Monday, February 16, 2009

The Truth About Credit Repair

The Truth About Credit Repair Companies.
You can do a lot on your own to repair your credit or to rebuild your credit.
Watch out for credit repair companies making false claims, like, "We can erase bad credit".
In reality is that no one can erase bad credit information from your report if the debt is real!
Also, many credit repair companies claim that only they have the secret knowledge about how to get inaccurate information off your credit report. Any living coherent person can get errors off their report on his/her own, and for free.
Remember, old information, means credit information older than 7 1/2 years. Accurate credit info must be older than 7 ½ years to be removed. Bankruptcy information older than 10 years can be removed.
Order your credit report from Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. The reports will be under $10 each, unless you have been turned down for a loan (within the last 60 days), in which case the reports are free. You can also get one free report in any 12 month period if you are unemployed and will be applying for a job within the next 60 days, if you are on welfare, or if you have reason to believe that your report contains inaccurate information due to fraud.
Look for errors in your report. If you think you see an error, you should fill out a dispute form or write a letter explaining what you think is wrong. Attach any supporting evidence.
The agency must then investigate your report and get back to you usually within thirty days. (The credit agencies can decline your request only if they decide that it is frivolous. They must notify you of this decision).
The agency must notify you within five days of completing the investigation and must include a copy of your credit report if it has been revised.
If the problem is not resolved, you may file a written statement of up to 100 words explaining your side of the story.
If you think you are being discriminated against, by all means, consult with a lawyer.
If you are able to reestablish your credit, there is no guarantee of continued success in the future. You must continue to make regular payments, get good interest rates, and make sure you have ample cash reserves, etc.

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