How to Repair Your Credit and Buy a Home

There are three major consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), or credit bureaus, that mortgage companies use to assess a buyer’s credit rating: Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850. For home loan purposes, a score of 650 or higher indicates a good credit history and will make it easy for you to secure a mortgage. If your score falls between 620 and 650, your borrowing capability will be examined more closely. And if you rate below 620, you may have a credit crisis.

When you’re in the market to buy a home and discover that you have bad credit and your score is low, don’t despair. Although it may delay the purchase of your home, there are ways to repair your bad credit rating so that you can still qualify for a home mortgage with a decent interest rate.

To evaluate your credit rating you’ll need to obtain copies of your credit reports from the various agencies. Examine them carefully to see what transactions are lowering your score.

A special note about bankruptcies: A bankruptcy can lower your credit score by 200 points or more. Repairing bad credit following a bankruptcy is beyond the scope of this article.

Charge-Offs: Charge-offs appear on your credit report if a creditor has given up trying to collect from you and ends up writing off the amount you owe as a bad debt. Charge-offs are one of the main reasons why loan applicants are denied credit.

How to Repair It: If you have any charge-offs, contact those creditors immediately and make arrangements to pay off the old debt. After a few months of regular payments, or if you repay a charge-off debt in full, submit a written request to that creditor to change the status on your credit reports.

Late Payments: Late payments are handled slightly different depending on whether they are isolated incidents or recurring problems.

How to Repair It: If you have a single late payment here or there listed on your credit report, the best thing to do is contact your creditors by phone to discuss the situation. Follow the conversation with a written request to have the isolated late payments removed from your reports. If you’re consistently late with payments, however, repairing the problem is a little more involved. You’ll need to begin by setting a pattern of paying on time over several months. Once this positive pattern is established, call your creditors (and follow-up in writing) and let them know that you’re back on track. With persistence and patience, you may be able to delete these score-lowering marks.

Reporting Mistakes: Sometimes, creditors just make mistakes when reporting to the bureaus. Other mistakes might include charge disputes that resulted in an initial late payment that was eventually reversed. Unfortunately, it’s the individual’s responsibility to spot – and repair – reporting mistakes that lead to bad credit.

How to Repair It: Once again, contact your creditor by phone and follow up with a written request that the mistake be corrected. Because the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that credit agencies and their information providers investigate reports of inaccuracies, you’ll also want to contact the CRA directly to report the discrepancy.

As you work on repairing your credit rating, there are other things you can do to improve your score:

• Make sure that you pay all of your monthly bills on time

• Avoid opening new credit card accounts, including department store cards

• Work toward paying down your unsecured debt, but keep accounts open even if you pay them off

• Pay cash for the things you need instead of charging them

If, after all your work, you still score below the 620 mark, it doesn’t mean that you won’t qualify for a home loan. It may mean, however, that your mortgage will take longer to process and the terms and interest rate may not be as good as you were hoping for. Talk to your real estate agent about referrals to high-risk lenders.

Repairing bad credit can take many months to a year or more. But when you’re ready to buy a home, you’ll be glad you took the time to improve your score – and your mortgage payment will be lower because of your efforts.

How To Deal With A Credit Bureau To Repair Your Credit

Good credit is crucial in today's economy. Good credit allows you to have credit cards, obtain car or home loan, and to take advantage of many other money-related conveniences. It is possible to live without good credit, but having a bad credit rating can affect you negatively for the rest of your life.

You might be surprised to know that only a handful of credit bureaus in North America hold the key to your credit rating, and therefore your financial future. These credit bureaus receive the positive and negative reports issued by your creditors and create your personal credit report and credit score based on the results. If your credit history is poor, it is important to repair your credit so that you don’t get turned down for a mortgage or even a department store credit card. In order to do this, you must first learn how to deal effectively with a credit bureau.

Begin by finding out what credit bureau has your file. This information will be on any rejection letters you may have from a declined credit application. Next, you’ll need to obtain a copy of your credit history. Remember that you are allowed, by law, to obtain a copy of your credit history if you’ve been denied credit, though some organizations might imply otherwise. You should only pay for a credit report if you want an instant copy, rather than to have one mailed to you, in which case a bureau will send you one for a fee.

It is important to remember that a credit bureau is in the business of collection and selling information. This means that you should never provide them with any information that you are not required to by law, unless you want them to use it against you. It is legally necessary for you to provide the following to get a copy of your credit report:

1. Name
2. Social Security Number
3. Legal Address

The credit bureau might request copies of your social security card or your driver’s license. If they ask for a copy of your driver’s license as proof of address, it’s best to provide them with a copy of a bill or something else addressed to you instead. You should be careful when providing credit bureaus information, because most own collection agencies and they will use any of the information that you provide to hassle you with the credit and collection issues that you are already trying to fix.

Examine your report closely and note any possible errors. If you have questions about a specific debt, you can mail a written request to the credit bureau that they investigate that particular debt. Legally, the credit bureau is required to document any discrepancies on your credit report, otherwise, if they don’t do this in 30 days, the entire item must be removed. Most of the credit repair companies out there will charge you fees to perform this service, but you can do it yourself for free with just a little bit of time and effort.

Learning to deal with credit bureaus will allow you to engage in successful credit repair without paying a credit repair company a high fee. When you educate yourself in what the legal obligations are that credit bureaus entail, in many cases, you can effectively repair your own credit just as quickly as a credit repair company.

