Credit Repair services » Repair Scam

How to Identify Common Credit Repair Scams

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:03:15 +0000

Everyone has seen the ads before. A business will guarantee you perfect credit. (As if your credit history were a joke). Unfortunately, your credit isn’t a joke. And your credit history will not disappear over night, despite what a company may have promised you. There isn’t a quick remedy to your credit repair. It’s something that you’ll have to work on. Your credit repair solution may come in several forms. You may choose to contact a credit repair company. You may not. However, it’s important to know that credit repair companies can’t do any more for you than you can already do for yourself.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) annually warns consumers on credit repair consultation. There have been many allegations and lawsuits with notable credit repair agencies. It seems that many of these companies have made wild statements, like “we’ll repair your credit by erasing negative feedback,” which isn’t a legal option. Be wary of these types of companies. They’re promising you something that is unethical, illegal, and most certainly untrue.

There are several ways you can fall prey to a credit repair scam. Some of the most commonly reported scams are told by consumers who’ve tried “credit by phone” and promotional credit cards. These “guaranteed” credit or cash loan [phone calls] usually end up costing you money, rather than helping you. In addition, promotional credit cards may sound like the promise of a new beginning, but they’re usually not. Avoid calling “900″ and “976″ telephone numbers like the plague! These exchange numbers will rack up some pretty hefty charges on your phone bill. It’s not worth it.

Let’s face it. Time is the only true solution to heal your credit. Look at a copy of your own credit report prior to seeking outside help. If there are any genuine errors which can prove are incorrect, by all means consult a reputable credit agency. They’ll [more than likely] be able to correct your information. While it may cost a few dollars now, it may save you from a lot of financially related headaches in the future.

By: Scott Brown

Discover The Truth About Credit Repair

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:25:33 +0000

If you have bad credit, then you may be tempted to hire a company that tells you that they can give you an entirely new credit file, or remove bad marks from your credit report—whether or not they’re true.

Don’t be fooled! The truth is, there are no shortcuts or magic pills that will give you a AAA credit rating.AAA credit will take time and a lot of effort on your part to make it a reality. And there are some scams that you need to be aware of so you won’t fall victim to one of these questionable credit repair companies. Because of this, we’ve put together some guidelines to help you in the process.

First of all, beware of any company that tells you they can remove true marks from your credit report. Generally, a credit repair scam that tells that it’s possible will try to bombard the credit reporting agencies with inquires and hope that they won’t respond in the given time-period. Or will simply take off the remarks to stop the incoming letters. Here’s the truth: even if the scam operation does manage to get a few bad remarks removed from your credit report, they can always be added on again should the lender prove that the bad marks were true.

Next, don’t walk, run as fast as you can from companies that offers to get you a new credit report identity! Being part of these scams could land you in jail! Why? Because their mode of operation is to get you to apply for a tax identification number, which has the same amount of digits as your social security number, and then use it whenever applying for credit. The number will come up “clean,” and you won’t have to pay the consequences for your past bad marks. Now, here’s the downfall. Lying to the federal government about your intended uses for a federal ID number is a federal offense—and guess who will take the rap? That’s right—you—the person who actually filled out the forms “under penalty of law.”

Another sure sign that a company is operating a credit repair scam, and not a true credit repair company, is if they try to pressure you into signing a contract with them. They will likely want large, upfront fees and will tell you that the offer expires today, or use some other high pressure tactic. A company that is truly concerned about helping you to repair your credit will never pressure you or try and trick you into signing a contract with them. In addition, they will make it clear to you, that if you do change your mind within three days of signing, it’s the law that you will be release from any obligation.

Finally, you should accept the fact that no one can “repair” your credit if you’ve truly made the errors in your past. The only way to build a good credit report is to pay your bills on time, not extend your credit limits, and be careful not to apply for too many credit lines. Do all of these things on your own and you’ll soon find yourself with a AAA credit report!

By: Dave Robinson

Credit Repair Scam – How To Avoid Being A Statistic?

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:47:41 +0000

A good credit history is critically important for the consumer. A bad credit will prevent you from getting a business loan, owning a home, or even a job. Promises to “fix” your credit are always made by credit consolidation companies, but they are seldom true. Here are some of the important tips to avoid scams:

First things first. Negative information cannot be erased if the information is correct. Only inaccurate information can be corrected in your credit file. Credit file information remains on your record for seven good years from the time it is reported to the bureau. For bankruptcy, the information remains on your record for ten years. All the consolidated information about your credit bills you fell behind on, but are now paid, will remain on your report for the time period mentioned above.

Do not pay the credit repair company unless their promises are kept. Remember, the law is on your side. Federal law requires credit repair companies to give you a complete detailed explanation of your legal rights, a completely documented written contract, and above all, 3 days to cancel. This applies to all credit repair services including for-profit services, non-profit services, creditors and credit unions.

