Can I get Negative Information Removed from my Credit Report if it's True? , How do I know what's in my Credit Report?

 Can I get Negative Information Removed from my Credit Report if it's True?

Only time can make it go away. Most negative information will stay on your report for seven years, and bankruptcy information will stay on for 10 years. Unpaid judgements against you will stay on your report for seven years or until the statue of limitations runs out, whichever is longer.

There are exceptions. In certain situations-like when you seek a job paying more than $75,000 a year, or a loan or insurance valued at more than $150,000- a credit bureau will include older negative information on your report that wouldn't show up otherwise.

 How do I know what's in my Credit Report?

Each of the nationwide credit bureaus-Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion- is required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months if you ask for it. Go to annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or use the mail-in form (see p. 6 and 7) Otherwise, a credit bureau may charge you a reasonable amount for another copy of your report within a 12-month period.

You can order free reports from each of the three credit bureaus from annualcreditreport.com at the same time, or you can stagger your request throughout the year. Some financial advisors say staggering your request during a 12-month period may be a good way to keep an eye on the accuracy and completeness of the information in your reports. Because each credit bureau gets its information from different source, the information in your report from one credit bureau may not reflect all, or the same, information in your reports from the other two credit bureaus.