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Whenever I move, the first thing I make sure to change is the address my magazine subscription goes to. It’s the one essential I can’t imagine leaving behind at the wrong address.
But what about important services that you only use occasionally, like the post office and the dentist? On top of the stress that accompanies changing addresses, names or jobs, it’s smart to notify these companies as well to avoid any hiccups.
Now, you might be asking yourself if you also need to reach out to the credit bureaus.
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The answer is …
You’re off the hook! You don’t need to contact the credit bureaus to update the personal information on your credit reports. Instead, get in touch with your creditors and ask them to update your records with your new address, name or employer.
When your creditors send their monthly updates to the credit bureaus, they’ll include your new information and your credit reports will be updated. Of course, you can always contact the credit bureaus directly to correct any errors.
Since you’ll need to wait for both your creditors and the bureaus to make their respective changes, practicing some patience might come in handy. It’s hard to say exactly how long you’ll have to wait, but since creditors generally only report once a month, it could take about 30 to 45 days for the changes to reflect.
Does old personal information affect your credit health?
It’s generally wise to try and keep these things updated, but not doing so also won’t necessarily impact your credit health. If you’ve recently changed your name, you may be concerned about maintaining the credit history tied to your previous name, but keep in mind that your credit is also tied to your Social Security number (which should stay the same). In the same vein, your credit doesn’t need your latest address or employer information to keep chugging along.
In fact, after your new data is added to your reports, your old data will stick around and act as additional identifying information. If you apply for a new credit card or job, this helps potential creditors or employers match your application to your credit reports. But keep in mind that a credit report isn’t designed to include a complete history of the places you’ve lived and worked at. Companies don’t see it that way, and it’s okay if it isn’t exhaustive.
Is the information wrong?
As always,monitoring your credit informationis essential to your long-term credit health. After you’ve contacted your creditors, make sure to regularly check yourcredit reportson Credit Karma and also keep an eye out for fraudulent activity.
If you don’t recognize a name or address on your report, it’s possible someone opened an account with your information, and you may need to file a dispute to address that.
Bottom line
Your addresses, names and jobs aren’t factored into your scores (but these components are), so don’t fret if this information isn’t immediately updated on your credit reports.
Still, like the rest of your reports, it’s better to be prudent and keep your information up-to-date. Ask your creditors to make the changes as soon as you can.
How’s your credit?Check My Equifax® and TransUnion® Scores Now
You don't need to contact the credit bureaus to update the personal information on your credit reports. Instead, get in touch with your creditors and ask them to update your records with your new address, name or employer.
If you need to update your personal information on your credit report, you can generally do this by updating your information with your creditors. For example, if you move, you'll need to update your address to ensure the creditor can send you mail, including your monthly statements.
Dispute mistakes with the credit bureaus. You should dispute with each credit bureau that has the mistake. Explain in writing what you think is wrong, include the credit bureau's dispute form (if they have one), copies of documents that support your dispute, and keep records of everything you send.
If your credit report contains outdated or inaccurate personal information like an old address, you can get it removed by filing a dispute with each of the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
If you discover errors on your credit report, gather any supporting documents and include them with a letter disputing the error. Then send it to: The credit reporting agency whose report you are disputing. The company that provided the incorrect information.
To update the phone number on your credit report, simply update the phone number on your loan or credit card accounts, through your online account portal or by calling customer service. When your lenders report to the credit bureaus, your phone number – including your phone number – will also update.
Equifax. To change your name, address or other personal information, visit the myEquifax Dispute Center. You'll need to register for an account if you haven't already, and Equifax will likely request a lot of personal information to confirm your identity.
It's not possible to wipe your credit history clean. Negative items like late payments, collections and bankruptcies typically remain on your credit report for several years. However, you can rebuild your credit with on-time payments, debt reduction and responsible credit account management.
There are other items that cannot be disputed or removed due to their systemic importance. For example, your correct legal name, current and former mailing addresses, and date of birth are usually not up for dispute and won't be removed from your credit reports.
You can't initiate a rapid rescore on your own. Instead, you'll need to work with a creditor that provides these services, such as a credit card company or another type of lender. Rescoring is commonly offered by mortgage lenders because securing a mortgage is usually more time-sensitive than other loans.
Removing old addresses from your credit report can have a positive impact on your credit score. Mainly, it may help you appear more stable to potential lenders. If you've lived in multiple places within a short period of time, it can make you appear less financially responsible.
While a goodwill letter is used to remove a debt you've already paid, a pay for delete letter is used to ask a creditor to remove a collection account or any other negative item from your credit report in exchange for paying either a portion of the balance or the full balance.
You'll have to go through the credit bureau's formal dispute process to get the statement removed from your credit report. Don't get confused by the word “dispute.” Unlike a dispute to seek a charge on your credit report, there is no investigation and you don't have to prove the personal statement is false.
Can I start a new credit report? The short answer is no, there's no way to restart, reset or clear your credit report. The purpose of the credit reporting system is to help lenders make informed decisions about potential borrowers. As such, poor credit borrowers restarting their credit anytime would negate the system.
Your letter should clearly identify each item in your report you dispute, state the facts, explain why you dispute the information, and request that it be removed or corrected. You may want to enclose a copy of your credit report with the items in question circled.
Sign in to your account online and select 'Settings' in the site menu or at the top of most pages.Then, just locate 'Mailing Address' to get started. You may only make updates to your contact information once within a 24-hour period.
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