Personal details
Check your name, address, date of birth and identification details for unfamiliar or outdated information.
Credit report, explained
Read the detail behind the number.
A report is a record of reported information. Take it in sections, mark what you recognise and note what you want to verify.
A useful first pass
Five places to look.
Do not try to solve everything in one glance. A slow, organised read makes the next conversation more specific.
Account information
Look at lender names, account numbers, dates opened, current status and reported balances.
Payment history
Read the reported pattern and dates. A code or month you do not understand is a good question to write down.
Enquiries
Review recent enquiries and applications. If one is unfamiliar, gather context before drawing a conclusion.
Remarks and closures
Note settled, closed, written-off or other status language and compare it with your own documents.
If something looks wrong
Pause. Save the evidence. Ask a precise question.
A possible error is not automatically proof of an error. Compare dates and documents, then contact the relevant lender or credit information company through its official process. Learn about dispute preparation →