Photograph Credit: Fotolia

Losing thing makes me obsessed with finding the item. It’s like everything else gets blocked from my mind until I find the object.

Thankfully, this does not happen often. When it occurs, I will not stop until I find it which was the case with missing a requested credit report.

Missing a Requested Credit Report

In preparing to check our second round of credit reports, I checked our credit report file for the dates of our last reports.

As I looked, I was shocked to discover that the TransUnion report I ordered back in February was missing. OH, NO!!

In working through my panic, I checked the entire file opening and the surrounding sections. Not finding the report, I checked my desk where visions of tossing it in the trash enter my thought processes.

By now, I had worked myself up thinking of worst-case scenarios. Concerned that our mail might have been stolen, I contacted TransUnion.

To my relief, they never received my request, so no missing report. Aah . . . the sigh that relieved my panicked-stricken heart and lowered my blood pressure all at the same time. Whew!

Adjusting after Missing a Requested Credit Report

Now what to do? If I requested a new report, then I will need to reconfigure my rotation schedule. In considering other options, I turned to my FREE credit score with Credit Karma.

When I check my credit score, I can generate a FREE credit report through my account. Because Credit Karma is not a reporting agency or credit bureau, I can request my FREE credit score on time next year through AnnualCreditReport.com or 1-877-322-8228.

Though I was missing a requested report, the information was not relayed from Annual Credit Report to TransUnion. Thankful that my report was not in someone else’s hands, I have now added to my calendar an entry 3 weeks after requesting my credit report. The entry reminds me to check for those reports. This way, I can contact the company immediately to check on the status.

As you organize or maintain your important documents, check on your credit report order placement. If you are missing a requested report after searching your home, then contact the company to inquire. If they sent it and you did not receive it, then report it missing.

If you missed your scheduled time period, then check Credit Karma for TransUnion or Quizzle for Experian before requesting a credit report. By checking Credit Karma, I saved money, energy, and time from ordering another one and disrupting my schedule.

For those of you who request your FREE credit reports through the link on-line, you won’t find yourself missing a requested credit report. After this experience, the on-line option is beginning to look like a better way, but I’m not quite there yet. Happy requesting!

Question: Have you experienced the panic of missing a requested credit report?

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Dan Eriksson)

With an extra hour, I hope you can find a few minutes to order your next credit report.

By adding this reminder to my scheduled during the Planning for Success series, I didn’t forget our third credit report update this year.

Thanks to the SC Department of Revenue’s security breech, our family is still receiving monthly updates from our year of free monitoring.

Though I get an e-mail listing any activity, I still request a copy of our credit reports to stay on schedule and look over all the activity on our accounts.

If you are following my recommended schedule for requesting your credit reports or are just beginning, then check the date on your previous year’s credit report before requesting a new report.

Wait at least one full year from the processing of your last request for a free report to prevent incurring a fee. For example, my Equifax report printed on October 22, 2012, so I can request another this year for FREE anytime after October 23, 2013.

In using time wisely, I request our reports every 4 (or 5) months. For this third credit report update, I requested Paul’s TransUnion report and my Equifax report. When the reports arrive, I will follow this plan:

1. Review for errors,

2. Challenge discrepancies,

3. Run a FREE TransUnion credit score for Paul,

4. Replace last year’s reports with the new reports and credit score in the first file slot of Box 1 of our important documents, and

5. Put the file box away until February’s credit check.

The first time we ordered our credit reports, they were filled with errors from wrong information to incorrect credit limits. I spent months corresponding via mail and on-line forms getting the information corrected.

It took time. But in using time wisely then, I typically spend 5 minutes or less now reviewing our credit reports. The process is simple because I spent so much time getting it right the first time.

The lesson I learned from that experience was to fix errors as soon as possible. The longer you wait the more time and research it takes the company to fix it. Nipping inaccuracies early will save you frustrations later.

Keep using time wisely. Rest easy knowing your accounts are accurate by requesting your credit reports throughout the year. Finding an error early can save you money, energy, and time. Happy checking!

Question: Do you request your annual credit reports?