A list of ten credit repair tips follows. This is by no means a complete list, maybe just enough to get you started.

Credit Repair Tip #1 Look for free information before you buy anything. Did you know that the three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, are required to provide consumers with one free copy of their credit report every year? If not, you are not alone. Companies which sell credit reports and other credit repair tips are betting that most people do not.

Credit Repair Tip #2 Visit www.annualcreditreport.com. At this site consumers can view and print the information accumulated by the credit report agencies or credit bureaus. There is no charge for these reports, but the credit bureaus are allowed to promote the products that they sell, such as credit repair tips, on this site. Credit Repair Tip #3 There may be a lot of information on your credit report or just a little, depending on the types of credit that you have and the length of time that you have been using credit. Print the reports out and begin the process of reviewing the information that the credit bureaus have been accumulating about you. Use a yellow highlighter to highlight information that you believe may be inaccurate, misleading or unverifiable. This is information that you will dispute.

Credit Repair Tip #4 One of the credit bureaus has an on-line dispute system, but it is not very user friendly. The window is tiny and in order to read a sentence, you have to scroll from left to right. The best way to notify the credit bureaus of your disputes is to send them a letter. Letter writing suggestions are included in many books with credit repair tips, but you can view a perfectly usable example of a dispute letter at the Federal Trade Commission’s credit website.

Credit Repair Tip #5 Wait.

Credit Repair Tip #6 If you have not received a response from the credit bureau or bureaus within thirty days, send a follow-up letter: “Please remove these items from my credit report immediately. I have waited a reasonable amount of time.”

Credit Repair Tip #7 Wait.

Credit Repair Tip #8 If you receive no response from the follow-up letter, you will need to contact a lawyer, preferably one that specializes in credit repair issues. The credit bureaus are allowed to disregard disputes that they consider frivolous. There are no guidelines for disputes which might be considered frivolous. Credit Repair Tip #9 Sometimes options are recommended which are illegal, such as file segregation. Do not create more problems for yourself.

Credit Repair Tip #10 Visit creditrepairsoft.com for more credit repair tips. This site also shows how different actions affect your credit score.

There are several sources on the internet for credit repair tips. As with most information, there are hundreds of books full of credit repair tips, software programs with credit repair tips and credit repair specialists that charge for their credit repair tips, but there is a lot of free information as well. For more credit repair tips, vistit the Credit Repair Blog at



Thanks to Mark Henry for contributing this article to our Credit Repair blog:

Bad Credit Checking

Credit Repair Software

Some people believe that credit repair software is a great way to help a person get organized in a journey to a debt-free life. They might also believe that these computer programs offer ways to get organized with bill paying and valuable information for reaching financial goals. But in reality, only an experienced credit repair service can factually improve your credit score.

Selecting a credit repair company to help you improve your credit score is a big decision. A typical credit repair service will cost you a few hundred dollars and will take up to a year to complete their service. Choosing the wrong credit repair company can end up wasting money and perhaps more importantly, your time. Choosing the right credit repair company, however, may be one of the best things you can possibly do for your financial future.

What do you need a credit repair company to do for you?

A good place to start when determining which credit repair company is best for you is to figure out what needs to be done to improve your credit. The process of repairing your credit can involve much more than simply disputing your credit with the credit bureaus.  You should make sure to use a credit repair company that can fulfill all of your credit needs.

When most people think of credit repair they think of a process that has become known as credit report repair. When working to repair your credit using credit report repair, a credit repair company is using your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to dispute certain items in your credit reports directly with the credit bureaus. This element of credit repair has helped many people with erroneous, incomplete, or unverifiable information on their credit reports improve their credit scores.

While credit report repair is a good start, many people find that it is not enough. Many leading credit repair companies will also work directly with your creditors using a variety of tactics to get them to stop reporting the negative accounts to the credit bureaus. They may also work with collections agencies and others to get them to stop reporting negative accounts or change the way the accounts are reported. A credit repair company may even go so far as to challenge the legitimacy of a reported debt.

