Your Spouse &

Your Credit Report

You and your spouse are considered to be two separate entities as far as credit goes. However, you
have the right to have each other’s credit information appear on each other’s credit reports.

When you have good credit score and your spouse has poor credit score

 

Request for credit reports to be merged

If you have good credit score and your spouse has poor credit score, you can help your spouse's credit by having your information appear on your spouse's credit report. To merge your credit report with your spouse's credit report, you need to use the Letter Requesting Merger of Spouse's Report to request the credit agency to do this.

 

Request for credit reports to be separate

You also have the right to have each other’s negative credit reports removed from each other’s credit files. If your spouse has terrible credit and it shows up on your credit report, you need to request that it be
removed from your credit report. Then you can use your good credit to apply for loans and credit cards
that can benefit you both. In order to request negative credit report to be removed, you need to use the Letter Requesting Individualization of Credit Report.

Disputing credit report items 

If you are unclear about anything on your own credit report, do not hesitate to call the company that prepared it. Credit reporting agencies are not your creditors, and they will not harass you for money if you call them. Call and ask for an explanation of whatever you do not understand.