Question:
Di, we’re not in a bad place financially right now, but if things get worse I’m concerned about my credit score. How can I protect my credit?
Di Patterson:
I’m so glad to hear that you’re being proactive about this, because that’s the best way to fortify your credit and ensure you’ll be able to withstand difficult economic conditions. There are a few things you can do right now to protect your credit.
- Check your own FICO score with the “Big 3″ credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
If there are blemishes, contact the company in writing and tell them you’d like to resolve the matter (if possible). Be sure to make a copy of the letter you send and send it directly to the credit reporting bureaus.- If there are extenuating circumstances that affected your credit — such as a medical situation — write a description of the circumstance and send it to the credit reporting bureas.
- Protect yourself against identity theft. There are a few services that can proactively stop ID theft before it happens, such as LifeLock
…here are a few other great resources:
The Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Credit Protection information: http://www.ftc.gov/index.shtmlHope Alliance
A federally-funded Housing Information Service (Counsel at No Charge!)
888-305-2262
… and the “Big 3″ credit bureaus are:
Equifax
Experian
PO Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
(888) 397-3742
Web site: www.experian.comTransUnion LLC
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
(800) 888-4213
Web site: www.transunion.com
Don’t forget to read my Financial Resource Guide
