You can check your credit by requesting a report from the three main credit reporting companies (also sometimes referred to as “credit bureaus”). Note: Be aware that these are private companies, not government agencies.
And the best starting point for requesting your credit report is www.annualcreditreport.com. Don’t bother with that other service. While they may give you the first credit report for free, you will end up paying $15.00 a month until you cancel with them. Guys playing guitars know little about credit. That’s why they are in commercials.
Or you can send a written request by mail to:
Free Annual Credit Report
PO Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Or call the toll-free number at 1-877-322-8228
The three credit reporting companies are Equifax, Experian and Transunion.
Each of these companies not only keeps track of data related to your credit, but they also report the information and credit scores to various creditors upon request. They tend to have their own systems for calculating credit scores which they keep guarded very closely. However under current law, they are required to provide you with a free credit report once every 12 months upon request.
A clever strategy for keeping on top of your credit score and credit history is to request a credit report every four months. That is, start with a credit report from Equifax, then four months later request one from Experian, and then four months later, request one from Transunion.
Information on you from the companies may vary, but for the most part they are very similar. So you should be able to consistently get a ballpark sense of how you’re doing credit-wise. Don’t bother buying credit scores or other items from the bureaus as that is where they will make a great deal of money from you. Just get the facts of what the creditors are saying about you.
If you have additional questions about credit scoring, credit history or how bankruptcy affects credit scores, or if you are contemplating filing for bankruptcy in Connecticut, please feel free to contact me for a free initial consultation.
Contact Attorney Melchionne
Eugene S. Melchionne, Esq.
27 First Ave.
Waterbury, CT 06710
(203) 757-3437
About Eugene Melchionne Attorney at Law
Eugene S. Melchionne, Esq. - Mr. Melchionne is a graduate of The University of Connecticut (B.A. 1977) and Drake University School of Law (J.D. 1980) where he received the American Jurisprudence Award for academic excellence.Since 1980, Mr. Melchionne has focused his practice in the areas of consumer bankruptcy, workouts and foreclosure defense in distressed real estate markets, real estate transactions, condominium law, commercial litigation, business organizations and probate.
Prior to opening his office in 1990, Mr. Melchionne was associated with Grady & Riley in Waterbury, Connecticut and DiPietro, Kantrovitz & Brownstein, P.C. in New Haven, Connecticut. From 1990-1998, Mr. Melchionne was of counsel to Bender & Anderson handling that firm's complex litigation and trials. In addition to his practice, Mr. Melchionne was an adjunct professor at the American Institute of Banking and Teikyo Post University teaching bankruptcy, real estate, commercial and consumer law. Mr. Melchionne also advised the Corporation Counsel's office for the City of Waterbury on bankruptcy and foreclosure matters and mentored junior attorneys in that office.
In 2005, Mr. Melchionne was appointed State Chair for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA). He acts as a liasion between the national organization and Connecticut attorneys who are members of the Association. He has fostered education of attorneys in the bankruptcy field and increased access of the public to bankruptcy relief in light of the law passed in 2005.
In 2007, Mr. Melchionne was elected as Vice President of the Bankruptcy Law Network, an internet resource for consumer information on bankruptcy and now serves as its President. Bankruptcy Law Network has three sister sites, Credit Law Network, Debt Law Netowrk and Mortgage Law Network.
Areas Of Practice:
Consumer Bankruptcy
Workouts & Foreclosure and Repossession Defense
Real Estate Closings
Honors:
Super Lawyer Connecticut - 2007, 2008
Member of the Month - April 2006, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
American Institute of Banking Community Service - Ken Kovel Award, 2001
Teacher of the Year, American Institute of Banking, 1998
Pro Bono Representation of Indigent Clients, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Connecticut, 1996 - 2002
American Jurisprudence Award 1978
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Speaker - NACBA 2009 Convention, Chicago, IL
Speaker - NACTT 2009 Convention, Boston MA
Speaker - NACBA 2008 Workshop, Hilton Head, SC
Speaker - NACBA 2008 Convention, Los Angeles, CA
Speaker - NACBA 2007 Workshop, Las Vegas, NV
Speaker - NACBA 2007 Convention, Philadelphia, PA
Adjunct Professor - Bankruptcy, Real Estate, Consumer, and Commercial Law,
American Institute of Banking and Teikyo Post University
Past/Present Affiliations:
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
American Bankruptcy Institute
American Institute of Banking, Northwest Region Council
City of Waterbury Corporation Counsel - Advisor, 1996 - 2000
Waterbury Bar Association - Chair, Committee on Bankruptcy -1998
Waterbury Credit Bureau, Inc. - Vice President, 1983 - 1985
American, Connecticut, and Waterbury Bar Associations
Admitted:
Connecticut, 1982
U.S. Federal Court, 1982
Education:
Drake University Law School, Des Moines, IA, J.D. - 1980
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, B.A. - 1977
Past Positions:
Bender & Anderson, Of Counsel, Hamden, Conn.
DiPietro, Kantrovitz & Brownstein, P.C., New Haven, Conn.
Grady & Riley, Waterbury, Conn.
