How To Spot Credit Repair Scams

Be leery if you are tempted to contact a credit-repair company. The Federal Trade Commission and several attorneys general have sued credit-repair companies for falsely promising to remove bad information from credit reports. Here are tips to follow:

Contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 to check for complaints made against a company.

Avoid companies that tell you truthful information can be changed or erased to improve your credit or that only the credit-repair company can remove old or inaccurate information. These claims are false.

Be wary if you are asked for a large sum of money before the credit-repair company completes the job. A money-back guarantee will not protect you from a disreputable company.

Avoid new credit identities

If you have filed for bankruptcy, you may be the target of a credit-repair scheme, often called "file segregation." Here, you are promised a chance to hide unfavorable credit information by establishing a new credit identity.

However, there is a problem: File segregation is illegal. If you use it, you could face fines or imprisonment.

Other scams

Consumers looking for an easy fix often are targets of other credit-related scams:

Credit by phone: Pay-per-call or 900-number services have become a popular vehicle for credit scams. Advertisements promise that "guaranteed" credit or cash loans are only a phone call away. Instead, the caller might only receive a list of banks offering low-interest credit cards or a booklet on how to establish credit — and a phone charge of $50 or more. Consumers rarely end up getting credit.

Gold or platinum cards: Beware of promotions for gold or platinum cards that promise to get you credit and build your rating. Although they may sound like all-purpose credit cards, some cards only permit you to buy merchandise from special catalogs and will not help you obtain other credit. You also might be asked to call a 900 or 976 exchange number for more information. These phone charges add up quickly.

Checking-account scam: This scam, which tricks you into disclosing your checking-account number, typically begins with a postcard advertising easy credit approval or low-interest credit card rates. When you call, you are asked for your checking-account number as "verification." Your number then can be magnetically encoded on a draft, which is forwarded to your unsuspecting bank for payment from your account.

Do You Know How To Spot Credit Repair Scams?

You may see ads on TV, online, or in the newspaper claiming that your bad credit can be quickly and easily fixed. Don’t fall prey to these scam artists.

Avoid companies that tell you truthful information can be changed or erased to improve your credit or that only the credit-repair company can remove old or inaccurate information. These claims are false.

Be wary if you are asked for a large sum of money before the credit-repair company completes the job. A money-back guarantee will not protect you from a disreputable company.

Avoid new credit identities

If you have filed for bankruptcy, you may be the target of a credit-repair scheme, often called "file segregation." Here, you are promised a chance to hide unfavorable credit information by establishing a new credit identity.

However, there is a problem: File segregation is illegal. If you use it, you could face fines or imprisonment.

Other scams

Consumers looking for an easy fix often are targets of other credit-related scams:

Credit by phone: Pay-per-call or 900-number services have become a popular vehicle for credit scams. Advertisements promise that "guaranteed" credit or cash loans are only a phone call away. Instead, the caller might only receive a list of banks offering low-interest credit cards or a booklet on how to establish credit — and a phone charge of $50 or more. Consumers rarely end up getting credit.

Gold or platinum cards: Beware of promotions for gold or platinum cards that promise to get you credit and build your rating. Although they may sound like all-purpose credit cards, some cards only permit you to buy merchandise from special catalogs and will not help you obtain other credit. You also might be asked to call a 900 or 976 exchange number for more information. These phone charges add up quickly.

Checking-account scam: This scam, which tricks you into disclosing your checking-account number, typically begins with a postcard advertising easy credit approval or low-interest credit card rates. When you call, you are asked for your checking-account number as "verification." Your number then can be magnetically encoded on a draft, which is forwarded to your unsuspecting bank for payment from your account.

If you suspect a credit-repair scam, file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General's Office online or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Never give out your bank account or credit-card number unless you know the company is reputable. Don’t be a victim of these credit card repair scams.

Credit Repair Specialists – They Might Help You, But Why Not Do It Yourself?

Credit repair specialists can be of help to you if you notice that there are inaccuracies in your credit report. It is important for everyone to review his/her credit report at least once a year to verify that the information it contains is correct. You can get the free report from one of the 3 major credit bureaus, or even all three if you wish. Once you notice a discrepancy that is detrimental to your credit, you have to take steps to repair it. This is where credit repair specialists can help you.

Before you contact a credit repair specialist about mistakes in your credit report, you have to make sure that you are correct when you say this is a bill you don’t owe. The specialists cannot wipe out any unfavourable items from your credit report just on your say so. If you need credit repair help for your bad credit rating, then it is only you who can do that.

Credit repair specialists will take a look at your credit report. If the report says you have a bill outstanding, for example, you do need to provide proof that you have repaid the amount in full. You have to verify all your claims of mistakes. If the bills named in the report are legitimate, then they are your responsibility. In order to have an item removed from a credit report, it has to go through legal channels, but the specialists will help you with this.

