ncdebtlaw.com
The online home of the Law Office of Craig B. Lane
Your Right to a Free Copy of Your Credit Report
Federal law guarantees each us the right to one free copy of our credit report each year from each of the main three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. You can get yours via the internet by going to:
www.annualcreditreport.com
Don't be fooled by other web sites promising free credit reports. Most of the others are trying to sell you something, or worse.
You can print the credit report, or save it as a PDF file (great for emailing to your bankruptcy attorney). You should make sure you save it somehow, because you only get one chance a year to access it for free. You can check out all three, but if you only have time for one, I recommend Equifax.
If you absolutely cannot access the internet to get your credit report, you can get one mailed to you by calling 1-877-322-8228.
How Ordering Your Credit Report Can Help You in Bankruptcy
We recommend that each of our clients filing for bankruptcy obtain a credit report for the reasons listed below. If you are married, we recommend obtaining credit reports for both you and your spouse. Why?
1. Obtaining the credit report helps us get accurate creditor names, addresses, types of debt, balances due, and account numbers.
2. Through your credit report, we may find creditors whom you have overlooked. For a debt to be discharged, it must be listed in your bankruptcy pleadings, so it’s important that we find out about all debts.
3. Credit reports can alert us to judgments against you.
4. Credit reports can alert us to liens against your property, and the need to seek lien avoidance under §522(f), thus helping you protect your property in some cases.
5. We may find out about co-signers to some of your debts, which are important to list in a bankruptcy.
6. If you are married, there may be surprising items on your credit report or your spouse’s, and the reports can help us determine whether you should file individually or jointly.
7. We may find out about debts created by a former spouse, who may have forged your signature to obtain credit.
8. Credit reports can alert us to mistakes on your credit record. The report will list the names and addresses of all three major credit bureaus whom you can contact to correct any mistakes or provide updated information.
9. Credit reports often contain the names and addresses of collection agencies representing creditors, and we can notify these collection agencies about the bankruptcy so that collection efforts stop.
10. If the IRS has a tax lien on your property, the credit report will alert us so that it can be dealt with properly.
11. Knowing what is on your credit report can help you get credit approval for important purchases after your debts are discharged.
Not every creditor reports debts to a credit bureau, so your credit report will not list all debts. You should be sure to let us know about all debts you are aware of.
Federal law guarantees each us the right to one free copy of our credit report each year from each of the main three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. You can get yours via the internet by going to:
www.annualcreditreport.com
Don't be fooled by other web sites promising free credit reports. Most of the others are trying to sell you something, or worse.
You can print the credit report, or save it as a PDF file (great for emailing to your bankruptcy attorney). You should make sure you save it somehow, because you only get one chance a year to access it for free. You can check out all three, but if you only have time for one, I recommend Equifax.
If you absolutely cannot access the internet to get your credit report, you can get one mailed to you by calling 1-877-322-8228.
How Ordering Your Credit Report Can Help You in Bankruptcy
We recommend that each of our clients filing for bankruptcy obtain a credit report for the reasons listed below. If you are married, we recommend obtaining credit reports for both you and your spouse. Why?
1. Obtaining the credit report helps us get accurate creditor names, addresses, types of debt, balances due, and account numbers.
2. Through your credit report, we may find creditors whom you have overlooked. For a debt to be discharged, it must be listed in your bankruptcy pleadings, so it’s important that we find out about all debts.
3. Credit reports can alert us to judgments against you.
4. Credit reports can alert us to liens against your property, and the need to seek lien avoidance under §522(f), thus helping you protect your property in some cases.
5. We may find out about co-signers to some of your debts, which are important to list in a bankruptcy.
6. If you are married, there may be surprising items on your credit report or your spouse’s, and the reports can help us determine whether you should file individually or jointly.
7. We may find out about debts created by a former spouse, who may have forged your signature to obtain credit.
8. Credit reports can alert us to mistakes on your credit record. The report will list the names and addresses of all three major credit bureaus whom you can contact to correct any mistakes or provide updated information.
9. Credit reports often contain the names and addresses of collection agencies representing creditors, and we can notify these collection agencies about the bankruptcy so that collection efforts stop.
10. If the IRS has a tax lien on your property, the credit report will alert us so that it can be dealt with properly.
11. Knowing what is on your credit report can help you get credit approval for important purchases after your debts are discharged.
Not every creditor reports debts to a credit bureau, so your credit report will not list all debts. You should be sure to let us know about all debts you are aware of.