How To Contact Creditors To Help With Credit Repair

Good credit has become nearly a necessity these days. Credit has become almost essential to buying a car or a home (unless you have large amounts of cash lying around) and with the advent of online buying, it's generally difficult to operate without some kind of credit card. Unfortunately, credit does cause problems for some people. Minimum payments on credit cards can be missed, or a loan could go into default and your credit rating will begin to slide. When you have negative activity, the creditor reports it a credit reporting agency, who then records it on your credit history. A tarnished credit report can be tough to clean up, as most negative items will remain stay on your report for seven years before they expire and are removed.

If you have bad credit history, you'll end up dealing with previously unknown problems. You can’t rent a car or buy things online, renting property will be difficult, and getting a mortgage may be impossible. It's important to repair your credit as soon as you notice a problem because you’d be surprised at what kind of credit repair you can accomplish by being proactive.

The first thing you should do if you fall behind in your loan payments is contact your creditor. This can be scary and many people take the opposite approach, avoiding "collection calls" out of embarrassment or even fear. Unfortunately, it’s best to deal with the problem immediately and to avoid long-term credit difficulties. Contact your creditor right away – as soon as you find you are having trouble with a debt.

Remember the solution to your credit repair process starts with your credit report, and what is on your report is what your creditor reports about you. By contacting your creditor, you may be able to discuss possible payment plans or alternative solutions. It is in the creditor's best interests to work with you, as if you go into default, they might never get payment.

There are many reasons that you should contact your creditor immediately, but most of all, it helps to speed up the credit repair process. Once you’ve contacted your creditor, suggest a payment system that works for both for you. Be sure to propose a payment plan that is realistic for you, and stick to it. Defaulting on these payments will look to the creditor as if you were just trying to stall and avoid further payment.

When you contact your creditor about your outstanding debt, be sure to remember that it is in your best interest to convince your creditor not to report your non-payment to the credit report agency. By facing up to your payment problems, contacting your creditor right away, and creating a payment system that will work for both of you, you are taking a very effective step credit repairing your credit.

Home Owners Avoiding Complications In Credit Repair

Avoiding complications in credit repair is almost important as getting out of debt. When we have bills that were neglected simply because we didnТt have the money to pay the bills, or else we purchased items instead of paying the bills, we are in debt. If you are considering a Home Equity Loan to get out of your current mortgageЕDON"T. Why?

Simply because most Home Equity Loans get you deeper in debt and once you are obligated you will find the problem is more complicated than we you applied for the loan. Lenders often target home owners with financial difficulties offering them high interest rates and making them believe it is a solution for debt relief. In most cases, this is where foreclosures come in, or selling homes come into place.

The solution is only an option to get you in debt deeper. One solution then is for homeowners to consider the Reverse Mortgage Loans. This type of loan is often as equity against your home, belongings, and so on. The loan offers a Сcash advanceТ solution and requires that the owner does not pay on the mortgage until the end of the mortgage term or when the home is sold.

Most lenders provide a lump sum advance, a line of credit, or else a monthly installment to the home owners. Some lenders even offer a combination to the homeowners. This is certainly a good solution for repairing your credit, and building your credit to a new future. The downside is that Reverse Home Mortgage Loans often are more suitable for the older generation of people that have built equity over the years in their homes.

Another disadvantage is that almost all home loans require upfront payments, such as title, insurance, application fees, origination fees, interest and so on. Therefore, it pays to ask questions and shop around before taking out another loan to repair or build your credit. Fannie Mae Home Keeper Mortgage Programs are one of the many that offer a Reverse Home Mortgage Loan.

Another option for paying off your debts and repairing your credit is to borrow the money from family members or friends. If you have someone that trusts you enough to loan you the money to get out of debt, it is often better than getting a loan.

There are several options or questions you must consider before asking family members or friends to loan you the money to build or repair your credit. One of those questions should be the obvious. Can these people afford to lend me the money to get out of debt? Are these people kind enough to loan you money without putting high demands on you.

Of course there may be interest involved, but remember they are loaning you money they could be spending on their own bills. Is it possible that you can repay the loan without complicating your situation further? Can I repay these people that loan me the money to free myself of one debt?

How long do I have to repay the loan? Make sure there are no extra complications before asking friends or family for money to help get you out of debt. One of the best solutions for finding a way to repair your credit is searching the options to make the money yourself. If you have a mortgage payment and struggling each month to make ends meet, you might want to sell your home.

Many homeowners go for this option simply because they make more money in the long run. Once they sell their home they are often able to repay their mortgage loan and then take out a loan for another mortgage more affordable. If you decide to sell your home to repair your credit and get out of debt, be sure that you look around for the best possible solutions in order to prevent further complications.

Make sure you know how much is owed on your home before you set a price for resell. If there are any repairs that are minor or major, try to repair them first before selling. If you canТt afford to repair the home, try to do minimal repair so that you can up the price of the home you are selling.

DIY Credit Repair Tips

While many people believe that getting their bad credit repaired can only be done through a professional agency, this is simply not true. By going to a credit agency, you might find that it takes a great deal more time and money than if you just worked on it yourself. Before you get in touch with a professional credit repair service, refer to the steps listed below, and you might find that repairing your own credit is not that difficult at all.

