Credit Information

Most law students need to rely on loans, at some point in their education. Lenders utilize credit history/credit scoring form one of three major credit bureaus. If your credit is deemed adverse or derogatory, lenders will not provide loans. Although different lenders may vary slightly in their criteria for "clean credit," most will not extend credit to someone with bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions, charge-offs, open judgments or excessive past due accounts (no 30-60-90 day delinquency) on consumer loans or revolving charge accounts within the past two years. In addition, there must be no prior educational loan defaults unless they have been paid in full or satisfactory arrangements for repayment have been made.

In order to ensure adequate funding, it is necessary to secure a credit report early, in case there are errors or there is adverse information reported which needs correction.

You are entitled to one free Personal Credit Report in a 12-month period under the FACT Act amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This free credit report does not include the credit score. To request this free annual report, you may contact the Central Source online at www.annualcreditreport.com.

To obtain a copy of your credit report, you may contact one of the agencies listed below.

TransUnion
General Inquiries
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
(800) 888-4213
TransUnion Web Site

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
(800) 685-1111
Equifax Web Site

Experian
(888) 397-3742
Experian Web Site

Opt Out Information

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies, are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance. The FCRA also provides you the right to "Opt-Out", which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you.

You may choose to exclude your name from FCRA lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers. Creditors and insurers may use file information as the basis for sending you unsolicited offers of credit or insurance. Such offers must include a toll-free phone number for you to call if you want your name and address removed from future lists. You can opt out of receiving prescreened or pre-approved offers through the OptOutPrescreen.com web site.