Merged Credit Reports by TruCredit Frequently Asked Questions About Merged Credit Reports

Who are the three national credit bureaus?
Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. These three credit bureau systems are the most used repositories for credit information in this country. Smaller, local credit bureaus normally affiliate with and contribute their information to one of these three. These three credit bureau systems are competitors and do not normally share information. Sometimes lenders and other creditors report information to one of these systems. Sometimes they report to two or all three. To get all your credit information, it is best to check all three credit bureaus.

Free reports -- Can I get a free credit report?
We cannot get a free credit report for you because we have to go to the three credit bureaus and buy your credit information for our Trucredit Report. In certain circumstances, free reports are available to you under Federal or State law. Visit www.annualcreditreports.com for more information regarding your free annual credit report authorized under Federal law.

Divorce -- Does a divorce decree relieve me of my old debts if the judge says so?
     A divorce decree may not always absolve you from your bills. You may still be obligated to repay the joint debts you and your ex-spouse incurred while married. This applies even if a divorce judge directs your ex-spouse to pay a bill. It's best to consult a lawyer about such questions.
     In addition, when the ex-spouse responsible to pay a debt according to a divorce decree, becomes delinquent in paying a joint bill, the creditor may have the right to report that derogatory information on your credit report. If your ex-spouse doesn't pay at all, the creditor may ask you to repay the debt and may even take legal action against you for unsettled accounts.
     Therefore, if you are getting a divorce, try to pay off your remaining joint balances before divorce and close all accounts you and your spouse share. If that is not possible, ask your joint creditors to have joint accounts closed and remaining balances transferred to new, individual accounts established in the name of the responsible party. Then, after the divorce is final, you can begin to develop credit separately and independently.

Risk Scores -- How can I raise my risk score?
Here are our tips:
1. Order your Trucredit Report and make sure your credit report is accurate.
2. If you can pay off past-due and collections balances. Unpaid balances normally lower your score.
3. If you have many accounts it may be best to close some accounts that are no longer used or necessary. Too many open accounts may lower your score. Note if you only have a few accounts opened, it may be better to leave them open, especially if they are older accounts with a good credit history.
4. Minimize shopping for new credit cards and loans. When you apply for credit cards and loans, it generates a credit inquiry on your account. Too many inquiries may slightly lower your score.
5. Pay down high balances on revolving credit cards (if you can). High balances relative to the card's credit limit may lower your score.
6. Establish good paying habits with no late payments for 12 to 24 months. Even if you have bad credit in the past, remember that a pattern of paying your bills on time more recently will help.

What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
It is a federal law protecting consumers by requiring consumer credit reporting agencies to adopt reasonable procedures regarding confidentiality, accuracy and proper use of your credit information. For a summary of your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), click here. For the complete text of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), click here.

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How much does it cost for a Trucredit Report?
We get your report for you from all three national credit bureau systems including Transunion, Equifax and Experian. It's $29.90. To qualify for online delivery, you will be required to pass our online identity authentication test.

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How fast can I get my report?
Normally you will get your credit report online in the same session as when you apply for your report. Applicants who request online delivery who do not pass our online identity authentication process will have to call our customer service to be authenticated over the phone. After being successfully identified, successful applicants will get their report delivered online. The report will be available for online review for 60 days.

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Can my report be faxed to me?
No, for security and identity issues, we do not fax your report.

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Can my report be emailed to me?
No, at this time the three credit bureaus do not all allow delivery via email. Until email security and identity issues are solved, we will not email your credit report. To our knowledge, no credit reporting company delivers a three bureau credit report to consumers through email. Delivering a credit report over a secured server is not the same as delivering a credit report through email.

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Can I order a Trucredit Report on another person or my spouse?
No, on this web site you may only order your own report. Your spouse must order their own report.

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If I am married, does my Trucredit Report cover my spouse?
The Trucredit Report will show all the individual and joint credit reported under the name requested. It will not show the individual credit reported under your spouses' name. To see all the credit reported under both names, it is advised to order separate credit reports for each party.

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I just married and changed my name, what name should I use to order my report?
Generally use your current legal name unless you know your credit is still in your unmarried name. Normally credit bureaus will link your names together and report your credit under either your married or unmarried name. However, if all your credit is in your unmarried name, the credit bureaus may not know yet about your marriage and new name. To some degree credit bureaus depend on the creditors who report credit information to them, to update your new name and address. That only happens as you get credit in your new name or contact your old creditors about your name change.

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Can I get my credit bureau risk score on my Trucredit Report?
Credit risk scores are an option you may purchase with your credit report. They must be purchased at the same time you order your credit report. We cannot get your credit score without purchasing your credit report from the 3 national credit bureaus, so we cannot provide credit scores to you without your ordering a credit report.

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Standard Trucredit 3-Bureau Credit Report With Creditor Addresses

Only $29.90

Or order your Trucredit 3 Bureau Credit Report with Creditor Addresses and All 3 Credit Scores for just $39.85.