Depending on your current credit situation, you may be best served by a credit repair company specializing solely in credit report repair or one that can also provide a full catalog of credit repair services.

How can I tell if a credit repair company should be trusted?

Unfortunately, credit repair is an industry that has received a bad reputation because of the publicity afforded to credit repair scams. While fraudulent credit repair firms tend to be shut down quickly, it is still in your best interest to learn how to identify the differences between a legitimate credit repair service and a credit repair scam.

An easy way to do this is to know a few of the laws that govern credit repair companies. These laws as defined in the Credit Repair Organizations Act were designed to protect you from credit repair scams while also protecting your right to get help with repairing your credit reports. 

Another way you can find out about a specific credit repair company is to look up their BBB (Better Business Bureau) reports. The BBB keeps notes on complaints made against companies. If the BBB report for a credit repair company lists multiple unresolved complaints or an overall low rating, you should be wary of the company. In addition, beware of any credit repair company that does not list credit repair services as one of their offerings in their BBB filing. The BBB has very strict standards for credit repair companies so many fraudulent companies will not report to the BBB that they offer credit repair.

Debt-free living is definitely the goal. A Christian must be wise in the choice he makes concerning his financial history and his ongoing financial dealings. Every financial decision needs to be a well-researched, well-thought-out decision. As Christians, we have additional resources for dealing with our bad spending habits. He can consult a local pastor or a trusted friend. Becoming debt free will not happen overnight so patience and perseverance are keys to success. Romans 15:5 says, “God of patience grant you be like-minded.” God will help us gain the patience and perseverance we need to follow through with our plans to be debt free, and that may entail credit repair software programs.



Thanks to John Chase for contributing this article to our Credit Repair blog:

Bill Collector Harassment

Credit Repair is About Financial Health



Credit repair, in the final analysis, is about your financial health. You may start a credit repair program with concerns about the accuracy of your credit report, but in the end the real benefit of healthy credit is money in your pocket. Credit repair translates into a lower cost of borrowing, and consequently more room in your budget for saving.

Accelerate the Process

Are you ready to leave your financial stress behind? You can do this. Regardless of the current condition of your credit, a proactive approach can transform your financial life, and sooner than you think. Don’t make the mistake of believing that you are destined to spend years in credit limbo waiting for time to heal the issues of the past. An intelligent approach to credit repair will accelerate the process dramatically.

Two Basic Credit Repair Steps



There are two basic steps involved in the credit repair process. Each is as important as the other and cannot be ignored. When it comes to credit repair this balanced approach is required. Done right the results are dramatic. Are you ready to change your life, clean up your credit reports, boost your credit scores and enjoy all of the benefits that come with great credit? Let’s get started.

Understanding the Errors



The first step in the credit repair process is a methodical clean up of your credit report. Does this sound too obvious? You will be surprised. Most people imagine that if they recognize an item on their credit report it is accurate. This is far from the case. If you really want credit repair success you have to get rid of your preconceptions. An enormous percentage of derogatory information on consumer’s credit reports is reported in error.

Spotting Compliance Issues



In many cases these errors are compliance issues. Compliance issues are, by definition, based on some real event, but should not be on your report as a matter of law. Examples include duplicate accounts, derogatory information reporting beyond the reporting period limit, and collections reported by collectors whom no longer own the debt (having sold it to another collector, or returned it to the original creditor). Credit repair is about the details. And every detail matters. If you are confused you should hire a reputable credit repair service to manage the cleanup process for you.

Credit Restoration Time

The second step in the credit repair process is the rebuilding of your credit. Here also there are important details many people miss. A misstep can mean the difference between success and failure. Your credit score is determined by both the positive and negative information on your credit report. It is not enough to eliminate the erroneous derogatory information on your report. If you don’t rebuild your credit your credit repair efforts will fail. But you must rebuild it in a certain way.

The Key to Your FICO Score

You may think that if you pay your bills on time you will have good credit scores. Sadly, this is not true at all. The FICO scoring model is not designed to grade you on past behavior. Many people are horrified after a lifetime of perfect payments to discover that their credit scores are awful. This can be shocker. The FICO scoring model is a predictive model designed to measure the risk of future default and puts weight on such factors as account balances, the age of accounts, and even the type of accounts you open. Your credit repair efforts will succeed or fail based on your ability to shape your credit according to this predictive model.

