| A major drawback for filing bankruptcy is that you will | | | | - Driver's license |
| have really bad credit score and credit report. Instead | | | | - Social security card |
| of feeling hopeless, you can proactively work to fix | | | | - Schedule F from the bankruptcy petition (this is the |
| your credit score through different means. Your | | | | schedule that lists all the debt including the name, |
| bankruptcy petition or documents will have the list of all | | | | account number and address of the creditors) |
| the creditors and the debt that you owe to them. In | | | | Make at least 3 copies of each of the above |
| order to track the progress of credit restore process, | | | | documents. You want to demonstrate to the credit |
| you want to make sure that the creditors from the | | | | agencies that such discrepancy should not be in your |
| bankruptcy petition are precisely represented in the | | | | credit. You want to mail these paperwork along with |
| credit. If you think social security number is crucial, then | | | | the appropriate dispute request to the credit agencies |
| you should treasure your credit report also. It is what | | | | so that the mistake can be corrected. You want to |
| identifies you financially. Any creditor will require your | | | | prove to the credit agencies that the debt from the |
| credit report in order to see if you are qualified to be | | | | specific creditor has been discharged by the |
| given the loan. If you are buying a car, house, or even | | | | bankruptcy court and should not be listed as such in |
| just buying a big ticket departmental store product, it | | | | the credit report. Make sure that the credit agencies |
| will all necessitate a credit check to see if you are | | | | update their records on your credit report using the |
| credit worthy. If you do not take care of managing | | | | new data that you have provided for them. No one |
| your credit appropriately, you will have many issues | | | | should care more about mending your credit than |
| later on in life. | | | | yourself, so be on top of the credit bureaus until they |
| Your credit report after the bankruptcy should only | | | | correct the problem. Follow up with the credit agencies |
| show that the debt to each of the creditors has been | | | | and make sure that the dispute has been resolved and |
| discharged and not active or anything derogatory. If | | | | your credit history is clean again. |
| you find that your credit shows otherwise, this is most | | | | Option #2: Hire a lawyer to fix your credit report |
| likely the oversight of the credit agencies. Instead of | | | | If you can hire a lawyer, he/she will be able to help you |
| waiting for someone else to fix your credit report, take | | | | settle the discrepancy you have with your credit. |
| the proactive way and reach out to the appropriate | | | | The final goal is to have an accurate credit report no |
| parties involved. There are 2 ways to restore this | | | | matter which choice you have chosen to fix it. You |
| problem, one is free but dreary, the other will cost you | | | | want your credit report to be as clean as possible, |
| money. | | | | without any creditors listed as active or derogatory. |
| Option #1: DIY (do it yourself) | | | | Remember your credit report is one of the important |
| In order to rectify the credit, you should first collect the | | | | key to a good financial future, and you should have the |
| following 3 documents: | | | | best possible credit report you can get. |