Your credit report contains information about where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued or arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. Credit reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s credit reporting companies.

Some financial advisors and consumer advocates suggest that you review your credit report periodically. Why?

• Because the information it contains affects whether you can get a loan — and how much you will have to pay to borrow money.
• To make sure the information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date before you apply for a loan for a major purchase like a house or car, buy insurance, or apply for a job.
• To help guard against identity theft. That’s when someone uses your personal information — like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number — to commit fraud. Identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate information like that could affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or even a job.

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Teaching Suggestions

• Ask students to summarize major provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. How does the law protect consumers?
• What is the importance of reviewing your credit report periodically?

Discussion Questions

1. Why only authorized persons are allowed to obtain credit reports?
2. What must a credit bureau do when you notify the credit bureau that you dispute the accuracy of its information?
3. What should you do if you are denied credit, insurance, employment, or rental housing based on the information in the report?