Revolving Debt as a Credit Repair Tool

I suggest that you focus initially on your revolving debt. Stay away from store cards and consumer debt, such as furniture store accounts. Build your credit with MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover Cards. If you don’t have any credit and can’t get a regular credit card, get two secured cards as soon as possible, and keep your balances low. A single maxed our credit card can knock one hundred points from your credit score. For comprehensive advice on balancing your credit contact a credit repair professional.

It’s Up To You



Aside from these two essential steps in the credit repair process there may be other credit repair tools that can add significant value to your efforts. Many lenders offer rehabilitation programs that can bring your accounts current and even remove the derogatory history from your report. If you have active legitimate collections, knowledge of your state statute of limitation is essential and can put you in control. Used properly credit repair can transform your credit and change your financial outlook, but you have to take action. It’s up to you. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.



Thanks to Jim Kemish for contributing this article to our Credit Repair blog:

Bad Credit Loan Lenders

There’s a lot of bad credit repair offers on the web today making bold claims to “increase your credit score by 100 points in 30 days! Guaranteed!” Or something like that. But beware! These bad credit repair systems can end up making your credit worse in the long run.

So what do you do if you’re faced with extreme errors? For instance, a mortgage or car company that keeps reporting your payments as late, even though you’ve caught up (this happened to a friend of mine). These types of dings on your credit can keep you from getting good interest rates, and may even cause you to be turned down flat by lenders! It is estimated that 79% of all credit reports contain errors. That’s a lot of errors and these errors cost Americans millions of dollars in interest every year.

But going head on with a mortgage or auto lender is like the proverbial “tilting at windmills.” Once they ding your credit – they won’t write a letter to the credit bureau retracting it! That would open them up to all kinds of liability issues. This is when you need to seek credit repair legal advice.

But before you seek bad credit repair advice (from an attorney or any other company) we wanted to give you some helpful information so that you can make a more informed decision about what to do.

What Exactly is Credit Repair?

Credit repair is the term that refers to challenging inaccurate, misleading, or unverifiable information on credit reports to improve the credit score.

Is Credit Repair Legal?

Yes, but there are illegal credit repair programs you should be aware of! For example, while it is legal to challenge negative items on your credit reports that you believe to be inaccurate, misleading or unverifiable, the accurate information is supposed to remain on your credit report.

It is also entirely illegal to create a “new” identity by applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to use instead of your own Social Security Number. An EIN number is the number that the IRS gives to a corporation for tax purposes. To use this for credit repair is called file segregation – in order to escape responsibility by hiding one’s credit history. The use of File Segregation is a crime and can result in fines or serious jail time. This is a road you don’t want to go down.

Why Should I See A Credit Repair Law Firm And Not Just Get One Of Those “Do It Yourself” Credit Repair Systems?

First off - major errors are very hard to remove on your own.

A TRUE STORY: I have a friend who filed for bankruptcy in New York. She paid off all her debts and the bankruptcy was discharged. About 6 months later a SECOND bankruptcy filing appeared on her credit, along with a discharge. Then a THIRD one! This made her look like someone who abuses the system (filing for bankruptcy to stop collections, then canceling it without paying her bills). Needless to say her score was absolutely tanked! It took her over 18 months to get just ONE of the mistaken bankruptcies removed. She’s still working on the second one today.

Secondly - these supposed “sure-fire” credit repair systems might ruin your credit! Many of them encourage you to (or claim they will do it for you) challenge everything on your credit (good AND bad). Unfortunately this can result in removing the “good stuff” also. And as any lender will tell you, NO credit history is often times worse than BAD credit history!

