MENU		YOUR CREDIT		GUARDING YOUR CREDIT
		If you are planning to buy a house, think about your credit history first. The people who lend money do! How well you have handled your credit obligations in the past is of the utmost importance to lenders today. Ideally, your credit report is an accurate, up-to-date reflection of your credit history. However, since we do not live in an ideal world, there are many reasons that your credit report could contain inaccuracies that might prevent you from receiving the credit you deserve. A credit report is a snapshot of your current credit information. It includes a list of your creditors, payment history, balances, and late payment history (if any). It also includes any inquiries made by creditors to which you have applied for credit. Typically, this report is made available online. Many inaccuracies on a credit report can be the result of simple human error, and are therefore not difficult to dispute. Whether the inaccuracies relate to payments not credited, late payments, or data mixed in from the credit file of someone else with a name similar to yours, you will want to contact the credit bureau to dispute inaccurate information promptly. One of the most important elements of credit is a demonstrated history of on time payments. Once you send the cheque through, anything can happen--a delay in the payment being received can kick you over to a 30-day delinquency. If you call your creditor and explain the situation, they might adjust the information. If you are shopping around for a loan or more credit, you should know that when creditors check your credit, it places an inquiry on your credit report. Inquiries can add up, which is often interpreted as a negative by creditors. For this reason, too many inquiries can actually make getting credit more difficult. Moreover, if you did not authorize someone to look at your credit report and they did, they may have broken the law. It just makes sense to find out about your credit and to correct errors now. You can order a free copy of your Equifax credit report instantly online by clicking here.		It is a good idea to check your credit report for inaccuracies at least once a year. If you find inaccuracies, contact a credit reporting agency in writing within 30 days. To obtain a copy of your personal credit file, send a written request to one of the following credit reporting agencies: Equifax Canada Inc. Consumer Relations Department Box 190 Jean Talon Station Montreal, Quebec H1S 2Z2 Phone: 1-800-465-7166 Requirements: Equifax requires a written request including: your name, address, date of birth and Social Insurance number. Please also include photocopies of two forms of identification and remember to sign your request. Trans Union of Canada Consumer Relations Centre P.O. Box 338, LCDI Hamilton, ON L8L 7W2 Phone: 1-800-553-9980 Requirements: Trans Union requires a written request including: your name, address, previous address (if present address is less than 5 years), phone number (optional), date of birth, place of employment (optional), and Social Insurance number(optional). Please also include photocopies of two forms of identification (both sides).
		See your personal credit report - straight from the source - online, today!

CONTACT INFORMATION
		Rick McGuigan Toronto real estate sales representative Coldwell Banker Case Realty Phone: 416-696-5100 Pager: 416-461-0925
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