The Credit Repair Myth

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:30:01 +0000

You have seen it on television oh so many times. A company promises to completely wipe things off your credit report and have your credit score fully restored virtually overnight. Well, unfortunately, real life is nothing of the sort. So called “credit repair” companies have the same powers over your credit report as you do. The simple fact is that you cannot just remove a legitimate debt from your credit report, period. You have to pay the debt or settle with the debt collector for an agreed amount. There are ways, however, to remove debts that are not legitimate. You do not need anyone to assist you to accomplish these tasks.

If there are erroneous debts on your credit report, you have to write to them with a formal letter and explain the discrepancy in detail. Tell them why you believe the debt is not legitimate, and provide copies of any documents and receipts to strengthen your case. When the credit bureau receives your letter, either they will remove it immediately (unlikely), or they will start an investigation into your claim. It takes about 30 days for this process to complete, and even a lot earlier sometimes. If you have used the same name and address for years on end, then they will have no trouble locating records about you, thus it is easier for them to complete the investigation.

After they are done, they send you a letter of decision. That letter will tell you that they found the debt to be accurate (it stays on the credit report), or they cannot prove the validity of the debt and remove it from your credit report. This is just an example of one of the simpler scenarios in dealing with the credit bureaus. Sometimes, the process can get complicated; getting to know the ins and outs of the credit industry can go along way towards helping you beef up your FICO score.

By: J. Junior

Easy Credit Repair

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:24:36 +0000

Today, many people end up needing credit repair. How can you find reliable help? Can you repair your own credit? Yes you can, or you can use a good credit repair company. Learn how in this article to determine which is best for you.

Understanding how to remedy this situation will give you the confidence necessary to take charge! Knowledge will allow you to snatch yourself (and your checkbook!) back from the snarling creditor wolves. Remember, Little Red Riding Hood survived her wolf and you can, too!

If you are one of the many people trying to stave off the creditor wolves (or even if you are not), just keep reading. I will explain the ins and outs of credit repair. Oftentimes, people believe there is no way out. However, I am here to tell you that you can fix your bad credit.

It is important to understand how you ended up in a debt situation now requiring credit repair. In many cases, bad credit commences with:

- too many credit cards, most of which (if not all) have outlandish balances;

- no or little accumulated rainy day savings funds;

- overdue bills; or,

- just bad financial decisions.

People, for the reasons mentioned above, frequently suffer from a phenomenon known as “bad credit”. Assistance can be found in the form of credit and debt counseling. Essentially, you can obtain bad credit by:

- not being able to purchase on credit; or,

- by having a less than stellar credit report, though you still may be able to purchase on credit.

At this point, I would like to go out on a limb and state the obvious…credit repair can be AVOIDED by:

- not running your credit cards up;

- not paying your bills late;

- not spending more than you bring home;

- squirreling away some money each paycheck for that unexpected expense or vacation; and,

- making good financial choices.

It’s never a good thing to have credit issues hanging over your head. You really need to get rid of them so you can get on with your life. They do not go away by themselves. So you must take action. If not repaired, over the years it can cost you thousands of dollars. You first need to understand how to read a credit report.

There are three major credit reporting agencies–Experian, Equifax & TransUnion. These credit bureau agencies gather information from various sources about a person’s credit history. They then compile a unique summary of the relevant information, called a credit report.

Credit report information contains credit and non-credit information. Examples of credit information are names of creditors, credit card/loan account numbers, current balances, monthly amounts due, and number of past due payments. Likewise, examples of non-credit information are a person’s name and previously used names, current and prior addresses, social security numbers, and employment history.

Negative credit report information will remain on a person’s credit report for anywhere from seven to ten years. Credit inquiries, on the other hand, can only remain on a person’s credit report for two years.

Ok, so now you know just enough to get started. You can see how having bad credit is costing you money. You’re tired of the pain. You want help. Or at least you want to know where to find help you can trust.

There are many credit repair programs out there. Where do we start? So first things first. Getting a copy of your credit report with the scores is needed. Feel free to visit this “credit repair” website to learn more. This could be the beginning of a new life for you.

By: Jeffrey Ragan

Credit Repair services » Ins And Outs

The Credit Repair Myth

Easy Credit Repair