Be wary about emails you receive. When you hover your mouse over the link in the email, you will know for sure if it is a trusted website or a fraudelent one. If fraudelent, report it to your bank promptly.

You don’t need a counselor to correct your mistakes in the credit report. Take charge of it yourself. If you were recently denied credit, you can request a free credit report. Otherwise there is a small charge for it. Some states will allow you a free copy of your credit report once a year. It doesn’t cost you anything to dispute or question items in your credit report. Get online or follow instructions from your credit bureau. The three major credit bureaus are Equifax (800- 685-1111), Experian (800-682-7654) and Transunion (800-916-8800). In most cases you will need to contact all the three credit bureaus as the information they have about you may vary.

Remember that you can’t create a second credit file. Some of the fraudelent companies will offer to provide the consumers with a different social security number (tax identification number if ssn does not exist) in order to create a new credit file for the consumer. Such a practice is called as file segregation. File segregation is illegal and does not work.

Whereever possible, add explanation to your credit report to prove your point. If you have legitimate reasons for not paying certain bills on time (switching jobs, illness), or if you refused to pay because of a dispute, send the bureau a statement to be tagged with your credit report. Each lender who pulls your report will be aware why you fell behind on those bills.

Counseling might be a good option. Find a good non profit consumer credit counseling service in your neighbourhood. Get online or open your yellow pages to find one. Seek the guidance of friends and family members. Select a counselor, meet them in person to make sure they are right for you. Ask them on tips and advice on how to build a good credit history. If you are still lagging behind on your payments, credit consolidation firms will be able to set up a payment plan with your creditors. If money is an issue, select a non profit credit counseling service. They will offer their service for free or for a very low cost.

By: Bill Smiths

Credit Report & Repair Scams

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:04:26 +0000

Newspapers, radio, TV and the Internet are filled with advertisements that offer for a fee to erase accurate negative information in your credit file. The credit repair scam artists who run these ads can’t deliver. Only time, a deliberate effort, and a plan to repay your bills will improve your credit history record. This section is designed to help you understand credit reports and credit repair scams.

Credit Reports

Does your credit report accurately represent you? A recent study conducted by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) found over 70% of credit reports contain errors. Among the principal findings of the report were the following:

* Twenty-nine percent (29%) of the credit reports contained serious errors that could result in the denial of credit.”
* “Serious” errors included false delinquencies, public records or judgments that belonged to a stranger, or credit accounts that did not belong to the consumer; Seventy percent (70%) of the credit reports contained mistakes or errors of some kind, also including the following:

* Forty-one percent (41%) of the credit reports contained incorrect personal demographic identifying information; Twenty percent (20%) of the credit reports were missing major credit cards, loans, mortgages, or other accounts that are critical to demonstrating consumer credit worthiness.

Consolidate debt your debt now free — quote now!

One of the first steps to credit repair, is understanding credit reports. When applying for mortgages, home loans and refinances, one of the most important factors in determining whether or not you will be approved is your credit. This is true for other important factors as well, such as obtaining lower interest rate auto loans and credit cards. Good credit can open many doors.

If you have had credit issues in the past, or are currently in a situation that will affect your credit, be prepared to address these issues upfront.

The mortgage industry has its own language when it comes to your credit report. Mortgage lenders get their name from the grading system they use. Items that determine your credit rating (A+ to D-) are payment history, amount of debt payments, bankruptcies, equity positions, and credit scores. Credit scores are also known as “FICO” scores, and are used by the mortgage industry to determine credit risk. The higher the credit score, the better the credit risks.

FICO stands for Fair Isaac Company, the company that created the original scoring system. Each credit bureau has its own unique system that allows them to offer a score based solely on the contents of the credit bureau’s data about an individual. A numerical score at one bureau is the equivalent of the same numerical score of another. For example, a score of 700 from Experian indicates the same creditworthiness as a score of 700 from Trans Union or Equifax. However, the calculations used to determine these scores are different for each bureau.

FICO scores range from 375 to 900 points. A score of 650 or above indicates a very good credit history. However, lenders do not necessarily give the same value to a particular credit score, and they do not necessarily use credit scoring!

FICO scoring places a value on the types of accounts you hold, as well as your credit history. The formula that determines your scores, however, is not disclosed to the consumer.

The 5 most important factors to determining your credit score are:

* Your payment history
* The amount of outstanding debt you have compared to your credit limit
* Your credit history
* The types of credit you use
* Negative information

Remember, FICO scores range from 375 to 900 points. A score of 650 or above indicates a very good credit history.

Credit Repair Scams

You’ve seen it in newspapers, maybe even heard it on the radio or television — Erase accurate negative information in your credit file! — The credit repair scam artists who run these ads can’t deliver. Only time, a deliberate effort, and a plan to repay your bills will improve your credit record. This section is designed to help you understand the two top credit repair scams that are circulating newspapers, television, magazines and radio.

