| What exactly is involved with credit repair and | | | | claim. Also remember to include all the account |
| rebuilding your credit score? | | | | information on the item you are disputing. |
| In its simplest terms, credit repair is all about looking at | | | | Be firm in your position that the item is inaccurate, but |
| your credit report...finding any errors and correcting | | | | don't be rude or threatening - that will not help your |
| them. | | | | situation. Remember, you are dealing with a person at |
| The three major credit bureaus are responsible for | | | | the other end. |
| processing millions of pieces of information every day. | | | | Credit repair service or do it yourself? |
| Whenever you are talking about such a large number | | | | Disputing inaccurate items on your credit report can be |
| of daily transactions, there is always the possibility of | | | | done in one of two ways...using a credit repair service |
| mistakes being made and the wrong information going | | | | or on your own. |
| into your report.. | | | | Handling the dispute process yourself is 100% possible, |
| The Fair Credit Reporting Act was put into place to | | | | especially if there are only a few items that need to |
| protect consumers against these types of mistakes | | | | be corrected. The more items that you have to |
| and inaccurate reports. | | | | dispute, the longer the process will be. However, if you |
| You have every right to dispute any item that you | | | | are a disciplined individual, even a large number of |
| believe is not correct. Creditors must follow up on your | | | | items can be handled successfully |
| dispute with a decision. They will either verify that the | | | | Keep in mind that credit repair can sometimes be a |
| item is valid (in which case it would remain on your | | | | long, involved, complicated process. Many people who |
| report) or agree with your dispute and remove the | | | | start working on rebuilding their credit become |
| item from your credit history. | | | | frustrated or even bored with the process...and quit. |
| Disputing an item. | | | | If you do not feel that you will have the time or ability |
| The first step is to order a copy of your credit report | | | | to do everything that will be required, then using a |
| from the three major credit bureaus...Equifax, | | | | credit repair service to handle your disputes will |
| TransUnion, and Experian....and look for any type of | | | | definitely simplify the process. They are able to take |
| inaccurate items that are negatively affecting your | | | | care of every step for you...for a fee of course. |
| credit | | | | Obviously, credit repair companies exist because a |
| Next, you want to contact the creditor who reported | | | | large number of people find it easier to just pay a |
| the account in writing notifying them that you are | | | | company money and let them take care of the |
| disputing the item. Be as specific as possible in your | | | | problems |
| request by including dates, copies of payments made, | | | | It all comes down to either spending time or spending |
| and any other type of evidence that will support your | | | | money. It's your choice. |