The reality is, credit bureaus will shoot down the majority of your claims and disputes on your credit report. [...]]]> Dealing with a credit bureau and creditors requires a certain amount of tenacity and aggressiveness. You must be willing to wade through numerous rejections and potential roadblocks until you achieve your desired result with credit repair.

The reality is, credit bureaus will shoot down the majority of your claims and disputes on your credit report. They will treat you like a disreputable person and potentially even a liar. You must, however, take this rejection without becoming discouraged about reaching your ultimate goal. If you are the kind of person who isn’t comfortable with confrontation, you should seriously consider hiring a professional to repair your credit. If you are the kind of person who becomes angry when dealing with the slow, bureaucratic employees of big bureaucracies, you will also not fare too well. Patience is an absolute requirement, and, if you are thick-skinned and have the fortitude to fight the credit bureaus and your creditors for as long as it takes, then you may have the proper disposition to repair your own credit.

In the process of repairing your credit, you will have to track and monitor dozens of communications at once. This will require organized, disciplined habits. Every day, you must check up on each of these communications to make sure that the credit bureau or creditor hasn’t overextended their time limit. You must spend at least one-half to one hour per day tracking your responses, results, and taking appropriate actions. Remember, you will be dealing with three credit bureaus per person, plus you will be communicating with each creditor appearing on each credit report. If you are not a very organized person, you are definitely not in a good position to attempt to repair your own credit.  Click Here To Learn More About Credit Repair.

These are some of the more common questions about credit repair:

1. When I pay off a past-due account, such as a charge off or a collection account, will that repair my credit?
2. If I succeed in repairing a negative item, will it come right back on my credit report?
3. Are there negative listings, such as bankruptcies and foreclosures, that are impossible to repair?
4. I’ve heard that repairing the credit report is easy and any consumer can do it himself for the price of a few postage stamps. Is that true?
5. If I declare bankruptcy, will it repair my credit and can I begin my credit report all over with a clean slate?
6. Can I file a “100-word statement” on my credit report explaining my side of the story and will creditors read my statement and consider my credit repaired?
7. By changing numbers in my social security number or by using an EIN tax number, can I repair my credit and fool the credit bureaus into creating a completely clean, new credit file under my name?
8. If I build enough good credit, will it offset my bad credit and repair my credit?
9. If I’m having trouble paying my bills, can I go to Consumer Credit Counseling Service and will they help me to repair my credit?
10. Is it illegal for creditors to take a negative, accurate listing off my credit report? They tell me that the law requires that these items remain on the credit report for at least seven years and that they won’t repair my credit.
11. How hard is it to repair my own credit?

What are some other questions that you have? Please list them below…

                          

1. Review your credit report periodically and be prepared to dispute credit report errors. It is common for information on your credit report to [...]]]> If you’ve noticed an error on your credit report and you are about to dispute these credit report errors, here are some simply tips to get the results you want quickly.

1. Review your credit report periodically and be prepared to dispute credit report errors. It is common for information on your credit report to be inaccurate, and it can affect your ability to get a loan and the amount you have to pay to borrow money.

2. Only order your credit report form the official Annual Credit Report site. Any other website that offers a “free annual credit report” only does so when purchasing one of their products or signing up for a free trial that will automatically bill you after 30 days. The Annual Credit Report site is completely free and allows instant access to your current credit report.

3. After reviewing your credit report contact the credit reporting agency, in writing, about the information you believe to be inaccurate. Send a copy of your credit report to support your claim, and keep copies of all documentation for yourself.

4. Send your letter via certified mail so you have proof that the information was sent and a record of when the reporting agency received it. By law they have 30 days to review your claim and get back to you with a final determination.

5. If your claim is accepted, the information on your credit report will be removed and your credit score should improve. Upon request, the credit reporting agency must send a notice of the corrections to anyone that received your report within the last 6 months.

6. Keep an eye on your credit report going forward. Just because you dispute credit report errors and win, that does not prevent the creditor or lender to put the negative information right back on your file. If this occurs, you will have to start the process all over again.

Do you have any additional tips you fee may be helpful? Please post them in the comments below >>

                          

With ID theft on the rise, having identity protection through a credit monitoring service is important. Plus, your credit can change daily as creditors and lenders [...]]]> Credit monitoring from CreditReport.com/Monitoring is the only online credit protection method available that ensures ID fraud protection and keeps you up-to-date with any changes made to your credit file.

With ID theft on the rise, having identity protection through a credit monitoring service is important. Plus, your credit can change daily as creditors and lenders constantly provide new information about you to the credit bureaus. If errors on your credit report go unnoticed due to the absence of credit monitoring, they can wreak havoc on your financial future. The more you can stay on top of your report through online credit monitoring, the more you can provide valuable financial protection for yourself.

The credit monitoring services at CreditReport.com/Monitoring provide you with daily credit monitoring. CreditReport.com/Monitoring notifies you via email with a credit monitor report whenever suspicious activity takes place on any of your accounts. For the proper financial protection, it is crucial to understand the importance of credit monitoring. However, just as important is having an understanding of how to properly read your report. On CreditReport.com you can find a wealth of helpful information on what your credit report really means, and how to determine whether or not you have a good or bad credit score. The professional services of CreditReport.com are designed to help you easily take control of your financial future.

More specifically, our credit check monitoring online service works like this: The credit protection service will constantly monitor your credit report for any changes. If suspicious changes do occur, you will be notified via the credit monitoring online service with an email within 24 hours of the activity. The credit monitoring report also alerts you of any suspicious activity quickly to ensure you have adequate ID fraud protection.