When you repair your own credit, you must understand that it is a lengthy process that requires patience. The first thing you need to do is contact credit reporting agencies in writing, and request a copy of your credit report. Federal Law states that everyone gets a free credit report annually. You can locate the three main credit-reporting agencies that you will need to get in touch with by performing an Internet search using the terms "Credit Reporting Agencies". You might also consult your local phone directory.

Contact the agency in writing, and include the following information in your request:

1. Request a free copy of your credit report.
2. A copy of your state identification (such as your driver’s license)
3. Copy of proof of your current address (such as a utilities bill showing your home address)
4. Provide your previous addresses for the past 5 years.
5. A copy of your social security card.
6. Make sure you close the request with your signature.

Your credit report should take approximately 4-6 weeks to be generated and sent to you. If you receive a letter denying you credit, make a copy and enclose it with your written request for a copy of your credit report. If you have already received your free annual credit report permitted the free yearly report, you can use a denial letter of credit within 60 days of its receipt.

When you receive your reports from the agencies you contacted, look over each report for accuracy and discrepancies. Create a log in order to track the differences. If you find invalid accounts or errors in your reports, do not hesitate to file disputes. If you need to file a dispute, most agencies provide the forms to do so via their website. Each credit report should provide contact and account information for each creditor. Keep a log of all your debt information and creditors. Most debts older than 7 years old probably won’t appear on the report, and if so, leave them alone. Most creditors after 7 years will write off the debt, though some might continue to pursue you. Whatever the case, don’t open the Pandora’s box if the account isn’t listed on your credit report.

The next step is to contact each creditor to make payment arrangements. Most of them will be willing to work with you, while some might not be so agreeable. If a creditor is being difficult, feel free to ask for his or her supervisor or speak with someone else. Expect some creditors to be rude and unwilling to work with you. Try no to feel discouraged, be persistent, and ask to speak with someone else. Offer a settlement amount. Keep a written log of the conversation, including the person’s contact information each time you speak with a creditor.

It can take as many as 6 months to feel like you are making headway on your credit repair, but rest assured that your credit will get better within a year or two.

It is very important that while you are paying off your debts that you pay by check or money order and retain all receipts. Make sure that you request a receipt for the payment from the agency.

Continue to obtain copies of your credit reports annually from each agency. Do not create new debts while paying off your current ones. If you receive credit offers, throw them away. Remain focused on your goal to get out of debt and document your payments, contact with the creditors, their names, extension, time and date you spoke with them and list any pertinent detail regarding your conversations.

Credit Repair: Evaluating What To Do

Are you wondering about what you have to do with credit repair? Or maybe you’re just curious whether your credit needs fixing or not? Last time you checked, you didn’t but who knows what could happen in five years? Maybe, you already know that you do need credit repair but you’re unsure whether to do it yourself or pay for the services of a credit repair company? Or perhaps, you’re about to undergo a credit check to qualify for a career promotion and you’re hoping to make it absolutely sure that you’ll pass?

If so, here’s everything you have to know about credit repair.

Each step that you take in credit repair must be evaluated carefully. If you’re going to do it yourself, prepare beforehand by reading credit repair books, searching the Internet for advice from experts, purchasing a do-it-yourself credit repair kit and so on.

As you read, you’ll see that the first thing everyone shall advise you to do is to procure a copy of your credit report. If you were under the impression that only finance companies, banks and merchants can ask for a credit report, you’re wrong. As long as you’re asking for a credit report done on you, then certainly you can ask for a copy. This would cost you a bit so better prepare to spend. We advise you to take at least copies of your credit reports from the following credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian and Equifax because most financial institutions usually base their decisions on either of the credit reports provided by the aforementioned credit bureaus.

Got your copy now? Okay, roll it out and study each and every item in the list. Don’t overlook anything, even your personal records because you’re certainly not the only Lisa Smith in Washington, D.C. and who knows if the other Ms. Smith have unimaginable debts that were somehow mistakenly listed under your record? It pays to be cautious, okay. Now, with a do-it-yourself credit repair kit, they’re sure to advise you about the common things to watch out for. You’ll be surprised to know that approximately thirty percent of credit reports contain items. So who knows if you’re one of that thirty percent?

Lastly, if you find out anything to dispute, it’s time to fill up the form for disputes and then approaching the credit bureau responsible for the erroneous credit report. Take our advice and use time to your disadvantage. File for disputes during the busiest times of the year like the ones following Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Credit Repair: Don't Get Scammed

You see the ads in newspapers, on TV, and on the Internet. You hear them on the radio. You get fliers in the mail. You may even get calls from telemarketers offering credit repair services. They all make the same claims:

"Credit problems? No problem!"

"We can erase your bad credit-100% guaranteed."

"Create a new credit identity-legally."

"We can remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit file forever!"

Do yourself a favor and save some money, too. Don't believe these statements. They're just not true. Only time, a conscientious effort, and a plan for repaying your debt will improve your credit report.

The Warning Signs

If you should decide to respond to an offer to repair your credit, think twice. Don't do business with any company that:

  * wants you to pay for credit repair services before any services are provided

  * does not tell you your legal rights and what you can do yourself — for free

  * recommends that you not contact a consumer reporting company directly

  * suggests that you try to invent a "new" credit report by applying for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number

  * advises you to dispute all information in your credit report or take any action that seems illegal, such as creating a new credit identity. If you follow illegal advice and commit fraud, you may be subject to prosecution.

