error

1. General: Belief or mental state that does not conform to objective reality; where what is correct is actually incorrect and what is incorrect is actually correct. Often used interchangeably with mistake.

2. Law: Specific miscalculation or flaw in the basis, procedure, judgment, or execution of a court action, wording of a document, or recording of a statement.

3. Statistics: Deviation from a model, norm, specification, or standard that is not due to a lack of knowledge.

Often when you peruse your credit report you'll find an error. Perhaps you've paid off a particular loan that isn't reflected on the report, or there are legitimate reasons why a particular debt hasn't been satisfied, such as a temporary disability. In these instances your first recourse should be to contact the credit agency and request they make the appropriate changes. Fibbers beware: you will probably have to provide some documentation. Few people realize this, but credit reports typically have a space for you to provide your comments at the bottom. This section is another area of recourse that can be used. It lets you comment on why a particular debt hasn't been paid or to point out any factual errors. To do this, the individual must contact the credit bureau directly and again may have to provide some documentation to support the claims. To be clear, adding comments to the credit report won't necessarily boost your credit score. However, some lenders may take your comments into account when deciding whether to grant you a loan. This little-known space can be invaluable if you are fighting an incorrect rating.

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