Even if your credit is in poor shape, you still need the ID fraud protection offered by credit protection services through CreditReport.com/Monitoring. ID protection and credit protection are particularly important because whether or not your credit record is positive, an ID thief can make it worse by running up credit card bills in your name.

To give you a comprehensive report, the online service available at CreditReport.com provides a thorough overview through TransUnion monitoring. This means that you’ll receive a comprehensive credit line monitoring service through the TransUnion credit bureau.

What’s your Credit Score? Find out FREE!

                          

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers tips to consumers who may be taken in by the various radio, [...]]]> While the government doesn’t offer or promote programs to help with consumer debt, they are still closely monitoring the information from independent agents and third-party companies that do claim to offer services to repair one’s bad credit.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers tips to consumers who may be taken in by the various radio, Internet, and television advertisements which feature commercials for credit repair services. These ads come on pretty strong, promising help with erasing bad credit overnight. They guarantee easy credit repair with a simple phone call and promise it’s all on the up-and-up.

The FTC Begs to Differ

The FTC is well aware of the ads targeting consumer debt help and they are quick to warn consumers of the old adage ‘if it looks too good to be true, it is’. Companies who offer debt help or credit repair services are targeting consumers who are desperate for help to get out from under debt. They are offering an ‘easy button’ but at a very high price. Not only do the services promising guaranteed credit repair help, they also charge incredibly high fees and in some cases, do absolutely nothing to help you once they have collected your cash. While there are some very legitimate debt assistance agencies that can help a consumer with debt burdens, there are many more scammers out for a dollar.

How to Spot a Credit Repair Scam

The FTC recommends consumers pay close attention to any service they are considering for credit or debt help. Spotting a scam is not always easy. Technology today has made it even more efficient for disreputable companies to reach people in need. They know what to say and how to say it to lure unsuspecting consumers in the door.

Here are some red flags to watch for when researching a credit repair or debt elimination services company:

• The agency guarantees they can erase all credit information from your credit report, even if the data being reported is factual.

• The agency suggests you do not contact the credit reporting agencies on your own and say they will do it for you.

• The agency tells you to dispute in writing all information on your credit report regardless of its accuracy.

• The agency outlines a plan to invent a new identity by requesting an Employer Identification number to use in place of your Social Security number, which will initiate a new, unblemished credit report in your name.

• The agency requires you pay the full fee for service upfront before services are rendered.

Your Reputation is On the Line, Not Theirs

If you are subjected to the above tactics or any other acts that cause you to be suspicious by any credit repair agency or debt assistance program, do not get involved. File a report with the FTC and do not move forward with any recommendations of the credit repair agency.

Following through with any of the above-mentioned actions can potentially land you in serious trouble with the federal government. It is a federal crime to lie on an application for a loan or line of credit. You are also committing a crime by misrepresenting yourself under false pretenses, such as using an Employer ID number instead of a Social Security number. You may also be charged with fraud for your involvement in a credit repair scam, even if it is initiated by a third-party.

Protect yourself and your credit from these con artist games. Settling debts and repairing credit are both processes that can be completed effectively by the consumer. There is no easy fix for credit repair. It takes time and patience to reach your better credit goal but it will cost you nothing more financially to do it on your own.

                          

1. Your credit score. To fix something, you first need to know what needs fixing. For your credit, that means getting your credit report and [...]]]> If your credit has taken a hit during this economy, don’t despair. You can do some damage control and boost your credit. Start with these steps to improve your score.

1. Your credit score. To fix something, you first need to know what needs fixing. For your credit, that means getting your credit report and score so you know what you’re working with. Get your free annual credit report at annualcreditreport.com, the only federally-approved, centralized site that will pull your report from the three credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. The catch is that you’ll have to pay to see your actual credit score. Look for any errors on your report, especially accounts that you didn’t open, or payments showing as late that weren’t, as those are the things that will adversely affect your score.

2. Your debt. Have a plan — calculate how much you can pay each month and how long it will take you to pay down your debt. Send payments twice a month instead of once. Paying off credit card balances should be at the top of your financial to-do list. But keep in mind that you shouldn’t cancel your credit cards once you’ve paid them off, even if you don’t intend on using them. Why? Because canceling your cards will knock points off your score. This seems counterintuitive, but your score is based partly on the length of your credit history and on your debt-to-available-credit ratio (more on that below).

3. Get on the phone. Late payments show up on your credit report. If you’re usually a good customer, get on the phone with your credit card company, ask for leniency and make sure they reverse any late charges. Once you hit a 700-plus score, try to negotiate a lower interest rate.

4. Debt ratio fix. Thirty percent of your score is based on how much you owe vs. available credit (your debt-to-available-credit ratio). So even if you’re paying on time every month, but using most of your available credit, your credit score still takes a hit. The fix: if you have any cards that are maxed out, pay those off first, even if you owe more on other cards.

5. Be on time. This one is obvious, but it can’t be overstated: Paying your bills on time is a big deal. Your payment history makes up 35 percent of your credit score. That includes not just credit cards but also every bill you owe: insurance, utilities, cellphones, medical bills. If you’re the forgetful type, set up auto payments for fixed amounts, and set several reminders for yourself. The best way to avoid getting caught in the late trap is to pay bills as soon as you get them, whether they be paper or paperless — that way there’ll be no scrambling right before they’re due. Pay online because posting is usually quick — sometimes within two business days.