Fix a Bad Credit Report

How is your credit looking these days?

Are you one of the millions of Americans who suffer with sub-prime or just downright bad credit? You may ask if there is anything you can do to fix a bad credit report. The answer is a resounding YES!!! Thousands of consumers just like yourself have improved their credit or are in the process of doing so by fixing erroneous and/or negative information on their credit reports. Keep in mind the better your credit report looks, the higher your credit score will be which means an overall better life for you. Never underestimate the power of your credit report and credit score; they control so many aspects of life from getting loans, cars, and credit cards to renting an apartment, getting insurance or even a job.

Do you need to fix your bad credit report?

1st step to fix a bad credit report:

Order a copy of your credit report. Remember to order a copy from each of the three bureaus; each bureau reports different information. You can order each individually or order a three-in-one. You will be charged a fee in either case.

There are circumstances that qualify you to receive a free credit report. If you have been denied credit you have 60 days to request a free credit report from the bureau who reported the negative information. You can also qualify for a free report if you are seeking employment. Not to mention new legislation passed that entitles all consumers to one free credit report within a 12-month period.

2nd step to fix a bad credit report:

Review all of the information in your credit report carefully. Make sure the following items are accurate:

• Your full name (and any previous names)
• Social security number
• Public records - lawsuits, liens, judgments, bankruptcies, etc
• Credit history
• Current and previous address
• Employment history
• Current and past marital status

The following are examples of things that may need fixing:

• Incorrect account histories, such as late payments you have paid on time
• Accounts you know you never opened
• Lawsuits you were not involved in
• Liens you never had
• Liens that appear that were supposed to be listed as "included in bankruptcy"
• Bankruptcies that are more than 10 years old
• Negative information that is more than 7 years old
• Credit inquiries that are more than 2 years old
• No notation when you have disputed an account
• Closed accounts incorrectly listed as open

3rd step to fix a bad credit report:

Write a letter to the bureaus that states what information you believe to be inaccurate. Clearly identify the items by naming who the account is with and providing an account number. Explain why you are disputing the item and request that it be corrected or deleted. In your letter you also need to include your complete name, address, social security number, and date. Send the letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you will have a record that your letter was received. Keep copies of your dispute letters and any other documents that support your position.

Your dispute must be investigated within 30 days, unless your dispute is considered frivolous or irrelevant (a stall tactic used by the bureaus). The CRA will investigate with the information provider. If the information provider cannot produce valid proof of the data in question then they must notify all nationwide CRAs to correct information in your file and fix your credit report.

• Disputed information that cannot be verified must be deleted from your file
• Inaccurate information must be corrected
• Incomplete items must be completed
• If there is an account that does not belong to you it must be deleted

Upon completion of the investigation, the CRA must provide you with written copies of the results. If your dispute results in a change, they must also provide a free copy of your fixed credit report. Once an item is corrected or deleted, it cannot be placed back on your report unless the information provider proves its validity. If it is verified as accurate, the CRA must provide the name, address, and phone number of the information provider so you can take matters up with them.

Upon your request, the CRA must send notices to anyone who received a copy of your report within the past 6 months. You can also request that your fixed credit report be sent to anyone who received a copy within the last two years for employment purposes.

The protocol to fix a bad credit report can be simple and may produce desired improvements. However, many times the CRAs and information providers can be uncooperative by using a number of stall tactics (as mentioned above) intended to intimidate and frustrate you. There are many ways to combat these tactics. Learning them, however, can be daunting and time consuming. You may consider letting those who are well seasoned in the credit repair industry fix your credit report for you.

The team of experts at Legacy Legal Services has a thorough knowledge of the laws that work in your favor and they know how to effectively implement them in the dispute process. They have an arsenal of methods to thwart the ploys of the CRAs, producing remarkable results. They have seen a great deal of success in fixing the credit reports of thousands of clients. You could be their next success story. If you want to effectively improve your credit, but don't want to deal with the headache and the hassle, contact Legacy Legal Services; they will do the work for you.