Questions and Answers
Q & A
A: Absolutely. We follow all State and Federal Laws.
Q. What is a “Credit Score?”
A. Your credit score is a numerical value assigned to the consumer reflecting credit worthiness based on a given statistical model. It differs depending on the credit bureau that issues it.
Q. What is a “Credit Report”?
A. A credit report is generated by a credit bureau containing that bureau’s records on file, which pertain to an individual consumer.
Q. How can I get a copy of my credit report?
A. You can get a copy of your credit report from all 3 credit bureaus, as well as your score, at www.annualcreditreport.com.
Q. Who are the 3 major credit bureaus?
A. In the United States, there are 3 major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Q. What types of information do credit bureaus gather?
A. The types of information gathered include your name, address, birth date, employment history, debts, payment habits, and public records.
Q. How does a credit bureau gather my personal information?
A. Credit Bureaus obtain public record information from the court system and information on other debts and payment habits from lenders such as banks, retailers, and collection agencies.
Q. How long does it take to see improvement in my credit score?
A. That will depend on your individual situation. In some cases, major improvements can be achieved in just over 30 days, and in others it can take up to six months. However, most of the time, you can reasonably expect to see improvement in four months.
A. Credit bureaus make billions of dollars selling copies of credit reports to potential lenders.
Q. What is meant by “Credit Repair”?
A. Credit repair is the process of improving one’s credit worthiness by disputing negative information on his/her credit report.
Q. What is the “Fair Credit Reporting Act ”?
A. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a Federal Law passed by Congress in 1972 . it gives the consumer certain rights under federal Laws regarding credit reporting
Q. What is a “Credit Bureau”?
A. A credit bureau or “Credit Repository,” is a for-profit organization that gathers information and keeps records on consumers’ credit history
Q. Is Credit Repair Legal?
A. Yes! Under the FCRA the consumer has the legal right to demand an investigation.
Q. Is it legal to seek 3rd party help in challenging information on my credit report?
A. Yes, absolutely! Although the credit bureaus would like you to believe otherwise. They have also been known to send threatening letters as a scare tactic from seeking assistance.
A. Every person’s situation is different, and results can never be guaranteed. However, in most cases, there will be major improvements to one’s credit report and credit score. These improvements can enable clients to get a mortgage, credit card, or car loan … and, at a much lower interest rate. The goal is to always improve the credit score as much as possible. Improvement is almost always achievable. We guarantee our services 100%.
Q. Why are my scores different on Credit Karma than they are on Identity IQ?
A. There are key points about how credit scores can vary between different platforms. Here’s a bit more detail:
Different Scoring Models: Credit Karma and Identity IQ may use different scoring models. For example, Credit Karma often uses the Vantage Score model, while Identity IQ might use FICO scores or other versions of FICO. Each scoring model has its own way of calculating scores based on your credit report data.
Credit Bureaus: Credit Karma typically pulls data from TransUnion and Equifax, while Identity IQ might use a different mix of bureaus. Your credit score can vary depending on which bureau’s data is used and how that data is interpreted.
Data Reporting Time: The information on your credit reports can change frequently. If the data reported to one bureau is updated more often than another, or if there are discrepancies, this can result in different scores.
Soft vs. Hard Inquiries: As you mentioned, checking your scores through services like Credit Karma and Identity IQ involves soft inquiries, which don’t affect your credit score. However, the scores they provide are just estimates based on the data they have access to.
During the credit repair process, it’s good to monitor overall trends and improvements rather than focusing too much on the exact numbers from different services. If your scores are going up, that’s a positive sign!