Frequently Asked Questions

Click any of the questions below to view the answer.

General Credit Report Questions

How do I get a copy of my Credit Report?

We provide a service that allows you to get a copy of your personal credit report in a simple, safe, and secure manner over the internet in seconds, or you may receive it by telephone, fax, mail, or in person. Click Here to get started.

What will my credit file show?

Your credit file will show your identifying information including your current and previous addresses and employment. It will also reflect the activity of any credit cards, loans or public records that have been reported by your creditors or courts. Information may stay on a credit file for at least 7 years from the date you last used the account.

How do I obtain my report on the internet?

You may obtain your file now on the internet by Clicking Here and entering specific identifying information and passwords to ensure that only YOU can receive your credit information. The report is then returned back to you once proper authentication has been completed. You can also contact us directly using the attached link on the Contact Us page or calling us at (800)811-8575 and we can help you obtain your file by mail.

What is a risk score?

A risk score is based on the content of your credit file, both positive and negative. It also specifically defines what you have in your file. Click Here to order your credit report and CreditXpert™ risk score.

If I just got married, should I use my new married name?

Your credit file is based on information reported in your name, address and social security number. If you have not yet established credit using your married name, you may want to use your maiden name to access your credit file. However, you could put your maiden name in the middle name field and your file may still be accessed based on your address and social security number. If you have also recently moved, make sure you add in your previous address so that your file can be located.

Will my spouse's information be on my credit report?

No. Your credit file is exactly that - YOURS. Although, if you have joint accounts you share with your spouse other family or friends, they may show on your file because you share responsibility for them.

Can I get my spouse's report?

No. Only the individual requesting the information will be able to access their unique file. To obtain another person's credit information is against the law. The password and authentication system used to access reports will prevent this from happening.

When should I order my credit report?

The best time to obtain your credit file is before making a major purchase, such as a house or car, to make sure there are no discrepancies on your file to stop you from obtaining credit. If you do not apply for credit on a regular basis, you may want to obtain a copy of your file every year to make sure everything is in order. Click Here to get started.

What do I do if there is a mistake on my file?

If you have received a copy of your file and there are things you want checked, you will need to contact the creditors involved and also contact the national credit reporting agencies. As a reseller, Equidata can assist you in making changes if you have obtained your credit report from us.

Which credit agency is the best one to get my file from?

Many of the nationally known banks and department stores will report to all three credit reporting agencies. However, some of your creditors may only report to one or they may choose not to report to any. All three reports have information unique to them so it is difficult to indicate the "best" one. Many lending institutions will choose all three files in order to get the "best" credit picture of you.

Is ordering my credit report from Equidata safe?

Yes. Our website is secured by 128-bit SSL encryption technology for all personal and financial data input. Encryption is a way of coding the information in a file so that if it is intercepted by a third party as it travels over a network, it cannot be read. Equidata can only read your encrypted information. Due to the fact that we are dealing with the credit histories of individuals and since "identity theft" is on the rise, we take every precaution to ensure that your personal information is delivered only to you for both online and offline delivery.

Will receiving my credit report through Equidata appear as an inquiry on my credit report?

When you obtain your consumer credit report from Equidata, a "soft" inquiry is recorded. It will not adversely affect your credit or your credit rating since it cannot be seen by creditors.

Is Equidata a credit bureau?

Traditionally, a credit bureau would obtain and maintain credit information in a regional area. Equidata's foundation was that of a credit bureau and repository affiliate. Traditional bureaus no longer exist and Equidata transformed to a reseller for all three (3) National Credit Reporting Agencies.

Although we sell credit reports as an information services company, we do not gather credit data or maintain a database of credit files. As a reseller, we can assist our customers who want to dispute inaccurate information on their credit reports to the national agencies supplying the information.

What do I do if there's inaccurate information on my credit report?

In order to have inaccurate and/or unverifiable information removed from your credit report, you should write directly to the national credit reporting agency that supplied the information. The CRA has a reasonable amount of time to investigate disputes regarding possible inaccuracies contained in a credit report. The CRA must then give you the results in writing. Equidata, as a reseller, can assist you in updating information with the 3 National CRAs.

Is there a refund policy for credit reports delivered online?

Equidata processes requests for all credit reports promptly and is immediately charged by each of the credit reporting agencies for their data. Therefore, we have a NO REFUND policy for credit reports that are deliverable by us online.

What happens if I enter incorrect information on the order form?

Please take the time to fill in ALL the information that is required. We are not responsible for incorrect information provided on the order form.

If I don't have a credit card can I view my credit report online?

Currently, in order to view your credit report online, we only accept credit and debit cards as methods of payment. However, if you would like to receive you credit report via U.S. mail, you may pay by either check or money order.

Can I get a credit report on someone else?

No. You are only able to obtain your own credit report and no one elses. These reports are provided to you, the consumer, and are not used for business purposes.

Some individuals and businesses are allowed, for permissable puposes, to obtain personal credit reports on persons other than themselves. There are strict laws and penalties in place to ensure that this privilege is not abused.

What is in my credit report?

There are four primary categories of information contained in each type of credit report:

Identifying information:

Your name and a.k.a.
Current and previous addresses
Social Security number
Telephone number
Date of birth
Current and previous employers

Your history of paying bills as reported by credit grantors or public records such as:

Retail stores
Banks
Finance companies
Mortgage companies
State and Federal Courts

Items that may affect your creditworthiness, such as:

Tax liens
Trades
Collections
Public Records (including child support judgments)
Bankruptcies

Inquiries:

Companies that received your I.D. or credit information for the purpose of offering you credit, providing a service, or for employment.

Why should I see my credit report?

