What is Inside a Credit Report?

What Is Inside a Credit Report?

As we all know, our credit is one of the most important things we have, financially speaking. Keeping a regular check on it is imperative as we could face major changes at any moment due to such things as identity theft and so on. In fact, our ability to get loans, insurance and even jobs in many cases depends on it. So what exactly is inside a credit report that controls the minds of so many decision makers? This is what we will cover in this article.

Your credit report is a device used to provide lenders with the information they need in order to consider the level of risk they will be taking of a person defaulting on a loan or simply not making payments. They base these views on your credit history and more. The difference between a FICO credit score and a credit report is simply that a credit report shows not just a number but all of the details as to how they came up with your current credit score. The credit report also shows lenders how much you currently owe and how much you have available on the different types of accounts.

How well you had made payments on your loans in the past and if there are any collections notices that a person had received are included as, again, they just want to know that you will be able to pay back the loan. In addition to the payment history, lenders also want to know how long you have had the account, or accounts, that you currently have opened. If it has only been a month since you opened your mortgage on your new house, it will hold much different weight as opposed to a mortgage that has been getting paid off for 7 years now.

Account inquiries are a substantial part of the credit report as well. Now we are no talking about those “pre-approved” credit offers where the credit card company apparently looked at your credit, those inquiries do not count. We are referring to actual applications for new credit and inquiries by firms such as car dealers.

Your credit report also includes the type of account, such as a car loan versus a retail store card, which holds a substantial position in the lines of credit reports and what is actually considered more. Some individuals may believe that a new line of credit being paid off for a $1,200 HDTV holds the same weight as a car loan as it is being paid off, but this is not true. The type of account, and apparent risk on your part, has a lot to do with how much weight is placed on the given revolving debt account.

In addition to the aforementioned areas covered are such things as bankruptcies, public record, delinquent payments, collections reports and so on. These are all reported on your credit report! These are obvious “red flags” to potential lenders in that it instantly increases their level of risk in that the individual with those items on their credit report would possibly default or go to collections. So it is a very important thing to consider your credit report whenever making any financial decisions whether it is to open a new account or not to pay on money that you owe. That one month you miss a payment could put a really nasty mark on your credit report, which will be seen by those who consider you for loans, jobs, insurance and more. Also, it is a good idea to constantly monitor your credit monthly using services such as those at Experian or more. There are more details at our website. But, all in all if you continue to improve your credit score and keep on making those payments on time, your credit report will open many doors for you in the financial world of loans, jobs, insurance and more.