Credit Reports Listed Me as a Terrorist

Credit reports and background checks errors
Ever checked your credit reports?  You will after watching this YouTube video: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver talking about errors credit reports and background reports. (I apologize for some of the language this reporter uses, but the information is extremely useful).  What I did not know is that:

• 52% of debts on credit reports are for medical bills.
• One in four credit reports had errors and
• one in twenty were seriously wrong.

I was aware that the errors directly affected someone’s ability to get a job, buy a car or home, get insurance or rent an apartment.  What I had not considered was the havoc errors in these reports would suffer on innocents.  It literally takes years and lots of money to unwind credit or background reporting errors.  That is years out of someone’s life.  Time they could have spent with their family, contributing to their community or just relaxing.  How alone they must feel!!
There are some regulations on the credit reporting companies, but not enough to protect you.  The government agencies are well aware of the problems caused by credit reporting agencies, but do little to protect us.  Except the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  They are aggressively attacking credit reporting agencies.  Check out their web site for tools, resources, many very valuable tips and an easy to file complaint process.
Background reports:  Hundreds of companies offer background reports.  These companies do not the same obligations as credit reporting agencies (which is minimum to say the least).  According to the Federal Trade Commission “there is no list of these companies”.  This YouTube review explains how often these background reports are inaccurate and how people are affected by these errors.
You may be one of those who have errors on your reports and never knew it.  Order your free credit reports from www.annualcreditreport.com.  By federal law each credit reporting agency must give you one free report each 12 month period.
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