Your credit report can have a prominent impact on your financial future. With good credit, you can obtain benefits of all kinds; a home mortgage or lease on an apartment, an auto loan, low-interest credit cards, and more. But if your credit history is unfavorable, many of these financial options may be unavailable to you. Either way, you have a right to know what to expect when a prospective lender runs a credit check on you.

Apart from paying your bills consistently and on time, the single most important thing you can do is to be aware of the contents of your credit report. This ensures you that when others check your credit they'll find you to be a good risk.

Studies have shown that many credit files contain inaccuracies that can damage your credit rating, leading to rejections when you apply for loans, insurance, even a job. Many times, it could be the result of simple human error, whether it be a clerical error, a computer glitch, or perhaps your file is mixed with that of someone with a similar name.

That's why it's crucial that you check all of your credit files--and monitor your credit regularly--to protect your good credit rating, even if you do pay all your bills on time. The Federal Trade Commission encourages consumers to check their credit report at least every few months to avoid any surprises that may be clues to a possible identity theft. Click Here to find out what your credit report says about you.

How long does information stay on my credit report?

Derogatory items such as late payments and most public record items remain on your credit report for 7 years, with the exception of Chapter 7, 11 and 12 bankruptcies, which remain for 10 years, and tax liens, which remain for 7 years from the paid date. Active positive information may remain on the report indefinitely. Inquiries, or requests for your credit history, remain on the credit report for up to two years.

How long will it take to receive my credit report by mail?

Once your order is processed, you should receive your credit report within 3 to 7 business days. Equidata is located in Newport News, VA, so you can use that as a guide to determine your estimated delivery.

Triple (3-in-1) Credit Report Questions

What's the difference between a 3 Repository Credit Report and a Single Repository Credit Report?

Single repository credit reports provide your credit file information from only one of the three major credit agencies. A 3 Repository Credit Report provides your credit history as reported by all three national credit agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Your 3 Repository Credit Report lists all of your credit accounts bureau-by-bureau, line-by-line allowing you to see and compare how each of the 3 national credit agencies are reporting your accounts as well as which credit grantors have recently reviewed your credit report. Click Here to order yours today!

Why is it important to check my credit report from all 3 national credit repository agencies?

It is important to understand that the three national credit agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) are independent of each other and do not share information.Your personal and financial information that is contained in one of your files, may or may not be the same in another.

The three (3-in-1) repository credit report helps you see how lenders see you; allows you to ensure the accuracy of your credit records and avoid ID theft.

According to a study by U.S. PIRG, 70 percent of the credit reports have errors of some kind. Experts recommend checking your report with each of the three National Credit Agencies to ensure that errors are easily identified. Your three (3) repository credit report will help you make sure that the information on your credit reports from each of the credit agencies is accurate.

When lenders check your credit history, they can pull your credit report from any agency(s). By checking all three yourself, you'll be prepared no matter which agency(s) they go to. The three (3) repository credit report enables you to find inconsistencies in your credit history. While most of the information collected by the three repositories is supposed to be the same, discrepancies do occur often times. The three (3) repository credit report makes it easy to see these inconsistencies across your complete credit history.

The three (3) repository credit report also provides protection against ID theft. False information on your credit report can be one of the first signs of identity theft or credit fraud. By checking your complete credit history from all three agencies, you can reduce the risk that someone is using your identity to commit a crime.

How long will it take to receive my 3 Repository Credit Report Online?

Once you complete the order form, read the disclaimer, and press "Submit Order" button, your online credit report will usually take between 10 seconds and 2 minutes, once proper authentication has been completed, to appear on your screen. Click here to order your 3 repository credit report with free online delivery.

Where can I find out how to read my 3 Repository Credit Report Online?

A key is available with your 3 Repository Credit Report to help you better understand how to read your credit report.

Single Credit Report Questions

Can I view a single-repository Credit Report online?

Yes. Single repository credit reports are available, however, it is important to realize that when Lenders check your credit history, they can pull your credit report from any of the agencies. A single bureau credit report does not represent your entire credit history. It is important to check your credit report from all three repositories to avoid any surprises.

Credit Score Questions

What is a credit score?

A credit score is a numeric indication of how likely you are to repay debts such as loans or lines of credit. Lenders use this number to determine how much of a credit risk you are. Credit scores also are designed to indicate your creditworthiness in comparison with other consumers.

Credit scores are based on the data in your credit report and are generated by computers using artificial intelligence. Generally, the higher your score, the more "creditworthy" you are to lenders.

What is my credit score based on?

Credit scoring is based on many factors that may include:

Payment history
Amount of available credit
Amount of credit currently being used
Length of credit history
Recent requests for credit

Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT), credit scoring may not use gender, marital status, national origin, race, or religion as factors. Of course, lenders usually do not base credit decisions solely on credit scores. Lenders usually make other considerations, such as income and length of employment at current employer, when evaluating applications. Also, many consumers do not realize that achieving the best credit scores may take 20 to 30 years because lenders consider older credit histories optimal.

Why should I get my credit score?

When you order your own personal credit report, you can see the same credit history a lender sees, but a score can tell you more. It tells you how the lender is likely to evaluate your history, whether to approve you for a loan, and determine your interest rate. Checking your credit score and credit report from Equidata.net does not affect your credit rating.

How can I improve my credit score?

To improve your credit score under most models, concentrate on paying your bills on time, paying down outstanding balances, and not taking on new debt. It's likely to take some time to improve your score significantly.

When you purchase your CreditXpert™ credit score(s) you will receive a free custom analysis explaining those items on your credit report that are affecting your score and what you can do to help raise it. Now you can see the actual items from your credit report that are affecting your score. Click Here to purchase your CreditXpert™ credit score.