You don’t have to contact credit repair specialists if you do notice a mistake in your credit report. These people do take the work off your shoulders, but you can do it yourself. All you have to do is contact the credit bureau that supplied you with the report and notify them of the mistake. They will send you the appropriate forms to fill out and give you instructions as to how you should proceed. It doesn’t cost any money to take this route and do your own credit repair. Help is readily available from the 3 major credit bureaus and is free for you to use. Although credit repair specialists are trained for this job, you do have to pay for their help. Why pay, when you can do it yourself?

Credit repair specialists can help, but you can do it all yourself.

Credit Repair Made Easy

In recent years, more people than ever before have found themselves deeply in debt with no remedy in sight. For many of those people, filing bankruptcy seems the only answer. In the majority of cases, however, this is not the case. With some careful planning, skilled help and patience, people can repair their credit.

The first step toward repairing credit is to find out exactly what is owed and to whom. Current copies of credit reports should be obtained from all the major credit bureaus. Free copies of these reports are available if credit has been denied recently, usually within thirty to sixty days. If any inaccurate information is shown on any of the reports, this information should be disputed. This action may be initiated by telephone but it is better to do this in writing for documentation. Credit bureaus must investigate disputes promptly, normally within thirty days. If this time passes and no correspondence or other communication is received, the credit bureau should be contacted again, both by telephone and in writing.

Often credit bureaus will update files and not notify the individual. If this has happened, request a copy of the updated report. Credit bureaus usually furnish free updated copies. Be persistent until the inaccurate information is removed. It may have a great bearing on future creditworthiness.

After incorrect information has been removed, repeat the process with each credit bureau that carries the inaccurate information. This is necessary since the credit bureaus operate independently and changing records with one will have no bearing on the files at another bureau.

Here are some of the most disputed credit report items:

---outdated information, usually over seven years old
---inaccurate personal information
---credit information that belongs to someone else (This is quite common.)

If a large number of credit inquiries appear in the file, request that the credit bureau merge multiple inquiries from the same source. This will help future credit ratings since an excessive number of inquiries is seen as derogatory.

Always keep credit information current by obtaining copies of credit records at least once yearly after resolving problems. This will also act as an alert to any credit fraud that may be occurring.

After obtaining a credit file and starting the dispute process, evaluate your financial situation. If you find that you are unable to make at least the minimum payment on outstanding accounts, immediately contact creditors. Many will appreciate your willingness to pay and will attempt to help set up plans for payment. Do not make promises which cannot be kept. A small payment is preferable to a large payment that never arrives. Sometimes this contact can be enough to reduce payments and forestall more severe measures. If not, a more serious step must be taken.

This next step is to consult a credit-counseling agency. These organizations are invaluable in solving financial problems. They are staffed with trained individuals experienced in the credit field. Do not confuse these agencies with the commercial "credit repair" companies who claim that, for a fee, they will wipe your credit slate clean. Don't be fooled. There is no legal way to do this. Any procedures they might use are available to you free of charge.

A counselor at a credit counseling agency will take all the information concerning your financial situation, evaluate it and decide the best strategy to use in solving your problem. You will be asked to abide by certain rules while receiving services. These rules may include closing charge accounts and canceling credit cards or paying your bills through the agency. It is to your advantage to abide by the rules, as these agencies are perfectly safe. They are non-profit and will not ask you to pay for their services. Although the repayment period may be long, do not accept offers of credit while receiving services from these organizations since this will only delay the process and could possibly result in you being refused further services.

Here are some suggestions for maintaining good credit after the credit repair period is over:

---Live within your means. Do not return to the bad financial habits that resulted in credit problems the first time.

---Create a budget. Know where all your money is going. Small purchases can add up and make it difficult to meet important obligations. Keep records of all money spent for one month. This detailed record will show where spending cuts need to be made. It will also alert you to any spending problems.

---Plan for financial emergencies by depositing a fixed amount of income to a special "emergency" account. Do this as if paying another monthly bill. This money will insure that emergencies such as illness or loss of job do not catch you totally unprepared. Try to accumulate enough in the fund to pay bills for at least six months.

Credit Repair Companies Provide No Cure for Your Credit Ails

"Do you have bad credit? We can help" is often a claim made in advertisements by credit repair companies who state they can erase negative information on your credit report. However, only time--not miracle cures or exorbitant fees--can heal bad credit.

Unscrupulous firms often rely on a portion of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) which requires a credit bureau, or credit reporting agency, to omit some information on a credit report during the time when an investigation is being conducted after a challenge has been filed by a consumer.

As a result, credit repair firms will flood credit bureaus with multiple, frivolous disputes. Fees paid by consumers who are desperate for clean credit can range from a few dollars to thousands of dollars, but the legitimate negative information is never permanently erased from a credit file by the paperwork generated by a credit repair firm.

Rather, time is the best solution to an undesirable credit history.

Federal law mandates the time periods that accurate negative information remains on a credit report. Delinquent payments are eliminated from credit reports after seven years and personal bankruptcies after ten years.

Information concerning a lawsuit or judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statue of limitations runs out, whichever is longer.

