On April 25, 1971, the Fair Credit Reporting Act was established by the federal government so that consumers would be protected against the reporting of obsolete, misleading, or inaccurate information. Lawmakers’ intent in designing the law was to help make sure that consumer reporting agencies operated responsibly and fairly.

The FCRA provides a list of rights and procedures that will assist you in clearing away negative remarks and reestablishing your creditworthiness – regardless of your previous credit history. By understanding your rights and using the law to your advantage, it’s possible to remove bankruptcy, judgments, late payments, collection accounts, charge-offs, and other negative information from your files permanently.

What’s first with this process? Draw copies of your credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus. You can find addresses for each of these bureaus in the Yellow Pages under “Credit Reporting Agencies,” either on the Internet or in the phone book. If you’ve been denied credit within the past 60 days, you can get a free copy of your credit report by sending a copy (not original) of the letter stating that you’ve been denied, and include your request for a credit report. Other information needed will be your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and all addresses you’ve lived at within the last five years. If you haven’t been denied credit within the last 60 days, you’ll have to buy the report, but you can do so from each credit bureau for a relatively small fee. In California, the fee is eight dollars to get a copy from each of the three major bureaus, and it may cost you a different amount in another state, depending on where you live.

In addition, you can also visit credit bureaus in person and ask to review your file. Call the bureau in question and ask to make an appointment. Then, present the proper identification and pay the fee necessary. You can also be accompanied by one of the person you choose if you wish to do so. The law gives you this right.

You can also request a credit report by mail, and if you do, you should receive a copy within three weeks. Along with it, you should also receive an explanation of the various abbreviations encodes the report contains. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to challenge any remark on your report that you think is incomplete or inaccurate. Those items must be investigated by the credit bureau within a reasonable period of time, usually about 30 days. If it’s found that this information is somehow inaccurate, incorrect, out of date, or can’t be verified in longer, it has to correct or take the information off your file.

In addition, if the bureau does not respond to your initial dispute challenge within a reasonable time, you can follow up with another letter. This time, demand (don’t request) that the bureau should respond to your dispute investigation request immediately, or you will be forced to take legal action. Wait about two weeks in order to give them time to comply, and make sure you keep copies of all correspondence you undertake.

If the bureau persists in violating your rights by refusing to reinvestigate your legitimate dispute, send them a final letter demanding action. This time, send copies of your letter, along with the original request, to the Federal Trade Commission and your local office of the attorney general.

There are a huge number of credit cards on the market and one of the most underestimated is the business credit card. Many people decide not to apply for a business credit card because apart from having a certain target market – business owners or business executives – it seems to be complicated to use. Although a business credit card has more provisos, it has a lower interest rate compared with other sorts of credit cards and, contrary to common misconception, it can be very helpful if used properly.

What is a business credit card? In general, a business credit card is for business people’s use, therefore, compared with a typical credit card, a business credit card has a high credit limit but a low interest rates. Depending on the business credit card you apply for, a business credit card usually also has many benefits.

Since it is targeted at businessmen or those people who are building a business, a business credit card is meant to benefit these small businesses. A business credit card helps the budding business by allowing the owner to finance bills or payroll, which improves cash flow. Aside from presenting the image of a dependable credit card company, business credit cards supply detailed statements of expenditure and give quality customer service as its two major benefits.

Apart from enjoying higher spending limits and lower interest rates, a business credit card provides many alternative credit options for small businesses. A business credit card also caters to large corporations as well as those people who are just beginning their own business because it closely tracks the base rate of credit.

Simplifying business credit cards. It usually pays dividends to go to the bank when one requests for a credit card to get answers to all the immediate inquiries you may have. But since a business credit card is for business people who are always on the move, many business credit card issuers offer online applications for business credit cards. So, when one applies for a business credit card online, there is no necessity for you to visit the bank any more, which means that there is also no need to wait in the queue only to talk to a bank manager.

When you apply for a business credit card over the Internet, you just choose the business credit card that suits your small business or corporate credit requirements the best from your home or office. Aside from offering safe, secure, and simple processes that are meant to help you to control your fledgling business, most online business credit cards offer special access features for the business credit card holder such as online bill payment and online reporting.

Customized company logos and access to instant cash are further advantages available on line. Yet other online business credit cards offer even more detailed reporting features for easy monitoring of multiple accounts.

Most business credit cards require no fees for the first year and no pre-set spending limit or finance charges. Other business credit cards offer membership rewards programs that enable the member to earn points towards travel, merchandise and other advantages for the business.

Many business credit cards offer small businesses a credit line of up to $100,000 at the competitive APR of a low, low prime + 1.99% for cash and cheque purchases. Moreover, 100% of the credit line is available as cash and there is usually no collateral necessary.

The business credit card customer could receive fee-free checks as well as a card to access their account. Everyday savings or exclusive savings, express approvals, no annual fee, up to 5 percent discounts on all qualifying purchases, and 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) on purchases for the first half of the year of card membership are some of the great benefits of most business credit cards.

Although the majority of the business credit card issuers offer great value deals, it is very important to research what your business requirements are first. Whether you want your business credit card for investing in inventory or just for payroll, it is important to look for a flexible business credit card that can handle almost anything you may require.

Whether you choose to go directly to the bank or apply for a business credit card online, there are a number of premier business credit card suppliers out there to assist you to find the credit card that is right for you easily and conveniently.