You could be charged and prosecuted for mail or wire fraud if you use the mail or telephone to apply for credit and provide false information. It's a federal crime to make false statements on a loan or credit application, to misrepresent your Social Security number, and to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses.

The Credit Repair Organizations Act

By law, credit repair organizations must give you a copy of the "Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law" before you sign a contract. They also must give you a written contract that spells out your rights and obligations. Read these documents before signing the contract. The law contains specific consumer protections. For example, a credit repair company cannot:

  * make false claims about their services

  * charge you until they have completed the promised services

  * perform any services until they have your signature on a written contract and have completed a three-day waiting period. During this time, you can cancel the contract without paying any fees.

Your contract must specify:

  * the total cost of the services

  * a detailed description of the services to be performed

  * how long it will take to achieve the results

  * any "guarantees" they offer

  * the company's name and business address.

Where to Complain

If you've had a problem with any of the scams described here, contact your local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General (AG), or Better Business Bureau. Many AG's have toll-free consumer hot-lines. Check with your local directory assistance.

Credit Repair, A Chance For Much Needed Redemption

There are many actions that you can defend by saying "oh, I was just young and foolish then," but when talking about credit this will only get you sympathy from friends. You can pay dearly for foolish financial decisions and laziness for years after you were "young and foolish," keeping many people from realizing their full potential financially for so long that by the normal age of retirement rolls around they are forced to work 5 or 10 years longer. The answer that smart business and lawyer types have come up with is called credit repair.

This invention of credit repair has literally been a life saving thing for thousands (maybe even millions) of folks who were bit in the butt by the false flash of credit and the increased power to buy. The redemption is well worth the time, money, and effort that it takes to get your report clean—just as if you had never had a problem with debt—and allows you to get on with your life and enjoy financial freedom that you never dreamed was possible.

The best part of this answer, and the part that makes it work so well, is that it is a good deal for everyone involved. You see credit cards and other sources of credit make money when people owe them a balance but only when the person is able to make regular minimum payments on this debt. The sad thing is that there are so many people that became over extended to the point of crippling them so that they couldn’t even make the minimum payment. The loan companies are more than happy in these situations to cut their losses and the original balance back (forgiving some of the finance charge they are owed and allowing the credit repair) because money in the bank makes more money.

So the system allows people to make the credit report look as if they were regular and on time with their payments and allows them to pay back the outstanding balance at rates that will not sink them into oblivion. Credit repair is done through the legal system with lawyers making deals on an individual basis so that both parties win and are able to walk away from the situation in better shape and with a better future. The process also requires that the debtor go through some financial training so that the situation won’t repeat itself. Sound like redemption to me, and I like that sound!

Credit Repair Steps

In this article, we will discuss why this credit repair is so important and how you can benefit from understanding the steps to repair your credit.

Credit repair is not easy all the time but there are answers offered to help us get out of debt. We all have payments and sometimes those payments are outrageous. Paying bills is constant and there is no break so the best potential answer then is requesting for help and working to pay back your debts.

The changes in law are making it hard for consumers to repair their credit, yet some regulations to the law make it feasible to get all three of your credit reports for free. If you have a credit history of carelessness you want to get copies of your credit reports to ensure no false claims were made against you. If the creditors or bureaus file a false allegation on your credit report you might be entitled to sue the computers.

If there are false claims against you on your report the first phase is to file a dispute against the claims. This can postpone your payments and if you don’t owe the charge, it can free you from the debt once the bureaus find that you are not liable. It is imperative that you get in touch with the bureaus immediately if you become aware of any claims made against you that you deem are not your responsibility. Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian all have a dispute hot-line on hand.

Disputing is a move in the right direction for fixing your credit. Most information on your credit report is from credit card companies, utility providers, banks, judgments, and so on. Your information normally stays on your credit report no less than seven years. Positive results regularly reside on your credit report for about ten years. Tax liens regularly reside on your credit report for approximately 15 years and bankruptcies regularly reside on your credit report for ten years.

In the introduction, you learned a little about how credit repair can be beneficial to you. The article will continue explaining the need to dispute claims that are erroneous on your credit report.

If you have some debts on your credit report that don’t belong to you, it is smart to file a dispute as soon as you can. The bureaus will look into the accusations made against you and if they find it is wrong then they will take away the claims. If the information on your credit report has no resolution then the companies will regularly delete or alter the claims against you. This is why it is imperative to keep track of your credit report.

You can also look at your credit score from the credit reports and obtain facts on how your score is affected. If you see that there are claims against you that is your responsibility and can not appear to come across a solution, it is smart to get informed. If you think credit repair companies that say they can take away items from your credit report and reduce your monthly bills, then you are misled. Nearly all of the companies are regulated by the law. This means the government has cause to think that the companies may deceive their consumers. Thus, most of the companies that say they can get you out of debt in little or no time are regularly waiting to take money from your pocket, while putting you at danger of loosing your assets.

If you want help or assistance with your credit then it is smart to go to sources that present counseling at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. The representatives are well trained in assisting consumers obtain a solution to take away debt. They will also help get the creditors off your back. It is imperative to know your rights if you are in debt and look for a solution to repair your credit.

Building credit that has been affected is hard in a lot of cases but never impossible. Millions around the world in the past has had some financial modification that affected them negatively. For that reason, you are not by yourself and there are many that are conscious of this fact. The Consumer Response Center is a wonderful source for discovering information about your rights. In some cases, some of us have additional rights than others. Victims of Identity Theft or Military Personnel that have been robbed of their identity have additional rights than people negligent of paying on time. Recognizing what is accessible to you is the first phase to repairing your credit and becoming back on track.

