Posts Tagged ‘Credit Repair Service’

Credit Restoration Tips

April 9th, 2010



It seems like more and more credit restoration services are popping up by the minute. You can spot the advertisements for them online, on television and on the radio almost everyday. While I believe the awareness of credit repair and the help available to consumers is a good thing, it can also be very confusing on who to turn to.

When choosing a credit restoration service, one should always research the company’s reputation. Many of the new services that are popping up mean well, but they are not as advanced as some of the credit restoration services that have been around for awhile. I would recommend sticking with a service that has been around for at least a couple years. The more you can find out about them, the better.

Do-it-yourself credit repair is another wise way to mend your credit history and can be a little less expensive. I say “can be” because if you are able to get the same results as a credit restoration service, you are obviously going to save yourself some money. However, if you are not able to get the same or better results as a credit repair service, it may end up costing you hundreds and even thousands of dollars in the long run. I’m not saying that to scare you, but you should take caution when trying to attempt repairing your credit on your own.

Most websites are eager to tell you that credit restoration should be done individually by the consumer. I agree that it should be as well, but encouraging consumers to just jump right in to it without warning them of the horrible consequences that could happen is just very bad advice. The way I look at it is this: Either way you are going to spend time and/or money if you have bad credit, either by paying higher interest rates, spending the time to learn credit repair, or paying for a credit repair service to fix it for you. It’s your choice, but let it be known that sometimes when you try to skimp on things this important it can end up biting you in the end.

By: Chane Steiner

Understanding What is a Fico Score and Tips on Hiring the Best Credit Repair Service

March 8th, 2010

FICO score is a credit scoring system that was developed in the1950s by Fair Isaac & Co. Today, the three major credit reporting bureaus Experian, Equifax and Trans Union all use FICO scores to evaluate the credit worthiness of almost 90% of the adult Americans. FICO scores can range from 300-850 and these scores are calculated on the basis of scoring models and mathematical calculations that are not revealed to the public. » Read more: Understanding What is a Fico Score and Tips on Hiring the Best Credit Repair Service

Don’t Fall Victim To Credit Repair Scams

March 3rd, 2010



If you suffer from poor credit, you’ve probably seen advertisements for credit repair services. Many ads for credit repair services claim to be able to remove bankruptcies, create new credit identities, and even erase bad credit.

Beware! Many of these credit repair companies exist only to cheat money out of their customers. Many people have paid hundreds of dollars in fees, only to find that these credit repair companies simply vanish because they can’t deliver what they have promised. Don’t be fooled, the only real way to improve your credit report is with time, effort, and a good payment history.

But if you decide to try out a credit repair service, there are certain warning signs you should look for to decide if the company is legitimate. A credit repair service should not want you to pay for credit repair services before any services are provided. Another warning sign is if a credit repair service recommends that you not contact the credit bureau directly or refuses to answer questions about your legal rights as a debtor.

Some phony credit repair services will advise you to creat a new credit identity by applying for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security Number. If you follow this illegal advice you may be commiting fraud, and find yourself facing prosecution. It’s a federal crime to make false statements on a loan or credit application, to misrepresent your Social Security Number, or to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the IRS under false pretenses.

While no one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from a credit report, the good news is that the law does allow you to dispute information on your credit report that is inaccurate or incomplete. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can dispute mistakes or outdated items for at absolutely no cost to you. Just ask the credit reporting agency for a dispute form and/or submit your dispute in writing. Include supporting documentation, clearly identify each item in your report that you dispute, explain why you dispute the information, and request a investigation be done. Make sure you remember to keep a copy of the dispute for your records. If the new investigation reveals an error, you can ask that a corrected version of the report be sent to anyone who received your report within the past six months. If the reinvestigation does not resolve your dispute, you can have the credit bureau include your version of the dispute in your credit report.

Luckily, many states have laws regulating credit repair companies. So, if you believe you have been cheated by a fraudulent credit repair service, don’t hesitate to report the company to your local consumer affairs office or your state attorney general.

By: Dave Robinson