All About Your Credit Score
- Be aware that each bureau may have a slightly different score listed for you, since not all records may reach the same bureaus.
- If a landlord, utility company, or anyone else, does make a false claim, you can dispute it through most online monitoring services. Simply view your report, check the claim you are disputing and give a very brief description of the situation. The bureau will launch an investigation into the claim and if there is evidence to prove it, the false information will be removed from your report, most likely within 45 days.
- If you’re really steamed, you might want to take it a step further. The federal government stepped in to aid consumers with this and other such problems with the Fair Debt Collection Act of 1996. Because of it, anyone who falsifies a credit report is going to pay up in court. “Improperly furnished information is $1000 per violation, plus punitive damages if they apply,” said Krohn. In addition, your landlord will be footing the bill for any legal fees that you incur. If you’ve been denied a loan or other purchase due to the false information in your report, this may be the best step to take.
Getting your credit report in top shape is important to do before you begin your search for a new apartment. The Landlord Protection Agency advises that credit reports be checked for inconsistencies and red flags. You work hard to pay your bills, so be sure to work hard to protect your credit, too! If you are denied a lease due to a claim in your report that can’t be disputed (i.e. you really did forget to pay your last electric bill at your college pad) you have a few choices:
- You are entitled to request that the reason you were denied an apartment be put in writing. This is good so that you can confirm this with your review of your credit report and work to get it resolved. If your heart is set on that two-bedroom overlooking the park, explain the issue as well as the steps you are taking to clear it up in writing.
- Remember that credit snafus are very common and the landlord may be forgiving if you are upfront about your history. Your second choice is to pay the outstanding bill and then be diligent in having it removed from your report. By law, companies or individuals have until their next billing cycle to remove the item from your credit.
Also keep in mind that even if you have a boo-boo on your report that you can’t immediately have removed, you shouldn’t allow it to keep you from applying for your first apartment choice. Your score is just that—a score—and just like any other number, landlords generally know that it does not say everything about you. A well-kept appearance and friendly demeanor may be just as significant, if not more so, in landing you that swank apartment.
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