How to Obtain a Free Credit Report

It is very important when filing bankruptcy - whether on your own, through a lawyer or by hiring a paralegal - that you list each and every debt that you have. This includes collection agencies.

Not only is the creditor information needed in order to be able to charge off or reaffirm the debt, but it is also needed so that your creditors and collection agencies will get notification that you are filing - which means they will be required to stop hounding you.

To be thorough in the listing on your creditors, you may want to get a copy of your credit report from all three of the main bureaus before you file. You can get a free copy of your credit report from all three reporting agencies and your credit score by taking a trial offer here.

If you don't want the hassle of remember to cancel your free trial should you not wish to continue with the service and would rather just purchase a "3 bureaus" report you can do so here. Most services make your credit report available to you immediately online upon request. However, if you are worried about security or privacy issues or just prefer not to access your credit report online for any reason, you can opt to have your reports mailed to you with most companies.

Between the 3 credit reports, you should be able to compile a good list of not only your creditors and collection agencies and their contact information, but also the balances owed, the dates the accounts were opened and closed (or had gone delinquent) - all pertinent information that is needed when filing bankruptcy.

However, while your credit reports can be a big help is creating your master "who I (we) owe" list for your attorney or paralegal - it may not list all debts, especially if a delinquency or debt is newer and has not had a chance to make it onto your credit report.

Remember to list all your debts when giving the information to your attorney or paralegal - even those that are in good standing or that you wish to keep. You can specify to keep certain debts (such as a car payment) but your preparer (and the court) will need to know about it as it will need to be included in your monthly budget.

Click here to get your free credit report, to buy a credit report or to get more information about do it yourself bankruptcy form software to help you declare bankruptcy.


Related Articles:

+   Information about filing for bankruptcy online
+   What you need to know to file bankruptcy pro se
+   Find out about bankruptcy alternatives before filing
+   What your bankruptcy record says about you