What Personal Data Is On My Credit Reports?

Credit reports contain a variety of liability information including loans, collections and public records.  But, there is also an incredible amount of highly sensitive personal information.  So, what personal information should you expect to see on your credit reports?  Before answering the question it’s best to summarize all of the information in a credit report.

A credit report can be segmented into four distinct sections: personal information, inquiries, trade (or account), and public records.  We’ll focus only on the personal information.  And, you’ll be surprised what information is included and maybe more surprised that there isn’t as much detail as you would come to expect from a credit report.  Follow me…

Personal information includes names, addresses, social security number, date of birth, and employers.  The name includes your first, middle, last, suffixes such as junior and senior and “AKA.”   AKA (also known as) is usually reserved for females who are or have been married and have had credit in both names.  For example Jane Smith married John Doe and now is Jane Doe, but also had credit under the name of Jane Smith.  Both names will appear on her credit report.

Address information includes your current and several previous addresses, along with the dates these addresses were reported on the credit report. This helps to determine your length of residence.  Most credit reports contain social security number and date of birth or at least the year of your birth. This information is used for identification purposes.  Employment information may include current and previous employers.  The employment section is the least updated and if often incorrect.

What personal information is not included?  Salary history, public assistance, medical history, gender, criminal background, nationality, race, religion, personal lifestyle and political affiliation are not included.  Although, your criminal background COULD be included since it’s a public record.

None of this personal information is used to calculate your credit score.  It’s also not used to grant or deny credit.  Why?  Personal information is not indicative of creditworthiness.

Where do the credit reporting agencies get your personal information?  Personal information usually originates from credit applications submitted in your name.  It is updated each time a credit application is submitted and your credit report is accessed.  The information most commonly updated is the address.  Keeping an eye on your personal information is important, despite the fact that it isn’t counted in your credit scores.  You can get copies of your credit reports once every twelve months for free at www.annualcreditreport.com.

John Ulzheimer is the President of Consumer Education at SmartCredit.com, the credit blogger for Mint.com, and a Contributor for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.  He is an expert on credit reporting, credit scoring and identity theft. Formerly of FICO, Equifax and Credit.com, John is the only recognized credit expert who actually comes from the credit industry.

Categorised in: Credit Report, Credit Score, Employment, Getting Credit

This post was written by John Ulzheimer