Specialty credit reports: Where to obtain the free ones

Keepers of data on rental payments, check-writing must provide annual reports

By Kim McGrigg

Credit Care

Kim McGrigg is Community Manager for Money Management International, where she provides personal finance education information to consumers. Ask a question 'Credit Care' archives

Dear Credit Care,
Is paying the whole balance of a credit card better than the recommended "30 percent balance-to-limit ratio" that the credit bureaus talk about? Also, can landlords set up a system to report their tenants to the credit bureaus? Thanks! -- Alex

Dear Alex,
To answer your question about your credit card, not carrying a balance at all is best for your credit score. However, if you do carry a balance, be sure to keep the balance below 30 percent of your total credit limit.

Something that consumers sometimes miss is that using the account each month and paying off the balance adds positive information to your report that helps boost your score. If you aren't using the account, even if it has no balance, it is not helping your credit score as much. Also, if you have multiple credit card accounts, you need to keep in mind your balances and total credit limit on all accounts when figuring your ratio of credit available to credit used.

The answer to your second question is yes, many landlords report rental history to credit bureaus, but probably not to one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) to which I believe you are referring. Specialty credit bureaus collect and report consumer data on many things including: rental history; medical tests, conditions and other medical information; insurance claims; employment and checking accounts. You may be interested to know that the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that these specialty bureaus provide consumers with a free annual report just as the three major credit bureaus must. Tracking down these reports is not as simple, but you are entitled to the reports if you want to view them. 

The major specialty bureau contact information is listed below. If you have been denied a lease, had an increase in insurance premium based on a credit report or had any other adverse action taken against you, request that the company provide you the name of the bureau whose credit report they viewed to make their decision and then contact that bureau to get a copy of your credit report.

One of the major credit bureaus, Experian, announced in January 2011 that it started reporting positive rental payment histories on its consumer credit reports. The addition of the rental payment history allows consumers to add positive information to their credit reports with the added bonus of possibly increasing their credit scores. If boosting your credit score is why you are interested in having your rental history reported, you might request that your landlord report your information to Experian RentBureau.

Keep in mind that Experian is only listing positive rental history on its reports now, but negative rental information could find its way onto your credit reports if you owe a landlord and they have sent your rental account to a collection agency.

Handle your credit with care!    

See related: Get the really free credit reports, 10 things you must know about credit reports, FICO 5: the basic elements of a credit score

Kim McGrigg is the community manager for Money Management International, the largest nonprofit, full-service credit counseling agency in the United States. You can find more money management advice on Blogging for Change and MMI's Facebook page.

Credit Care answers a question about a debt or credit issue from a CreditCards.com reader each week. Send your question to Credit Care.

Published: June 20, 2011

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