Credit basics
DOCTORS SOMETIMES USE X-rays to get a better picture of what’s
happening with their patients. Similarly, a credit report provides details
about your financial life.
Credit reports cover information such as past home addresses;
employment history; credit history, including a list of all late payments;
and public-record information, such as bankruptcies, court judgments and
a list of all inquiries into your file. Because it is often the key component on
which another vital record, your credit score, is determined, it is important
to make sure the information on your credit report is correct.
Your personal information, including
your name and address, Social
Security number, date of birth and
employment information.
Sample Credit Report
CONSUMER INFORMATION
Name: John Doe
Current Address: 1111 Any Street, Any City, Any State
Previous Address: 2222 Any Street, Any City, Any State
Current Employer: Any Employer
Any personal statement you added to
your report will appear here.
CONSUMER STATEMENT
I did not make this purchase on this credit card for $500.00 on 1/1/06.
List of payment history by five types
of accounts:
• Real estate: Primary and secondary
home mortgages
• Revolving: Open terms with varying
payments such as credit cards
• Installment: Fixed terms with regular
payments such as car loans
• Other: Accounts of unknown
category such as a 30-day American
Express account
• Collection: Seriously past-due
accounts
PAYMENT HISTORY
Type Count
Real Estate 1
Revolving Acct. 1
Installment 0
Other 0
Collection 0
Balance
$100,500
$5,000
$0
$0
$0
Payment
$1,000
$100
$0
$0
$0
Current
1
1
0
0
0
Delinquent
0
0
0
0
0
Derogatory
0
0
0
0
0
Detailed information regarding all
credit accounts in your name.
CREDIT ACCOUNT HISTORY
Creditor Acct.
Pay
Any Bank
Any Bank
Any Bank
12345678
910111213
141516171
Date
Number
01/01/06
01/01/03
01/01/00
Balance
Opened
$8,000
$4,000
$300
30 days
30 days
30 days
Terms
Status
360 mos.
360 mos.
360 mos.
Past
Due
$0
$0
$0
Legal matters that affect your
credit, such as judgments against you,
civil actions, state or federal tax liens
or bankruptcies.
Lists the date and name of all
parties who have made inquiries into
your credit history.
PUBLIC RECORDS
Type Status
Chapter 7 Filed
Date Filed
01/01/06
Liability
$50,000
Court
County
INQUIRY INFORMATION
Creditor Date of Inquiry
Any Bank 01/01/06
Credit Bureau
