Don't pay anyone or hire any credit repair service to repair your credit profile. It is usually a waste of money! Here are simple and easy steps (that requires some consistency from you) to maintain an updated and accurate credit file in a step by step process:- Obtain a free copy of your credit report without scores annually.
- Dispute erroneous and outdated derogatory information on your credit report.
- Save your downloaded credit reports with adverse information. Highlight and dispute duplicate information (many duplicate items report on credit reports when a balance is transferred or sold), outdated information, erroneous information (balances that are incorrect or were/are not solely yours), any personal information reporting incorrectly, etc., (anything that is not positive or neutral is potentially adversely impacting your credit score and the accuracy of your information should be corrected). Send the highlighted information you dispute to the three repositories either electronically (through the upload utility available with your free annual credit reports at www.annualcreport.com), or directly to their PO Box mailing addresses with a simple cover letter itemizing each account item stating the problem in one sentence (like "not mine", or "paid as agreed", or "included in settlement" or "included in bankruptcy filed __/__/____" or "not late", etc., and include the phrase "IAW the FCRA should be removed"). Be sure to include a copy (each time you mail letters) of your driver's license or other photo ID verifying your address and SSN something like a copy of a W2 statement or paystub with your name and social security number that proves you are you for identification purposes and any supporting information. Send mail to:
- Equifax, PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374;
- Experian, PO Box 9701, Allen, TX 75013;
- Transunion, PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022.
- For inexpensive and very helpful legal advice and language to have creditors remove adverse information enroll in a prepaid legal membership plan for best advice.
- Watch the mail for regular replies from the credit repositories (Equifax, Experian and Transunion) who will send response updates from creditors indicating what is being done about your disputes. Look for them, stay on top of them and continue this process of dispute on each item each month they show up. Get into the habit or develop a system to scan or take pictures or save screen shots from your phone or computer and file away those pictures in a secure cloud like google drive organized into digital folders to help you. Be sure to save all bills, statements and proof of payments like copies of checks cashed or images from your bank's web site checking account showing payments went through. Retain these electronic or paper based letters and attach them as the proof you are submitting to dispute the adverse items on your updated reports. Stay in the habit and scan and save the updated credit report responses from these three repositories every month as well. Only you can do this. Do Not Pay Someone To Do This For You!
- Provide evidence supporting the progress being made with creditors whether it is a copy of a check sent, or a response letter or statement from the creditor showing new balance, either way, make sure that any old derogatory information still reporting is either disputed as erroneous or outdated and write the simple statement that you request that this item be updated with accurate information to show it was paid as agreed or removed. Until you ask for adverse items to be removed entirely or updated to current balances due or reported as paid as agreed they will continue to report incorrectly. Stay organized and stay on this task every month.
- If you have explanations that explain late payments, bankruptcies, foreclosures, etc., such as medical bills, extended unemployment, etc., add these statements of explanations as needed or appropriate.
- Continue to monitor your credit profile for adverse information reporting and build your score up by
- Paying down balances on existing credit accounts and keeping credit accounts open! DO NOT CLOSE CREDIT ACCOUNTS AFTER PAYING OFF IN FULL!
- Ask for increases in credit lines, but do not carry a balance above 25% of the available credit on these accounts and strive to pay off balances in full each month and show 0 balance due as quickly as possible on them! But use these credit cards in place of debit cards and pay the balances off each month!
- If unable to get unsecured bank credit cards, gas credit cards, or store credit cards that will report accurate history to the 3 repositories, seek out and obtain secured credit card accounts that report payment history to the three credit repositories regularly. Join a credit union if you don't already belong to one. They often have better secured credit card offers, secured loans like auto loans like banks with greater flexibility but be sure they report payment history regularly (not just when late) to the repositories. Check reputable sources like Bankrate.com which offers a top list of secured credit card providers here.
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