Chapter One

The Big Three: Who are These Guys Screwing-up My Credit

Currently, there are three major credit reporting bureaus in the United States: Experian-formerly TRW-Equifax and Trans Union. There are other smaller credit reporting bureaus throughout the United States but these three are the biggest and the most used by banks and retail stores where you will apply for credit. Find the Big Three's addresses and phone numbers in the Appendix.

Of the Big Three, Experian appears to be the most willing to work with consumers to correct the negative information on your report. Equifax is slow, lazy and has harmed thousands of people like you by reporting false information to third parties. Trans Union is the worst to deal with, mean spirited and stubborn.

The Big Three employ persons who appear to be badly trained and not well educated, which makes cleaning up your credit more difficult than it should be.

It doesn't matter if the Big Three employ idiots who don't know how to do their jobs. With the information I provide, you are going to force these pigs to do what you want.

Why?

Because you have the force and power of the Federal government behind you. In some instances, you also have the power of state law. If the Big Three do not comply with federal and state laws, you can sue for damages. The Big Three know this. And they get sued regularly by people like you who often win their cases. David can kill Goliath with the information in this book.

Worse, you can report their wrong doing to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who will go after the Big Three and force them to do what the Fair Credit Report Act requires them to do. So, take heart. You are not entirely alone in this adventure.

All sorts of businesses, big and small, subscribe to the Big Three to get credit information about people like you. These businesses pay a monthly fee to the Big Three to obtain this information. These businesses can also report bad and good information about your credit to the Big Three.

Each time you apply for credit, say at a retail store like Wal-Mart, the store subscribes to one or sometimes all of the Big Three. Once you complete and sign your application for credit, the retail store has your permission to contact any credit reporting bureau to review your credit history. Electronically, within minutes, the retailer can obtain your credit report. ( It is a violation of federal law for any person, business or institution to obtain your credit report without your consent. If you learn someone has obtained your credit report without your consent, you may bring legal action against them. )

Credit bureaus obtain information about your credit history from collection agencies, courts, banks, loan companies, utility companies, retail stores, mortgage companies--anyone with whom you have had a legal duty to pay a debt. If you fail to pay the debt timely, these institutions report your failure to the credit bureaus.

Your objective is to discover what is actually on your credit reports at each of the Big Three. You can pay each of the Big Three a fee and they will give you a report. But there are ways to get a free report.

Click here to order
Click for Table of Contents
Who is George Williams III
Home