How to Protect Or Improve Your Credit History
What can consumers do to improve their insurance score?
- Pay bills on time. Delinquent payments and collections can have a major negative impact on an insurance score.
- Keep balances low on unsecured revolving debt, such as credit cards. High outstanding debt can affect an insurance score.
- Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed. Maintain the necessary minimum number of credit cards, as well as other credit accounts.
- Annually request a copy of your credit report. Review for accuracy and correct all errors in writing. Over time, responsible use of credit can increase a customer’s insurance score.
Know your credit history
There is a good chance your current or prospective insurance company will consider financial stability as part of its underwriting process. Insurance scores are based on information from consumer credit reports that insurers or statistical modelers get from the three major credit agencies: Equifax, Experian (formerly known as TRW) and TransUnion. Therefore, it is a good idea to review your credit history to make sure it is accurate.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires an insurance company to tell you if they have taken an “adverse action” against you, in whole or in part, because of your credit report information. If your company tells you that you have been adversely affected, they must also tell you the name of the national credit agency that supplied the information so that you can get a free copy of your credit report and correct any errors.
Take charge of your credit history
If your auto insurance company is using your insurance score to calculate your rates, you can take steps to improve your premiums.
- Get a copy of your credit report and correct any errors. Notify your insurance agent and company of any errors and advise them once the errors are corrected.
- Improve your credit history if you’ve had past credit problems. If your credit score is causing you to pay higher premiums, ask your auto insurer if they will re-evaluate you when your credit improves.
Free Credit Report With Score – Understanding Credit Score Made Easy
Equifax, TransUnion and Experian are nationwide consumer reporting companies required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA to provide consumers a copy of their free credit report with score each year. This Act is implemented by the Federal Trade Commission, a consumer protection agency that also promotes privacy and accuracy of information from these three companies.
In general, a credit score is the measure of credit risk computed from a collection of credit reports using a standardized formula. It includes information of your address, how you pay your bills, and whether you have filed for bankruptcy or have been sued or arrested. The scale for credit score ranges from 349 to 849; indicative, for example, that a 640 rating will most likely give you difficulty getting a good loan. This kind of information are sold by consumer reporting companies to insurers, creditors, employers and businesses for evaluation of your credit, employment, insurance and home rental.
So why would you want to have a copy of your credit report? Because it contains information whether you can get a loan and how much you will have to pay; to make sure that it is up-to-date, accurate, and complete before doing a major purchase for car, insurance, house or even to apply for a job. Getting your report on a regular basis makes you manage your accounts well and lets you venture on possible ways to improve or raise your score. This is also one of the many ways to combat identity theft which has been widespread today especially to internet-related transactions.
To get a free credit report with score, you need to provide your name, date of birth, address, and Social Security number. You may also need to indicate previous addresses if you have moved in the last two years. To ensure your security, every nationwide consumer reporting company asks for information that is exclusive to you.
Along with the credit report, it is also advisable to request for credit monitoring to be updated of any strange transaction or activity on your accounts such as change of account information and opening and closing of investments and bank accounts.
Usually a free credit report with score can be accessed immediately although it may even take longer if the nationwide consumer reporting company requires more information to verify your identity.
Under a state law, consumers living in Vermont, Georgia, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maryland have access to free credit report with score.