Having the steps for credit repair information handy will help you a great deal the next time you find yourself in need of credit repair.

Credit Repair Service

Credit Repair Services

If you are in the business of credit repair services. You may have at one time considered purchasing credit repair leads.

The benefit of purchasing credit repair leads, is that the customer is committed to having their credit repaired by a professional such as yourself.

These customers are not playing games or surfing the net looking for information and merely contemplating the idea of credit repair, they are very serious about it, and they are waiting on a phone call.

Wether or not you are an established credit repair business or a start up, credit repair leads are a good option when considering lead sources.

So where is the best place to get credit repair leads?

The obvious answer would be to find a credit repair lead company, but that isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

Yes, it is easy to find the lead company via the internet, but finding a good one with reasonable pricing is where the challenge lies.

For starters, find a lead company that obtains their leads through web sites they own and operate themselves.

Steer clear of the companies that buy their leads from other companies and recycle them. You never know how many times that selling company has sold the lead.

Try to find a company that not only sells their own leads, but sells them at a reasonable price, exclusively, and in real time if possible.

Make an attempt to contact someone in their customer service department. Ask them as many questions you feel to be appropriate. If you are not satisfied with the answers to your questions, or the quality of the service you receive, than move onto the next company.

The quality of the service you receive is usually an indication of the quality of the lead you receive, so proceed with caution.

Credit Repair Secrets that No Creditor wants you to know about

When it comes to Consumer Credit Repair there are many avenues to choose from as a consumer. By far, the most effective credit repair tool is the Credit Repair E-Book. This is due to the fact that, (A) it is usually cheap (under $20) and (B) the credit law is always changing. Using a traditional book (paper back or hard back) leaves room for indirect misinformation and more importantly more money spent. An E-Book can be easily updated assuming the company or person selling the credit repair information is a well informed proprietor who keeps up with the credit laws. The other option is shelling out a small fortune to retain the services of an attorney or traditional debt consolidation company. That’s where budget comes into play for most of us.

There is one E-Book in particular that is a growing favorite on the internet, according to web hits and sales. ConsumerVictoryCredit.com has become the crowd pleaser over the past year. Taking a deeper look into the reason for their sudden popularity, is a Credit Secret that no one else offers. This would be how to utilize consumer revolving accounts to raise your credit score for free! This means that, you can legally raise your credit score using a willing party’s credit history. There are many companies out there such as, Trade Line Solutions that provided such a service. Unfortunately, they usually charge somewhere between $1,200 and $4,500 dollars. The reason for the outrageous price tag is because they guarantee your score to shoot up 200 points in 30 days. And they usually deliver, if you have that kind of money. This works by attaching your credit to commercial revolving accounts, up to 5 at a time. The more accounts you pay for the faster your credit is restored.

ConsumerVictoryCredit.com includes in their Credit Restoration Kit, the utilization of these techniques for Free. In addition it also includes: Over 25 Sample Dispute Letters to the Bureaus, Glossary and Definitions of Terms, How to Increase Your Credit Score with One Call (Bonus Chapter), and 24/7 Customer Support. This information will only set you back about $10.

Credit Repair Scams: The Warning Signs

"Credit problems? No problem!"

"We can erase your bad credit Ч 100% guaranteed."

"Create a new credit identity Ч legally."

"We can remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit file forever!"

Do yourself a favor and save some money, too. DonТt believe these statements. Only time, a conscious effort, and a personal debt repayment plan will improve your credit report.

This article explains how you can improve your creditworthiness but you have to remember that it can take time. If you stick to a plan you can repair your credit and get your life back to normal. Take it one step at a time and make sure that you are not planning to do anything illegal.

The Scam

Everyday, there are companies nationwide that appeal to consumers with poor credit histories. They promise, for a fee, to clean up your credit report so you can get a car loan, a home mortgage, insurance, or even a job. The truth is, they canТt deliver. After you pay them hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees, these companies do nothing to improve your credit report; most simply vanish with your money.

The Warning Signs

If you decide to respond to a credit repair offer, look for these tell-tale signs of a scam:

companies that want you to pay for credit repair services before they provide any services.

companies that do not tell you your legal rights and what you can do for yourself for free.

companies that recommend that you not contact a credit reporting company directly.

companies that suggest that you try to invent a "new" credit identity Ч and then, a new credit report Ч by applying for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number.

companies that advise you to dispute all information in your credit report or take any action that seems illegal, like creating a new credit identity. If you follow illegal advice and commit fraud, you may be subject to prosecution.

You could be charged and prosecuted for mail or wire fraud if you use the mail or telephone to apply for credit and provide false information. ItТs a federal crime to lie on a loan or credit application, to misrepresent your Social Security number, and to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses.

Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies cannot require you to pay until they have completed the services they have promised.

Credit Repair Scams And How To Avoid Them

Everyone by now has probably gotten at least one email, junk mail, or other type of solicitation concerning Credit Repair. The truth is that around 80% of Americans have credit issues they need to deal with so there is a huge market for credit repair services.

But with every large market there is one thing you can be sure of. It will also draw out the unethical people and the scammers and thieves as well. In this article I will tell you about some of the scams and offer you a little free advice on how to avoid credit repair scams and rip-offs.

