ByHow to Check Your DLA on Credit Report
Credit reports come with what usually feels like many codes that one has to memorize at once. Some of these codes can be too hard to grasp and confusing but are very important. Checking your credit report frequently is crucial as it keeps you in the loop regarding the right information. The codes and abbreviations are usually industry acronyms, account types, and creditor names.
But what does mean, and what does it have to do with your account? Find out using DoNotPay.
What Is DLA?
refers to the date when one of these three things occur:
- You have made a payment
- You have missed a payment
- Your account balance has increased
DLA is an abbreviated word meaning the date of last activity listed on your report. In the past, this date of last activity included the date the bureau or creditor would remove an entry from your report, but this has changed and is now a separate entry on the report. Some bureaus and creditors don't include it at all.
What Should I Look For in a Credit Report?
You also need to be keen on several things when checking your credit report.
A credit report will tell you what you've spent where and how much you have (or should have) paid off. It can help you calculate your credit score in case you need a loan or something. Here is what you'll find on a typical credit report.
| Your first and last name | This could also include any variations or misspellings of your name if you've entered them on any credit card applications. |
| Your address | This may also include past addresses where you've received credit reports before. |
| Your employer | If you've provided employment information to any creditors, it will be included in the report. |
| Revolving accounts | These are credit card accounts or lines of credit you can regularly borrow from. |
| Installment loans | If you have a set loan for a car, your college tuition expenses, or a mortgage, this monthly payment information will appear on your credit report. |
| Open and closed accounts | If you have a bad account that was closed seven years ago, this will be deleted from your report. Accounts closed in good standing will remain on your report for at least ten years. |
| Your payment history | This is a history of payments for all accounts except those mentioned above that are deleted from your report. |
Every credit record has four categories:
- Identifying information- Your name, Social Security Number, date of birth, address, and phone number.
- Existing credit information, including date of last activity on credit report
- Public records
- Credit inquiries both hard and soft
How to Check for DLA
is generally when your lender last recorded a payment. It's important to note the importance of timing in your funding and debt relief attempts, as they are based on your DLA. If your account is still in the early stages of collection, you can look up your DLA on your register or online banking.
Your records of last payment are also a good place to start, but they may not match your creditor's DLA in their system. This is because credit reports get updated frequently.
Alternatively, call the bank and ask when your last payment was or what their system says your last payment was. Doing so helps you determine how late you are on payment.
How to Check for DLA with DoNotPay
When it comes to getting credit or a loan, your credit score and date of last activity on the credit report are essential. A good credit score comes in handy when:
- Getting a mortgage
- Getting an auto loan
- Setting up financing for medical care
- Renting an apartment
Cleaning your credit report can help you boost your credit score significantly. However, the process isn't always a clear-cut one. It can draw on for months and takes a while before getting a good score, which can be frustrating. Luckily DoNotPay has a solution.
With the Clean Credit Report feature, you no longer have to worry about handling the situation independently.
If you want to clean your credit report but are unsure of where to begin, DoNotPay has got you covered in 3 simple steps.
- Search Clean Credit Report on DoNotPay.
- Prepare a recent copy of your credit report that you can use as reference.
- Let us guide you through the 4 potential options:
- If you've already paid off your debt, we'll help you file a Goodwill Removal Request to get it removed.
- If you notice any errors in your report (we have a list of common errors you can use!), we'll help you file a credit dispute to the creditor or major credit bureaus.
- If there are no errors, we'll check if you're still eligible to file a debt validation request. If they can't validate your debt, they're required to remove it from your report and they can't collect it!
- Lastly, if none of the above options work, we'll help you file a pay-to-delete negotiation letter. You can customize the amount you are willing to pay in exchange for getting the item removed.
Why Use DoNotPay?
DoNotPay is your best bet to finding your and getting started on cleaning your report because it is:
- Fast: You no longer have to waste time trying to clean your report
- Easy: You don't have to struggle with keeping up with all the steps involved in cleaning your report.
- Successful: You can rest easy knowing we will make the best case for you, and submit the right paperwork to the right places.
DoNotPay Works across the Board
Determining and cleaning your report aren't the only services we offer. DoNotPay has a host of other credit services you can check out, including:
- Drafting a credit dispute letter
- Writing a debt validation letter
- Getting rid of delinquent payments from your credit report
What Else Can DoNotPay Do?
Having started as a service to help drivers get out of parking tickets, DoNotPay has expanded its reach to include other services that help our clients navigate various bureaucratic hurdles, including:
- Dealing with bills
- Drafting financial aid plea letters
- Canceling unnecessary services and subscriptions
Sign up for DoNotPay today and reap the benefits.