three free credit report

Momto2inFL asked:


I just printed my 3 free credit reports from all three agencies for myself as well as my husband. We’re in the process of cleaning up our credit and the first step is by looking our reports over.

First question and it may be minor but I wanted to ask anyways: It has an address for me listed that I never lived at. I actually couldn’t answer one of the security questions properly because I didn’t know the answer. Should I be concerned about this address? Or is it no big deal?

For anything noted as charged off/bad debt – do I call the original creditor to discuss a settlement? How does that work? Just because it’s been “written off” doesn’t mean I ignore it correct? What’s the process for this?

I have read that in the state of FL, we have the right to place a security freeze on the report which prohibits any agency from releasing information without my express authorization. Which means that nobody can really review my report without my direct consent. I think this sounds like a good thing but I don’t know much about it except for what I have read. What is your opinion on this?

Also, anything additional about credit reports and cleaning them up that I should know about?

Thanks!!

Duane