Credit Repair Scam #1 – File Segregation

If you filed bankruptcy, you may be the target of a credit repair scam called “file segregation.” In this scam, you are promised a chance to hide unfavorable credit information by establishing a new credit identity. That may sound like a good idea but, file segregation is illegal. If you use it, you could face fines or even a prison sentence.

Credit Repair Scam #2 – New Credit Identity

If you have filed for bankruptcy, you may receive a letter from a credit repair company warning you about the inability to obtain credit cards, personal loans, or any other types of credit for 10 years. For a fee, the company promises to help you hide your bankruptcy and establish a new credit identity to use when you apply for credit. These companies also make pitches in classified ads, radio, TV, and the Internet.

When signing up for the service you will be required to pay a fee and may be directed to apply for an Employer Identification Number, commonly referred to as an EIN, from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Typically, an EIN is quite similar to a social security number and is used by businesses to report financial information to the IRS and the Social Security Administration.

After you receive your EIN, the credit repair service will tell you to use it in place of your social security number when you apply for credit, inform you to use a new mailing address and obtain additional credit references.

That may sound like a good idea but, using false information is illegal and considered fraud. If you use it, you could face fines or even jail time.

Credit Repair Company’s And False Claims

Credit Repair False Claim #1: You will not be able to get credit for 10 years.

Each creditor has its own criteria for granting credit. While one may reject your application because of bankruptcy, another may grant you credit. And, given a new reliable payment record, your chances of establishing additional credit could probably increase as time passes.

Credit Repair False Claim #2: The company or “file segregation” program is affiliated with the federal government.

The federal government does not support or work with companies that offer such programs.

Credit Repair False Claim #3: The “file segregation” program is legal.

It is a federal crime to make any false statements on a loan or credit application. It is a federal crime to misrepresent your Social Security number. It also is a federal crime to obtain an EIN from the IRS under false pretenses. Further more, you could be charged with mail or wire fraud if you use the mail or the telephone to apply for credit and provide false information. Worse yet, file segregation likely would constitute civil fraud under many state laws.

Your Rights Under The Credit Repair Organizations Act

This law prohibits false claims about credit repair and makes it illegal for these companies to charge you until they have performed their services. It requires that companies tell you about your legal rights. Credit repair companies must provide this in a written contract that also spells out just what services are to be performed, how long it will take to achieve results, the total cost, and any guarantees that are offered. Under the law, these contracts also must explain that consumers have three days to cancel at no charge.

Finding Help for Credit Problems
It’s a good idea to try to solve your debt problems with your creditors as soon as you foresee or realize that there is a financial problem. If you can’t resolve your credit problems yourself or need additional help, contact debt-consolidation-Kimberly.com We are a full service debt consolidation organizations with clients nation wide that counsels and educates individuals and families on debt problems, budgeting and using credit wisely. We work directly with your creditors to help resolve your debt problems by negotiating a repayment schedule that is affordable for you and acceptable to the creditor.

By: Stu Lieberman

Credit Repair Scams

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:17:48 +0000

“Erase Bad Debt !”

“Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report”

You’ve probably seen these headlines and others just like it promising to clean up or “fix” bad credit. For someone who suffers from a bad or poor credit rating, these headlines are certainly an appealing offer.

Imagine finally being able to buy that new car, get debt collectors off your back, and enjoy a new found freedom from your past debts.

Sound to good to be true ? It probably is. Once you fall prey to the credit repair offer and pay the hefty fees involved to clean up your record, here’s what happens:

1) The credit repair scam artist contacts the credit bureaus and reports that the negative information in your file is false.

2) The credit bureau removes this negative information from your report while they investigate the claim.

3) The scam artist will then show you the cleaned up version of your credit report and “ta-da” your credit history has been fixed !

But here’s what the scammer doesn’t tell or show you. After the credit bureau completes their investigation the negative information is placed back on your credit report.

Negative but accurate information cannot be removed from your credit profile. Only incorrect information can be removed.

Accurate information remains on your credit file for a period of 7 years from the time it is reported to the credit agencies; a bankruptcy appears for a 10 year period.

Many legitimate companies exist that can help you with your debt problems. But how do you spot a scam offer ? Easy, they’ll ask you for their fees up front. By law, credit repair agencies cannot ask for payment until they’ve provided the service they promised.

Additionally many states require that a credit repair service, whether they are for-profit or not-for-profit, must provide you with a detailed written contract, an explanation of your legal rights, and the opportunity to cancel any signed contract within 3 days.

Also, be aware that a “credit repair offer” could be an attempt to steal your identity by getting you to provide personal information such as a Social Security number, bank account and credit card account numbers.

Always make sure you know who you are dealing with before accepting any offer to help you repair your credit. Those who don’t can have their credit ruined further and create more debt problems.

By: James H. Dimmitt