Credit Repair is not difficult, but you can shoot yourself in the foot if you don’t pay attention to a few little things. Here are common mistakes people make which can be easily avoided:
- Failing to disputing with the credit bureaus FIRST. In credit repair, always dispute your negatives with the credit bureaus before doing anything else. 10-20% of all items disputed in an initial round of disputes fall off. Why not pick off the low hanging fruit in the beginning so you can concentrate on the tough stuff? In addition, you cannot take legal action as an individual against companies who are acting illegally by reporting you if you don’t dispute first.
- Failing to document your efforts. You should ideally be keeping notes and dates of all your efforts. Make a note of anyone you speak to, when you send letter, and when you receive letters. You should all make sure you send your disputes certified mail, return receipt requested. How to organize is up to you. Putting everything in a notebook is ideal, but a plain ‘ole file folder will do if you just store bits of paper. You don’t have to get too fancy.
- Disputing items online. Never do this! You will not have any written records of your dispute (the return receipt), plus, you are making it easy for them by disputing online. Your dispute will become a two letter code and will be sent (using eOscar) to an offshore computer for analysis. You will also not be able to dispute specific information within the listing, for instance, wrong high balance, wrong date account was opened, etc. You will not be able to send documentation. In addition, if your name, SSN or address is incorrect, you have to send your request in writing any way.
- Being unrealistic. If your credit report is in bad shape, there isn’t a quick fix. The process takes time, usually from 6 months to a year. In addition, some items are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to remove: bankruptcies, tax liens, judgments and child support. If you have any of those listings, you may be in it for the long haul.
- Giving up. The process seems overwhelming at first, especially if you are new to credit repair. Take one step at a time. You don’t have to do everything at once. I usually tell people to do things a few days or a week apart, and not to spend more than an hour at a stretch doing anything. After the first dispute letters are mailed, you really shouldn’t have to spend any more than 1 hour a month working on your credit. Isn’t it worth it?
Documentation is especially important when you are disputing items with the credit bureaus. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus have 30 days to get back to you with the results of an investigation on your dispute. If you do not hear from them, within 30 days, they must remove the item.
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Proof of deletion of an item from one bureau is not given any weight by another bureau as a reason for removal. Dispute all three at once.
I disagree. I’ve been a credit counselor for over a DECADE and I know it’s ok to dispute online. To say different is incorrect. The credit bureaus will tell u this.
Hellon my husband and I have been trying to have to adverse items that didn’t belong there to begin with. We’ve been at it for 6 and half months with no success. We have the proof that they don’t belong there but that doesn’t seem to be good enough. Any suggestions?
How can you dispute an item in writing though Experian? All I can seem to find is the online dispute. Please help! I am set and ready to roll. I have a good strategy in place thanks to all of the advice on this website.
Shane
The credit Bueru is a scam, I have to pay for my score! Even though you write and re write they do what they want too, report what they wish. whos getting the $14.95 any way? more harm than good thease three stooges.
B S report.
I agree with most of what you said but except for taking six months to a year.. It took me about 3 months to have about 4 negative things removed. Just by doing exactly what you said certified mail and good record keeping..
Would someone please post the address to each credit reporting agency and also to whom or what dept to make attention to
Thanks
Robert – Here is the info: http://www.creditinfocenter.com/creditreports/CreditBureauContactInfohtm.shtml
“I’ve been a credit counselor for over a DECADE and I know it’s ok to dispute online. To say different is incorrect. The credit bureaus will tell u this.”
You didn’t read why they don’t want you to dispute online, did you?
Because if you have to take a credit bureau to court (deletion by judgement), you need actual documents. The online method doesn’t provide you this.
“I’ve been a credit counselor for over a DECADE and I know it’s ok to dispute online. To say different is incorrect. The credit bureaus will tell u this.”
It also doesn’t really do anything. It’s a form that most likely NOT fit your issue. It’s a boiler plate dispute. Once you fill it out all the computer does is check to see if it’s on their tape. If it is it’s shown as a confirmed account. There is no investigation done. Totally waste of time to use online disputes. Don’t fall for people telling you something that doesn’t usually work. This is one of them.
Thanks Ron, I completely agree.
I recently had 2 items deleted by disputing online. Of course this was about the 3rd time. One was a deletion of a repo
In working along side a friend who is a credit consultant, I have seen first hand that credit repair does take time and perserverance. Although disputing can be done on-line, the very best way to do this, and make it a PERMANENT solution, is to have every detail documented. It’s important for people to understand the long term impact of their credit score, whether it’s good or bad. It is well worth the effort and time to do a thorough job and protect your own interests.
How can i get a free credit report all the sites i try want a credit card and i dont have one? I really want to fix my credit i need to take care of a family now!! If i chould get my report then i can see what i need to work on. thanks
Go to annualcreditreport.com. They are totally free and you don’t need a credit card.
if you dispute anything with anyone and do it online, how can you prove anything. How are your rights protected?
the credit unions can always say they didn’t get the online info. if they use this an argument, how do you prove you did do it unless you print your screen, which most people aren’t going to do because they may not be that computer savvy.
Question: I disputed online to 2 Credit Bureau’s and just one did I do manually. I’m waiting for responses. Should I continue to wait or go back and do it manually and mail it out now?
I have tried to get them to remove incorrect information that is being reported under personal information, they also duplicated alot of information causing more and more pages on my report. They have done nothing. Any suggestions
Removing your credit is not as easy as 1,2,3. I have help people dispute items from time to time and the best way I found out is through mail. Online works but not the best thing to do. People remeber dispute first always, if that fails then negotiate to pay a small portion of your debt no more than half. Need help Just send me a message.
hey frank!
i owe $6000 to toyota ,had the car repo oct 08.
how much should i give them?
thank you.