The information provided on your credit report can help a potential lender determine your ability to handle additional debt. At the top, you will find current personal information such as your name, address, date of birth and employer. There will also be a summary of your credit, which includes types of accounts (revolving, real estate, installment, collections and other), number of open accounts, credit balances and payment on each type of credit. Specific information is also included for each creditor. The information will include your payment history, your balance, payment, date opened, date the information was last reported and the type of account. Next, you will find a list of the creditors who have inquired about your credit history. It is a good idea to review this list to make sure these only include creditors you approved to review your history. Finally, a list of your creditors and their contact information will be included.
