.) The people at FICO claim to use 30 different factors to determine risk. However, they won't disclose the exact formula for arriving at these scores. All three of the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian) use FICO scores.

Credit scoring uses your credit history to evaluate the likelihood of your loan going into default. Scoring has been used in the credit card and installment loan industries for years. Now, credit scores are also being used in the mortgage industry. Having a credit score helps lenders streamline underwriting by quickly categorizing borrowers. A high credit score may mean that your application will receive only a superficial review by the prospective lender. A very low score, on the other hand, may get you a quick review and denial.

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If you need to work on your credit report, the FTC warns that no one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from a credit report. The law allows you to ask for an investigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete.   (continued...)
Are You A High Risk Or Low Risk Credit Applicant? The Importance of Knowing Your FICA Score
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