The first thing that should be discussed is that anytime something sounds too good to be true it most likely is. When you hear or read the words, “Free”, you should beware. My own website has the word free in it because I actually provide free information. However, if you were to want me to do all that is necessary to repair your credit, you can bet you’d have to pay me for the service.

So, when you see someone offering to fix your credit for free, ask yourself, “How can anyone work for me for free?” Some claim to be a nonprofit organization only there because they are interested in helping people fix their credit.

There may actually be one out there that does this and if you ever dig them up email me a link. For the most part I would be even more leery of those that claim to be a nonprofit. Even the federal government is now looking into credit repair organizations that claim to be nonprofit.

What these companies or credit repair clinics do is something you can do for yourself. They dispute claims by creditors. You can do this by going to the big three, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion Corporation. If the creditors fail to respond within 30 days, then the item is removed from your credit report.

Sounds great right? Well, not exactly. Even if the creditor fails to respond in the 30 day time period, they can still add the item back onto your credit report. That means that the money you paid for someone to do that for you was wasted. You can get a free credit report from each of these companies once per year. So that is three times per year that you can check up on your credit report.

According to the Federal Trade Commission Website, “A federal judge has ruled that a bogus credit repair company and its owner violated the law by making false and misleading claims, and billing in advance for its services, and has ordered them to pay more than $322,000. This action was a result of “Project Credit Despair,” a crackdown on 20 operations that deceptively claimed they could remove negative information from consumers’ credit reports – even if that information was accurate and timely.”

If the information on your credit report is accurate and timely, there is no one that can get that removed for you. The best thing you can do in that case is to contact the company and make some type of arrangements to pay off the debt. Offer a cash settlement that is less than the total amount owed and sometimes they will help you and take the offer. You have nothing to lose by making that offer and everything to gain.

The FTC advises that only time, a conscious effort, and a personal debt repayment plan can improve your credit report. The first step is to learn what information is in your credit report. If you find errors or mistakes, federal law gives you the right to have them corrected – free of charge. Federal law requires that the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – provide you with a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months, if you ask for it. To order your free report, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete and mail the Annual Credit Report Request Form. Other credit repair information is available on the FTC’s Web site, ftc.gov.

I hope this article has helped you to understand about credit repair. There are some legitimate companies out there. Just beware of any that tell you that they can remove items from your credit report that are legitimate debts. If they offer to negotiate directly with creditors or help you consolidate your debt, then you may benefit from using professionals. However, on the debt consolidation part, watch that you do not end up paying a higher percentage for interest than you are currently.

Credit Repair Myths Exposed

If youТve done any searching on the Internet for information pertaining to УCredit Repair,Ф youТve no doubt found that thereТs a great deal available. Unfortunately, thereТs also a lot of misinformation as well.

LetТs take a look at some of the most common misstatements youТll come across and examine them in detail.

MYTH #1
УCredit repair doesnТt work!Ф

While itТs true that credit repair is more УartФ than УscienceФ thatТs not to say it doesnТt work. If you undertake to repair your bad credit score, thereТs never any guarantee you can restore it to УperfectФ status. But sometimes you can, and in almost every case you can at least affect some improvement in your credit score, and often major improvement at that!

First of all, credit reports for the most part are filled with errors. While there seems to be no general agreement, itТs estimated that anywhere from 1/3 (Attorney General of NY) to as many as 90% (Charles Givens Organization) of credit reports contain errors.

Removal of erroneous negative information alone will go a great way toward improving your credit score. But thereТs more to the story, which brings us to myth #2.

MYTH #2
УNegative information that can be verified cannot be removedФ

This is one of those statements that are УalmostФ true, but taken literally is misleading. As is often the case, the inclusion (or exclusion) of one seemingly small word makes the difference in a truthful statement, and one thatТs not (or not necessarily) accurate.

LetТs take an analogy. Suppose itТs the middle of summer, and your grass has grown unusually high. LetТs also suppose that you own a lawn mower, itТs in good working condition, and has plenty of gasoline in the tank.

Now letТs say that youТre sitting on your couch and say to yourself УMy grass will get cut today because I СCANТ go outdoors anytime and cut it.Ф

So will your grass get cut? Not necessarily! Just because you УcanФ go outdoors and cut your grass doesnТt mean itТs going to get done. You can repeat this statement to yourself all day long, but your grass isnТt going to get cut until you actually go outside and DO it!

Likewise, because a negative item on your credit report УcanФ be verified doesnТt mean it will be. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a credit bureau must investigate and verify Уwithin a reasonable period of timeФ any item in your credit report that you dispute. If the Уinformation is found to be inaccurate or can no longer be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall promptly delete such information.Ф

Now in this context Уcan be verifiedФ clearly means verified by the credit bureauТs investigation of the item, and the Уreasonable period of timeФ has been established (by subsequent rulings) to be 30 days. So if the credit bureau doesnТt complete its investigation of the disputed information within 30 days, or if for some reason the creditor fails to respond and verify the information, by law the disputed data must be deleted from your credit file.

MYTH #3
УCredit repair agencies are all scamsФ

ItТs true that there ARE a good many unscrupulous credit repair agencies. But there are also some corrupt police officers, lawyers, and politicians. Yet we donТt label all members of these professions as Уcorrupt.Ф

If youТre looking for help to repair your bad credit you do need to be careful and do your УhomeworkФ when selecting an agency. There are many honest credit repair companies that are not Уscams.Ф But beware of any who make promises as to results!