A TRUE STORY: I sell cars in Phoenix Arizona and imagine my surprise when I pulled a 52-year old customers credit one day and all that was there was his name! ZERO credit score, ZERO open loans (or closed loans for that matter). He might as well been born yesterday. The thing was, he had an open car loan! So the banks knew he had “washed” his credit, which made him look suspicious. Unfortunately no bank would touch him at any rate of interest so he went home without a new vehicle that day.You may think I made this up because you have been told it wasn’t possible, well, it is possible. I saw it with my own eyes.

This type of credit repair is illegal! If an item is old and questionable, that can be challenged and removed. A good credit attorney will know the difference and keep you out of trouble and get these items removed, thus improving your credit score.

Aren’t There Laws Regulating The Credit Repair Industry?

There are indeed. The most prominent one is theCredit Repair Organizations Act (CROA). This became law in 1996 to protect the public from unfair and deceptive advertising practices in the credit repair industry. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigates complaints about credit repair organizations and takes appropriate legal action. Unfortunately it takes them a long time to operate and you could have your credit damaged further by using one of these companies.

Here Is How You Can Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Unscrupulous Credit Repair Companies.

· Avoid any credit repair company that will not tell you your legal rights and what you can do yourself for free.

· Avoid any credit repair company that tells you to relax and let them do it all. In other words, don’t contact the credit bureaus yourself.

· Avoid any credit repair company that tells you they will dispute everything (good, bad or ugly).

Avoid any credit company that suggests creating a “new” credit identity – and then get a new credit report by applying for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to use instead of your Social Security Number. Remember – This is illegal and can have serious consequences.

Talk to a real credit repair agency. We have an excellent credit law firm on our site that specializes on LEGAL credit repair! I would invite you to go there and see for yourself how they can help solve your problems.



Thanks to Dewey Kearney for contributing this article to our Credit Repair blog:

Establish Credit After Bankruptcy

Selecting a credit repair company to help you improve your credit score is a big decision. A typical credit repair service will cost you a few hundred dollars and will take up to a year to complete their service. Choosing the wrong credit repair company can end up wasting money and perhaps more importantly, your time. Choosing the right credit repair company, however, may be one of the best things you can possibly do for your financial future.

What do you need a credit repair company to do for you?

A good place to start when determining which credit repair company is best for you is to figure out what needs to be done to improve your credit. The process of repairing your credit can involve much more than simply disputing your credit with the credit bureaus. You should make sure to use a credit repair company that can fulfill all of your credit needs.

When most people think of credit repair they think of a process that has become known as credit report repair. When working to repair your credit using credit report repair, a credit repair company is using your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to dispute certain items in your credit reports directly with the credit bureaus. This element of credit repair has helped many people with erroneous, incomplete, or unverifiable information on their credit reports improve their credit scores.

While credit report repair is a good start, many people find that it is not enough. Many leading credit repair companies will also work directly with your creditors using a variety of tactics to get them to stop reporting the negative accounts to the credit bureaus. They may also work with collections agencies and others to get them to stop reporting negative accounts or change they way the accounts are reported. A credit repair company may even go so far as to challenge the legitimacy of a reported debt.

Depending on your current credit situation, you may be best served by a credit repair company specializing solely in credit report repair or one that can also provide a full catalog of credit repair services.

How can I tell if a credit repair company should be trusted?

Unfortunately, credit repair is an industry that has received a bad reputation because of the publicity afforded to credit repair scams. While fraudulent credit repair firms tend to be shut down quickly, it is still in your best interest to learn how to identify the differences between a legitimate credit repair service and a credit repair scam.

An easy way to do this is to know a few of the laws that govern credit repair companies. These laws as defined in the Credit Repair Organizations Act were designed to protect you from credit repair scams while also protecting your right to get help with repairing your credit reports.

Another way you can find out about a specific credit repair company is to look up their BBB (Better Business Bureau) reports. The BBB keeps notes on complaints made against companies. If the BBB report for a credit repair company lists multiple unresolved complaints or an overall low rating, you should be wary of the company. In addition, beware of any credit repair company that does not list credit repair services as one of their offerings in their BBB filing. The BBB has very strict standards for credit repair companies so many fraudulent companies will not report to the BBB that they offer credit repair.



Thanks to Anne Hammel for contributing this article to our Credit Repair blog:

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