Nashville Bankruptcy lawyer James Flexer reveals strategies and techniques to help you rebuild your credit after filing bankruptcy. This article explains how to get your 3 credit reports for free (other than postage costs).
Nashville Bankruptcy lawyer James Flexer reveals strategies and techniques to help you rebuild your credit after filing bankruptcy. This article explains how to get your 3 credit reports for free (other than postage costs).
The choice to file bankruptcy was a step in the right direction to get rid of crippling debt. To really get a “fresh start” that the bankruptcy discharge gives you, it is necessary to start making smart decisions about debt and money right now.
First, make sure you have a copy of your bankruptcy discharge issued by the United States Bankruptcy Court. Second, have a copy of your filed bankruptcy petition. Third, request a copy of your credit report from Experian ((615) 805-6374 orwww.experian.com), Equifax ((615) 805-6374 or www.equifax.com), and TransUnion Corporation ((615) 805-6374 or www.transunion.com).
Under federal law in the Fair Credit Reporting Act you are entitled to one (1) free credit report per year from each of the 3 major credit bureaus listed above. Although it is easier to order your credit report online, I don’t recommend downloading your credit report. When you click the “I Accept” button after the 10,000 word disclaimer, you are probably waiving your right to sue the credit bureau in the future if just cause existed to take them to court.
Instead, request it in writing and the credit bureaus will have to send you a written copy which they themselves produced, which is, of course, much harder to deny later.
To get your free annual credit reports by mail, you must go through the national request service. I recommend requesting and completing the “Annual Credit Report Request Form” and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
As far as requesting the form itself, you are probably O.K. to download it here, but be careful that you don’t get redirected to another page. Also, read anything carefully prior to accepting it for terms, conditions, and waivers. My preferred method to request the form is by mail at the P.O. Box above.
In addition to the free annual credit report we have discussed, there are several other situations when you can get a free credit report. I will go into these different ways of obtaining a free credit report in an article in the near future.
At the Law Offices of James Flexer, we really care how our clients handle life after bankruptcy. The credit report is where it all starts. I will guide you step by step in future articles about how to read, correct, and utilize your credit report to increase your credit score, which will expand your options if you elect to use credit in the future. Whether you go into debt or not, your credit score can impact your life in many ways. It is not that hard to improve it and guard it. Until next time, a Nashville Bankruptcy Attorney is working hard to give you the information you need to improve your credit after Bankruptcy.
This article is intended to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. This article should not and cannot substitute for the independent judgment and skills of a competent attorney or other professional.