credit report - Identity Theft Prevention

The most important step that you can take for identity theft prevention is to order a new copy of your credit reports at least once a year to prevent being caught by surprise charges and accounts. You can request a free credit report from one of the many reputable credit companies available online or you can pay for a copy by requesting it directly through one of the major credit bureaus. The sooner identity theft is caught, the sooner the damage that has been done to your credit can be repaired. Other things you can do for identity theft prevention include the following tips: Don't carry unneeded credit cards, your Social Security card, your birth certificate or other personal documents in your purse or wallet. Keep track of all your ATM, credit card, debit card and other receipts. Either store these documents in a safe place or destroy them before putting them in the trash. Additionally, if you have credit card accounts that you do not use, cancel them. Also, it is a good idea to keep a list of all of your credit card account numbers and the companies' telephone numbers so you can cancel them quickly and easily in case they are stolen or lost. Just be sure you choose a safe place to leave the hard copy. Lastly, protect your Social Security number as much as possible. This number is one piece of information that is always needed to open bank accounts and apply for credit cards. Do not give it out to any person or company unless you are familiar with them and you have initiated the communication. Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the authors bio paragraph at the bottom of this article is included, the article is published "as is" (unedited) and all URL's are made active hyperlinks with no syntax changes. About The Author This article was written by Beth Pardue who has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more about credit reports or to get a free credit report online please visit: http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Pardue credit report - Credit Reports Credit reports are, quite simply, electronic records of your credit activities. These activities can range from borrowing money to buy a car to applying for a loan or credit card or missing payments on loans you have taken. The report is generated so that potential lenders can see how you use credit and how much of it you have available. According to Trans Union, one of the major credit bureaus, there are four major areas of content in credit reports : 1.) Identifying information, including your name, phone number, address, Social Security number and date of birth; 2.) Credit history, including payment history, including any late payments, to banks, credit card companies, retailers and other lenders; 3.) Public records, including bankruptcy filings or liens. The fourth item is inquiries about your credit, which occur when you apply for a loan or credit card. A credit report also shows any current credit that you have. This includes amounts owed, amounts available, like on a credit card or other form of revolving credit and payment amounts on installment loans. Do you know what is on your credit report? You can find out by visiting www.credit-report-credit-score.com and requesting your free copy. Whether a lender is evaluating your loan request or a card company is considering whether to give you a credit card, you can be sure that the information on your credit report will influence its decision. Unfortunately, some of us mismanage credit and pay the price. We get negative information remains on a credit report that hurts our chances of getting additional credit for years. That is why it is so important to periodically check your credit report for accuracy. ------------------------- Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the authors bio paragraph at the bottom of this article is included, the article is published "as is" (unedited) and all URL's are made active hyperlinks with no syntax changes. -------------------------