As stated above, itТs not always possible to restore your bad credit history to perfect status, and no one should be making any promises to that effect. Beware of any company that does! And while an agency will in all likelihood be able to improve your credit score, if any agency makes this promise, be sure itТs accompanied by a money back guarantee. Otherwise, look elsewhere. And donТt forget to ask for references and follow up on them.

MYTH #4
УYou have to hire a credit repair agency or lawyer to fix your creditФ

Going back to the analogy above, you can always hire someone else to cut your grass (or to do just about anything else) for your. And if fixing your own credit seems an intimidating task, you might prefer to hire a credit repair company to do it.

But itТs not really necessary that you do. First of all, credit repair agencies arenТt cheap. You can expect to pay anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 or more. Plus, youТll be paying a high fee for something you can just as well do for yourself, which brings us to myth #5.

MYTH #5
УItТs too difficult or complicated to fix your own creditФ

A credit repair company isnТt going to do anything for you that you canТt do for yourself! Credit repair isnТt rocket science. It involves writing letters to credit bureaus and to creditors. If youТre able to write a letter, put a stamp on it and mail it, youТre able to repair your own credit.

УGiven the proper knowledge, you can fix your own creditФ

This statement IS true! YouСre entirely able to repair your own credit, given the proper knowledge. And given the proper knowledge, you can fix your own car, repair your own plumbing, or for that matter perform brain surgery.

While fixing your own credit is relatively simple and straightforward, you do have to know how to go about it. Essentially it involves getting a copy of your credit report and writing letters to the 3 major credit bureaus disputing negative information in your file.

But thereТs a right way and a wrong way to do it. In fact even some of the high priced credit repair agencies get it wrong, which brings us to myth #6.


MYTH #6
УYou improve your credit score by getting all the negative items on your credit report removedФ

ItТs possible to get all the negative items on your credit report removed and actually see you credit score go DOWN as a result! The reason? Your credit score depends on a number of factors, one of which is the length of your credit history. In some cases, youТre better off to NOT remove some negative items on your report, especially if they involve a few late payments in the distant past, but show timely payments during recent years.

While the Уnuts and boltsФ of credit repair is beyond the scope of this report, there are a number of sources of good information online. If you have bad credit, there are 3 major points you should keep in mind:

1. If you have a bad credit history, it can (and probably will) cost you many tens of thousands of dollars in higher loan interest over the years, as youТll be charged much higher rates than you would be with good credit. If your credit is really bad, you may not be able to get a loan at all!

2. The situation isnТt hopeless! In almost every case you CAN improve your credit score. You can easily do it yourself or find a reputable agency to do it for you. But in any case, GET IT DONE!

3. If you choose to repair your own credit (recommended) there are good books and eBooks available that can walk through the process. Get hold of one and get started NOW!

Credit Repair Is Possible - Here's How To Do It

Credit is essential nowadays. If you have bad credit, it is often difficult to rent an apartment, purchase a home, or get any form of credit loans at all. Having good credit is important in today's time.

Many of us believe that once we have bad credit that we have to live with for at least seven years. Rest assured that this is not true. If you have defaults on your credit report, it is possible to have them removed.

The first step is to obtain copies of your credit report from the three major Credit Reporting Agencies - Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax.

Your credit report is not just a record of how you are currently managing your credit accounts. Your credit report is a history of everything you are doing with your credit now, and everything you have done in the past.

The credit reporting agencies, also known as, credit bureaus receive your personal information through the same lenders who grant you credit. The credit bureaus list this information on your credit report, and then sell it to credit grantors who wish to review your credit history before they decide to grant you credit.

Once you receive your reports from all of the agencies, review each report carefully to make sure that all the accounts belong to you. If you see any errors on your credit report make sure to take care of it right away by disputing the error with the Credit Reporting Agencies.

By law, when you dispute an item, the Credit Reporting Agencies are obligated to investigate the error.

If the error or negative information is found to be false or unable to be verified, it must be deleted or changed to reflect the status that you claim it should be.

There are many resources available on the Internet. It is up to you to research the marketplace carefully to find the best guides and resources that would lead you in the right direction to fixing your credit report.

Choose Your Credit Repair Company With Caution

Almost everyone has some kind of debt. Most people have credit cards, student loans, a mortgage, or car payments. Your timeliness in paying off these loans make up your credit history, something that people usually donТt think about until itТs too late and you are declined on an application. Your credit history is an important tool in maintaining your financial stability, and can have a big impact on your way of life. Once your credit rating is listed as Уpoor,Ф you will have a hard time renting a car, putting a deposit on a service, or getting a credit card. If you have bad credit, it is important to begin working toward credit repair right away, before you find that the damage gets worse.

Many people find the thought of improving their credit history to be daunting, and might understandably be tempted by a company online that offers to quickly fix their bad credit for a price. Though there are situations where one of these credit repair companies may prove useful, in most situations they are unnecessary.

Credit repair companies arenТt a realistic solution for most people, because they provide you with a service that you are able to do perfectly well on your own. These credit repair companies will have you obtain a copy of your current credit report from a credit-reporting agency. They will then launch an attack on each of the negative items on your report, in writing. They donТt do this with the idea that you have many mistakes on your credit report, but in the attempt to take advantage of the credit reporting agencyТs legal obligation to respond to all investigation requests within 30 days. In effect, the credit repair company is gambling. If the credit reporting agency fails to respond within the specified time period (difficult to do if you multiple items are challenged at once) they are required to remove the challenged item (or items) from your credit report.

