Credit Report Help

[wpd11]

Does anyone know what is looked at in a credit report. I have currently applied for a police department and they set up an interview. One of the documents I was asked to bring is a up to date copy of my credit report. I think that I have a few problems with my report.

1.) Never had a credit card in my name ever.

2.) Never paid payments for a motor vehicle.

3.) Never paid payments for a home.

4.) I did have bills that was paid late and was put onto my credit report but all have been paid except for 1, about $500.00 is still owed.
EXAMPLE: Cell phone bill, medical bill, things of this nature was put onto my credit report but all have been paid. The $500.00 bill is 1 bill not a couple added together. I am aware that this will need to be paid.

5.) I have never filed for Bankruptcy.

6.) My credit score is low due to not having credit.

Keep in mind that I do own my home paid for by cash.
Vehicle paid for with cash as well.

My question to you is this. Will this sort of thing hurt me during my back-ground check. What is your thoughts and what do you think.

Am I just the little fish that they wont really worry about since there are bigger fish in the sea that owe thousands, tell me your thoughts.

[wpd11]

www.wellsvillepd.com

[Drew27k9]

Seems odd that your asking that kind of question if your already on the job.

[wpd11]

That would be because I am looking to transfer to another department. When I was hired onto this department a credit check was not part of the back-ground investigation. So there once again I have no idea what will hurt the credit check and what will not. Why all the questions about me? This is not rare is it?

[Buzliteyear]

Will the boo boos be a problem?

Probably.

The good news is that you are trying to prepare before going into the interview.

First, I don't know if it will make a difference, but try obtaining a copy of your credit report from a different credit reporting service. It's possible that one of the others may not have all of your mistakes listed.

Second, be prepared for the question, "Why are there problems with your credit report?" Your reply could be the difference between getting the job and not getting the job.

As far as the lack of credit cards, no problem. "As I've seen how many people have gotten into trouble with credit cards, I decided not to get one myself. If I don't have the money, I don't make the purchase."

If the mistakes are not to recent, explain how it happened when you were younger, but you have developed more responsibility. If they did happen recently, just tell the truth. You may still get knocked out, but trying to dance around the issue with excuses will certainly knock you out.

Good luck.

Andrew
USLawman.com

[Crvtte65]

Call your bank and ask if Ohio law gives you free credit reports every year from the three major credit reporting agencies. If not, go and buy them, most have them in bundles of all plus your score.

www.equifax.com
www.transunion.com
www.experian.com


EDIT: Whoops, misread, I guess you already have your reports and score... then cannot help you, I am still waiting for mine in the mail

[wpd11]

Ok I have just completed an online credit report from equifax. This report only has my past child support listed in which I do not owe any money. The problem is (I think) that there are no listings of bank loans or mortgages, because I have never borrowed. There are no accounts in good standing and there is none that is past due. I virtually used cash only throughout my life. Is this going to be a problem or will they say ( he owes nobody anything and has no good credit or bad credit ). I think they may be just looking to make sure that I do not owe thousands of dollars. My credit report is almost a blank peice of paper with my name on it. lol

[wild800]

One thing that you can do is pay off the $500.00 bucks that you owe, even if you have to make monthly payments of $50.00 you can knock it out in less than a year. After you have paid it all off you can ask to have your credit report updated, depending on how bad it is you may be able to salvage your credit. You may want to get a credit card also, and make small purchases which you can cover completely during the same month in order to establish some credit history.

[wpd11]

Ok here it is, the $500.00 is paid off. My question is that I dont have any credit established at all. I DO NOT HAVE GOOD OR BAD CREDIT. My credit report is basically a blank peice of paper. How will they look at this. I think I am ok. There is nothing saying I must have a credit card to go into debt with. I think as long as they see that I have not goten a credit card and ran the bills through the roof and also see that I have not filed for Bankruptcy or anything like that I will be ok.

[chrispix]

I might just bring in proof that your house and your car were paid in cash. The fact that you were able to pay for both of those in cash seems more responsible to me than using credit. Hey why not call them and ask.

[Stump]

How soon are you getting this check done? I would say get a credit card, or start using yours, for everything. Just pay it off in full at the end of each month. You will build up credit that way. However, this won't help much if your credit check is in the next few months.

[Zippo]

I'm not sure whether this applies or not as I'm writing this from Ontario, Canada. I too have absolutely no credit at all (did a credit check on myself through equifax and a basically a blank sheet showed up) so i asked my college professor, who was in charge of recruiting for an Ontario police force, on how it will affect me. He assured me that it won't affect me at all as they're mainly looking for 'BAD' credits (late payments, bankruptcy, etc.)

[wpd11]

Thanks alot zippo this does seem to be what they are looking for. As for me to run out and get a credit card to establish credit now. NEVER, this is the reason that I have never goten one. Why would I want to go out and get a credit card to pay all the interest? I FEEL THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD A SECURE ENOUGH JOB TO JUSTIFY HAVING A CREDIT CARD OR TO GET A LOAN. During my interview I will discuss this and I feel that I will not have a problem. It did strick me odd that they wanted me to bring my own credit report with me, I am still not sure why they didnt run one thereself.

P.S. No credit is better than bad credit

[Barenaked]

Couple things wpd11....

If you get a credit card and pay the purchase right off before 30 days, then you do not pay interest and you build your credit rating.

No credit is better then bad credit is true, but no credit is not as good and Good credit.