Shuswap Homes
You are here: News » Archive » How Important is Your Own Personal Credit Rating

How Important is Your Own Personal Credit Rating?

Posted On: 2009-11-19

Global West Mortgage Corp - Rod Minnes, Managing Broker

Many people seem to be confused by their credit report (rating, bureau score, beacon score are other names), and how it impacts their ability to get credit. This document alone can impact your ability to work at certain companies, rent an apartment, get a credit card, and even open a bank account.
 
This collection of facts details your entire history of borrowing habits and much more, and is being used by institutions all the time to decision credit. Like it or not, many places consider this type of reporting a very good indicator of your character. The report contains details on your payment history, your previous loans, any liens against your property, where you've lived and worked, whether you have been sued, and whether you have declared bankruptcy in the last seven years.

What many people do not know is that you have legal right to be able to gain access to this information. Your Mortgage Broker or bank cannot provide copies of this report, but nonetheless, you can obtain a copy through Equifax or Trans Union.
 
In Canada these are the two main credit reporting agencies. Both of these credit reporting agencies have a mechanism in place for consumers to get their own reports. The contact details for these agencies are contained below.

Equifax
Consumer Relations Department
Box 190 Jean Talon Station
Montreal, Quebec
H1S 2Z2
(416) 227-8800, (800) 465-7166

 
Trans Union
325 Milner
Toronto, ON
M1B 5N1
(416) 609-2070; (800) 663-9980.

 
You should obtain this report not just to see where you stand, but also to correct any erroneous reporting that may have occurred. Unfortunately many people have a tendency to discover outstanding issues on their credit report when they are applying for a mortgage and it is too late to fix on time. The strange thing is that even though by law people have a right to see what is in their file (and correct erroneous information), they rarely do until it is too late. You should check your credit report at least once every two years to make sure that everything on it is accurate. I don't suggest checking much more often than that, or it may affect your scoring.

It is not unheard of for these two reporting agencies to have different information on you. It is also not unheard of for people to be flagged with credit accounts that they never had. If the credit report you obtain and your financial information are not the same, then the onus is on you to have this corrected!
 
It is critical that any correspondence that you have between the credit reporting agency and yourself is always documented. ALWAYS GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND KEEP IT FOR YOUR PERSONAL RECORDS. Unless you have it in writing from the creditor with an issue - consider it unresolved!

Many people are surprised at just how much information is collected. Remember when you didn't pay that dentist that took you to small claims court, how about that last hydro bill you skipped out on after your fourth year of university? Even if you don't remember these items, your credit records will help every one else remember. If you have liens against your name then most lenders will not extend any credit to you.
 
Take the responsibility for your credit, and monitor your credit like you would your health. Check ups are always a good idea.

On a positive note, bad credit is not something you can't overcome. With time and re-established credit those credit cards that went to collections may not be forgotten, but can for the most part be forgiven. Remember that your credit rating is only one piece of the puzzle in the lending decision. At the same time, it is too important a piece to ignore.

Global West Mortgage Corp Ltd is an independent mortgage brokerage that provides residential mortgage financing to the typical consumer without a service/brokerage fee!  We value innovation in the marketplace and recognize that every situation is unique and requires unique solutions to financing! Our work focuses on our clients, and we use our considerable experience to provide options from a competitive range of lenders all over Canada.  The strong relationships we've built with lenders allow us to obtain low rates and flexible terms.

info@globalwestmortgage.com - toll free, 1-888-541-2366

Current News Archived News