This may seem clever, but it is important to remember that the credit reporting agency can put the items they removed from your credit report right back on once have the correct documentation. You could end up paying the credit repair company to perform a УserviceФ that was undone a month or two later.

Aside from this strategy that some credit repair companies use, many more companies like this regularly scam their customers. Remember that these companies, by law, must render all promised services before they accept your payment. They must also clearly outline every fee and service that they intend to provide. If you do choose to enlist the services of a credit repair company, read over all paperwork and fine print to avoid possible scams.

For most people, using the services of a credit repair company isnТt necessary. Make sure that if you do decide to use one, that you check them out completely and that they are actually able to perform a service that you can't, or don't have the inclination to do on your own.

Be Cautious When Considering A Credit Repair Company

Most people have some sort of debt. Almost everyone has a credit card balance, an outstanding student loan, or mortgage and car payments. All these loans and their payments result in a credit history, which most people don't usually give too much thought too until it's too late. Your credit history can have a major influence on your life, and once you credit history becomes poor you will find yourself unable to rent cars, obtain services without deposits, or get a credit card. This is why, if you find yourself in this situation, it is important that you take steps towards credit repair as soon as possible.

Many people will find their poor credit history to be overwhelming, and will be tempted by one of the many companies online that offer to "fix bad credit" for a fee. Although there are some situations where these companies may of use, for most people they are not necessary, and should be avoided.

The reason credit repair companies aren't useful for most people are because they rarely do anything that you can't do yourself. These companies will give the impression that they are doing things you wouldn't normally be able to do on your behalf, but it most cases they are not.

The general strategy of many of these companies will be to have you first request your credit report from the credit reporting agency, and then to launch numerous challenges to the report in writing. The idea here is not that there are necessarily many (or any) mistakes on your credit report, rather you are trying to take advantage of a legal obligation on the part of the credit reporting agency: namely, that all requests for investigations must be responded to in 30 days. If the agency doesn't respond to you in that time (and it's unlikely they will if you challenge multiple items) they must remove the item in question from your credit report.

While this may initially seem like a clever strategy, it's important to understand that there is nothing to prevent the credit reporting agency from putting the removed items back onto your credit report once they find the proper documentation. In other words: they may not be able to produce the documentation in 30 days and have to remove something, but they will keep investigating, and once they find the documentation the item will be restored to your credit report.

Besides the somewhat dubious strategy that most credit repair companies employ, you should also be careful to avoid any scams. Be advised that these companies are legally bound to render all promised services before accepting any payment from you. They are also obligated to clearly outline all fees and services that will be provided. If you do decide to use the services of a credit repair company, make sure you look over all the paperwork and fine print provided.

In most cases for most people, a credit repair company shouldn't be necessary. The only time you should use one is if they are truly able to perform services you can't do, or don't have time to do, on your own.

5 easy steps to Credit repairs

There is an unfortunate stroke of luck and you have engrossed yourself neck-deep in bad credit. Credit repair seems to be the need of the hour. You need a dolphin-jump to free yourself from the shackles of bankruptcy and you are out of ideas. You are loaded with bank notices and warnings. How do you handle this stressful bad credit? You are just a layman and bankruptcy can dig up nightmares for you. This is really getting on your nerves. Well, the very sensation seems stinky. It feels miserable if you are glued with bad credit and you need a quick guide to credit repair.

A few handy tips, well imbibed can raise your eyebrows and get you exercising your jaw. These can give you a reason to smile and can set you back on your track. But self help may be the best help. You don’t need to be depressed. Bad credit can be repaired through a few systematic steps and make you credit- worthy in some time.

5 step guide to credit repair

1.    Getting your credit reports
There are three chief credit government departments that regulate these credit functions. TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. You need to research up and get to know their opinions about your case in specific. There is every chance of diverse viewpoints amongst all three. Those in bankruptcy hunting for credit repair need to report to only one particular bureau to whom they subscribe. Thus people with bad credit don’t need to report to all three. You can get reports from all three for $9 each and can get them free if you have been denied insurance, employment or credit due to bad credit. You can obtain them in 60 days after your rejection. The most considerable report can be considered by you as an option.

2. Examine the reports

Once you obtain the reports check them in every nook and corner for any kind of mistakes. The reports may be erroneous as these bureaus do not cross check the information provided by the credit companies to them. Be sure to look for any obsolete information and erroneous account records. Be painstaking enough while organizing and preparing points of dispute. If there are any false points there you can look to rectify them through your good habits and timely billings and fight bankruptcy.
3. Dispute reporting
Report the points of dispute to the credit bureau after thoroughly preparing a list of errors and their proper justification. Remember to keep the supporting documents, letters, identity proofs, address proofs and other important documents that can get your errors rectified. You must then send them to the credit authority to rectify the errors.

4. Dissolve bad credit and escape bankruptcy
You can use various consolidation techniques and also recommend the bank to lower your installments. You can also take various credit cards and diversify risks.
  
5. Show your credit worthiness
You can approach petrol pumps, banks, companies, shops, etc that have your previous proofs of purchase and liquidity. You can forward these to the bureau, gain their trust and repair credit.