Credit reporting company officials estimate that about 30 percent of their workload is wasted on credit repair companies which intentionally abuse laws and policies established to protect consumers.

Credit reporting organizations will provide consumers with a copy of their credit report upon request for a small fee. In addition, free credit reports are available to persons who have been denied credit within the past 60 days.

Consumers should be aware of the following facts:

Virtually every service a credit repair firm does legally can be done by consumers themselves for free or at minimum cost.

No one can legally remove accurate information from a credit report. Only time can wipe out bad credit.

Any consumer can dispute inaccurate information at no charge. Inaccurate information will be changed or deleted free of charge. Credit reports contain an easy-to-complete dispute form to help consumers who disagree with the information.

There are no miracle cures for bad credit.

Remember that lenders are in business to lend money and want to say "yes." However, their livelihood depends on extending credit only to consumers who repay their debts.

Credit Repair

More than 30 million have credit problems cause by everything from late payments to bankruptcy. The American Bankruptcy Institute reports that, УThe number of bankruptcy cases filed in the 12-month period ending September 30, 2005, totaled a record 1,782,643.Ф

Whether itТs brought on by personal illness, the loss of a job, or overspending, credit problems can seem overwhelming. To ease the financial pressure you can always,

Х Fill out a change of address card at the post officeЧand then donТt move.
Х Ask the IRS to take you off their mailing list.
Х Marry your car. Assuming your car produces no income and you file jointly, you can save up to 50% on your taxes.

If you want a more serious approach to credit repair, here are three things you can do.

Clean Up Your Record
No one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from your credit report. Details about missing a loan payment, defaulting on a mortgage, or filing for bankruptcy, stay in your history for 7-10 years. The only thing that can erase such mishaps is time.
What you can get removed from your report are errors that could result in your receiving a bad credit rating. Consumer Reports magazine estimates that almost half of all consumers have errors in their credit files.

You should request and review your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. If you find errors, spell them out in a certified letter to the bureau involved. Include a copy of your report with the erroneous items clearly marked. Identify what you want corrected and include copies of any supporting documentation.

The bureaus are required by law to investigate and correct any listings that are inaccurate or that canТt be verified. At the conclusion of the investigation, the bureau must send you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change.

Change Your Ways
Fair, Isaac and Company, the people who developed credit scoring, offer the following common sense tips for changing your spending habits:

Х Pay your bills on time.
Х If you have missed payments, get current and stay current.
Х If you are having trouble making ends meet, contact your creditors or see a legitimate credit counselor.
Х Keep balances low on credit cards and other revolving credit.
Х Pay off debt rather than moving it around.
Х DonТt close unused credit cards as a short-term strategy to raise your FICO score.
Х DonТt open a number of new credit cards that you donТt need just to increase your available credit.
Х Do your rate shopping for a given loan within a focused period of time.
Х Check your credit report from the three major credit bureaus regularly.

Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage
Mortgage refinancing involves taking out a new loan to pay off your original mortgage. Depending on the equity in the home, the new mortgage can be for more than the amount of the old loan, giving you cash for debt consolidation.
   
Refinancing could lower your mortgage payments, saving you money every month. It could also help improve a bad credit rating if you handle the money wisely. You can learn more about mortgage refinancing and get a free loan quote at www.easymortgagerefinancing.com.

There is one caveat to refinancing. If you plan to move in the next three years, it might not be worth it as you wonТt have time to recoup the costs of getting a new mortgage.

A Credit Repair Book – Get One Right Here

A good credit repair book will provide you with many tips and secrets about how to repair your credit and improve your credit score. Credit repair is not an intuitive subject. There is no need to pay for a credit report or pay someone to give you information because you are the only one that can repair your bad credit. A credit repair book is filled with many small things that you can start doing right now to get you well on the way to having a good credit score.

Armed with a good credit repair book, you will learn how to get your free annual credit report. Under the law you are entitled to receive one free report each year from each of the 3 major credit bureaus. A book will also tell you how to read this report to find out what your credit score is. It will give you practical tips to improve your credit score that you can start using right away.

You can order the credit repair book right from our site. Your search for credit repair tips is over because this book has everything you need. Find out the tips to improve your credit score by finding out what a debt consolidation loan can do for you. Creditors look favourably on this type of loan and when you use the money to pay off your bills, the monthly payment you have is usually lower than the others were when combined.

You won’t believe what a difference a good credit score will make when you apply for another loan. One thing that the credit repair book will tell you is that credit repair tips are not a quick fix for bad credit. This means that you won’t see a remarkable difference in your credit score overnight. However, with time you will see that the tips to improve credit score really do work.

If you get the credit repair book right now and get started using the credit repair tips it contains, when you request your free credit report next year, you will be pleasantly surprised. The tips to improve a credit score will show you ways of doing your own credit repair that you probably never even thought of. The credit repair book will give you painless tips to help you get better credit and better interest rates the next time you apply for a loan.