Your credit report can have a dramatic impact on your financial stability. With good credit, you can obtain benefits of all kinds–a home mortgage or lease on an apartment, an auto loan, low-interest credit cards, and more-with ease. But if your credit history is poor, many of these financial options may be unavailable to you. Either way, you have a right to know what to expect when a lender runs a credit check on you.

Aside from paying your bills regularly and on time, the single most important thing you can to be aware of the contents of your credit report.

Studies have shown that many credit files contain inaccuracies that can harm your credit rating, leading to rejections when you apply for loans, insurance, even a job. Often the result of simple human error, they can be caused by anything from a clerical error to a computer glitch in which your file is mixed with that of someone with a similar name.

That’s why it’s essential that you check all of your credit files-and monitor your credit regularly–to protect your good credit standing, even if you always pay all your bills on time.

To dispute inaccurate information on your Experian, Trans Union or Equifax credit report, write to the bureau that supplied the information. In your letter be sure to include:

• Your full name, first, middle and last and including any applicable suffixes (Jr., Sr., II, etc.)
• Your complete mailing address
• Your date of birth
• Your Social Security number (this is necessary to access your credit report)
• The name and account number of the creditor and item in question
• The specific reason for your disagreement with the disputed item
• Your signature

Mail disputes to:

Experian
(see phone number below)

Equifax Information Services
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Trans Union Corporation
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390

Or call these numbers for more information:

Experian 1 (888) EXPERIAN
Equifax 1 (800) 378-2732
Trans Union 1 (800) 916-8800