Credit companies always appeal to consumers who have poor credit historym and they often promise to erase bad credit, to clean credit reports and even create new legal identity. But can they really help in repairing bad credit history?
Here are some points to consider when deciding on seeking any help from credit repair companies:
– They collect payment for services in advance before they provide any solutions
– They do not inform you of what they can do for free; they even conceal the information regarding your legal rights.
– They advice you not to directly contact your credit report company.
– They recommend you to create a new credit report and new credit identity using the employer identification number rather than social security number.
– They suggest that you hide all information about your credit report.
Check on the above scams because engaging in something fraudulent can lead to your prosecution.
The truth is that no company can legally and accurately remove all bad records on your credit report.
According to FCRA or Fair Credit Reporting Act you can actually ask for a free credit report when a company acts adversely against you. For example, you are denied of your application for credit or insurance.
Basically, there are techniques on how to repair your credit:
1. Review and always get a copy of your credit report. Even though you have no bad credit record, you should review your credit report regularly. This will be useful to ensure that all contained information is correct, up to date and complete, and check on the information in your credit report that will affect your insurance or loan application and what amount will you pay for them. It will guard you against someone who utilizes your personal information such as identity thieves.
2. Analyze your credit report. This can let you see if there are inaccurate entries or negative listings. Most of the entries are not easily looked upon, such as medical collection. In addition, there are those reporting late payment although you have paid on time. Analyzing your report will let you ensure that no thieves are stealing your identity and using it for illegal transactions.
3. Make an entry of all the items which you find to be negative or questionable. Identify the negative and positive items on your credit report. You should also rank these items from the least to the most damaging information. Examples are:
-Foreclosure
– Repossession
– Collections
– Credit rejections
– Late payments
– Bankruptcy
– Court judgments
– Loan default
– Past due payments
– Credit inquiries
Take note that if your company does not notify you of the bad information that will be placed on your report, they are clearly violating the FCRA. You can use this act against them and you can immediately ask them to remove the negative listings.
4. Create a dispute letter addressed to the credit bureaus. Indicate the reasons why you disagree on the report and check all the items that you are questioning. You can ask for every detail that you found disputable, but you will have a hard time to get foreclosures and bankruptcies off your credit report. Be sure that the letter is sent certified or registered. This is important so that you can be sure when the letters are sent and received. The letter will also give you rights when the company will not respond on the prescribed time by the law.
5. Have a record of all your transactions; document the date when you send letters and what are the results. Track down your correspondences and have it organized. You should also note all the telephone conversations from the date and time, name of the person you talked to, her/ his position, what transpired in your conversation.
6. Let the credit bureau investigate your claims and wait for the results. Once the agency receives your letter, they are obliged to investigate it. The agency will have to resolve the dispute within 30 days, after which, the consumer shall receive written notification of the results. If the investigation results reveals error again, you can request for revision of the report
7. Evaluate the results. The credit bureau will summarize the revisions it made on your report. Compare your notes with the list from the bureau to check if the results are accurate.
8. Repeat the initial steps if you are not satisfied with how your disputes are settled. Reinvestigation is free, so request for it anytime you want.
Persistence and patience are needed because not all credit bureaus are cooperative. Once your credit report is repaired, creditors will come to see your good financial standing again.