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Step 1
Take a look at your current credit report. The Resources bar has a link to a site where you can get a free copy. You'll want to make sure your current accounts (and past accounts listed) are accurate. Look especially for delinquent accounts and charge-offs as these negatively affect your score. Ensure your current report is up to date.
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Step 2
Begin keeping records of your accounts by printing your report and monitoring your credit file every three months. Cross-reference all your accounts and loan paperwork with your report, and keep copies of all relevant files together in a file. Negative credit history - bankruptcy, charge-offs, delinquent accounts - can stay on your report for up to 10 years. If you seek to find out about these old accounts, have all paperwork at the ready.
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Step 3
Contact the three credit bureaus. The agencies are: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. (Links are in the Resources bar.) Make sure you reach a representative in the account-management department. Have specific questions prepared for the companies. Are you looking for a particular account or just an entire file from years ago? These questions will guide the rep in their research. Be prepared to pay a fee for these reports, as it will require digging in both paper and electronic records.
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Step 4
Contact all previous lenders. Speaking with a similar department (account management), ask for copies of previous loan documents and paid off accounts. Having these records will expedite the research being conducted by the credit agencies. Similarly, do the same with previous bank accounts. Again, be prepared to pay a fee at a bank for loan and account statements for research.
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Step 5
Wait. Research, depending on the age of the file, can take up to six weeks. In the meantime, get your financial records in order and prepare to match all existing and closed accounts to your records. Maintaining financial health requires a thorough understanding of your credit file.
