Adding Positive Credit to Your Own Report

The three major credit-reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion -- store data on you and on your credit accounts to compile your credit report. Typically, they get their information from the companies that do business with you. However, there are some instances where you can directly add your own information to your report.

One way that you can add positive information to your own report is to complete your personal profile. This includes items like your telephone number, address and your employment. These factors don't go into your credit score, but lenders see them when they look at your report, and some of them like to see information that shows you are a stable person. Generally, you have to send a letter to the credit agency and include proof to document the information that you are asking the agency to add to your report.

Sometimes, positive accounts just don't show up on your report. This can happen because a company only works with one or two of the three agencies or because some companies don't report positive information at all. According to TransUnion, you have the right to have positive information added to your report to help you be accepted for credit. You have to send a letter to the bureau using certified mail that asks the bureau to list the accounts and letting them know how they can verify the information with the creditor.

You have the right to add a 100-word statement to your credit report to explain any negative information. For instance, you could explain that you refused to pay a bill because you received a faulty product or that you fell behind because you were ill and had to stop working. The statement doesn't become a part of your credit score, but it is included with your report and may help to explain any negative items that appear.

Another way to add positive credit to your credit report is to do positive things with your credit. Paying your bills on time is reported and has a positive impact. Keeping your utilization low by not using your credit much can also help. Paying your bills before the statement date -- which is before the due date -- can reduce the balances that are reported while still letting you use your credit accounts. Keeping old accounts open to make your history longer -- or being added as an authorized user on someone else's old account -- may also enhance your score.