This presentation contains information on what exactly is in your credit report, who is checking your credit report, what makes up your credit score, and why you should check your credit report regularly. Credit reports help to guard against and discover identity theft or other fraud. You can get a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com.

1. What’s in Your Credit Report? Consumer Affairs Branch Fairfax County Department of Cable and Consumer Services fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

2. Get a Free Copy of Your Credit Report at AnnualCreditReport.com Every year Review it carefully Dispute all fraudulent or incorrect information Plan of Action fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

3. Help you guard against and discover identity theft or other fraud. Help you protect your good credit standing. Give you peace of mind that when others check your report, they'll find you to be a good risk. Give you confidence to negotiate the most favorable rates when you contact a lender. Credit Reports fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

4. Creditors. Insurers. Employers. Government agencies who issue licenses or government benefits. Businesses you have authorized, such as a landlord or mortgage lender. Who is Checking Your Credit Report? fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

5. Personal Information: name date of birth social security number or tax identification number Employment Information. Current and previous address. How you pay your bills. Debts. Inquiries. Personal Statement. What’s in Your Credit Report? fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

6. Negative Items such as: Overdue debt from collection agencies. Missed payments. Public record information from state and county courts. Bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions, tax liens, garnishments, charge offs, legal suits and judgments. BE AWARE OF ANY SUSPICIOUS INFORMATION What’s in Your Credit Report? fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

7. Credit reporting companies should delete: Cases of mistaken identity. Out of date information. Inaccurate information if the reporting company cannot confirm that the reported information is accurate. What Should Be Deleted? fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

8. Derogatory information can be kept for 7 years from the date of the 1st delinquency. Bankruptcies for 10 years from the date filed. Paid tax liens remain for up to 7 years from the date released. Unpaid tax liens can remain indefinitely. A lawsuit can be reported for 7 years. An unpaid judgment against you can be reported for 7 years or until the statute of limitations runs out. Inquiries remain on your report for 2 years. The seven-year clock starts ticking the date the “event” took place How Long Does Negative Information Stay Reported? fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

9. Promotes the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of information in credit files. You have the right to know what is in your file. You have the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Entitled to one free credit report every 12 months. Fair Credit Reporting Act fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

10. If a credit reporting company violates your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, or if you have problems with your credit report, contact: The Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC, 20580 Phone: (877)-FTC-HELPwww.ftc.gov Credit Reporting Companies fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

11. A numerical value determined by a mathematical model that predicts credit risk. Credit scores are objective. The same standards are used for everyone. Lenders use this number to determine if they should give you credit and how much credit you should have. For lenders, the higher the score, the less likely an applicant will default. What is a Credit Score? fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

12. The most commonly used credit score is known as the FICO score created by the Fair Isaac Company. FICO scores use five elements of credit to determine your score: Payment history Current debts Length of credit history New credit Types of credit used What is a FICO Score? fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

13. What Makes Up Your Credit Score? fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer

14. Contact the Fairfax County Consumer Affairs Branch for more information: 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 433 Fairfax, Virginia 22035 703-222-8435 TTY 711 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer consumer@fairfaxcounty.gov fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer Contact Consumer Affairs