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How Fast Can Your Credit Be Repaired?

Tuesday, March 19th

How Fast Can Your Credit Be Repaired?

Tired of being turned down for car loans, a mortgage or even cable service? Is bad credit to blame for the constant rejection? If so, it's time to take the steps necessary to repair your financial reputation.

While it may seem hopeless, a less-than-stellar credit report can be turned around. However, years of bad credit cannot be undone in just a few hours of time, so be prepared to be patient while you work through the steps toward a better financial future.

The first step in repairing your credit is to request a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Under guidelines spelled out in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), individuals are permitted to obtain, for free, one annual copy of their credit report from each of the three listed agencies above. By going to annualcreditreport.com, you can order a report from each of the agencies. Be wary of other websites and companies which claim to be official sources for obtaining a credit report. The only site authorized by the federal government to dispense the free reports is annualcreditreport.com. Other sites can and will charge you for the credit reports - a fact you may not discover until it's too late.

Once you have your credit reports, go over them carefully. As with any sort of history which relies on the accurate reporting of outside agencies, mistakes can and do happen. Review to make sure that all accounts in your name were actually opened by you, and that there are no mistakes in reports of failure to pay on any account. Employment and resident history also are included on a credit report, so be sure to check that all employers and places of residence are accurate to ensure that someone else's information has not been included in your report.

While it may seem redundant to do so, be sure to review each report from all three agencies. National credit reporting agencies may obtain their information from different sources, and therefore may not contain all of the same data.

If you discover a mistake on any of the reports, you should file a dispute with the credit reporting agency. The three credit reporting bureaus all have a dispute process. That process can be accessed online through their websites, or via snail mail with a form that can be obtained by calling the credit reporting bureau. Within 30 days, the individual should receive a response to their complaint about inaccurate information.

In most cases, the credit reporting agency is able to verify the information is incorrect and will remove it from your record. In the event it does not agree that the information is false and refuses to remove it, the consumer should request that a copy of the dispute notice be included with the credit report any time it is accessed by an outside source.

If poor credit is just a fact of life - rather than a data error on someone else's part - there are steps that can be taken to help earn back the trust of creditors. The best solution is to consult with a consumer credit counseling service, which can help consolidate loans and bills into affordable monthly payments. If creditors see that you are making an effort toward paying down your debt responsibly, they are more likely to extend credit to you in the future.

The Best Credit Repair Companies Compare Credit Repair Companies Compare Credit Repair Company Reviews What are the best Credit Repair Companies Best Credit Repair Company Reviews

Credit Repair Company FAQ

Credit repair is just like it sounds: a process by which your credit history and score are improved. This happens through negotiations with creditors, removing negative information reported to credit bureaus, and other strategies.
That will depend on several factors: your state of residence, the type(s) of issues you're looking to resolve, and so on. Most credit repair services offer a free consultation, to determine if you're eligible for their help and which approach to take in your specific case.
Credit repair services typically charge a one-time setup fee and monthly service fees. One-time fees range from $19 to $195, and monthly fees from $29 to $159.95. You might get a discount if you sign up as a couple, or if you're a current or former member of the military.
Most of the actions taken on your behalf by a credit repair service can be done on your own. But, how much time do you have? Are you typically available to make calls during business hours? Hiring a credit repair provider can save you a significant amount of time and hassle. And, there's something to be said for letting the experts do the work, using their knowledge and connections to ensure that your credit repair process is done effectively.
The first step with any credit repair service will likely involve a thorough review of your credit report. Your representative will discuss your credit history in detail, help you identify actionable items, and give you a recommendation for which services are best suited to your needs. From there, credit repair providers work diligently to address the issues and resolve them, for as long as you maintain your subscription to their services.
Most services state that you'll see negative items removed from your credit history within the first 90 days. The amount of time it will take to see an improvement in your credit score will depend on your particular circumstances.
Sometimes. A few credit repair services guarantee that you'll see those deletions within the first three months, and you'll get a refund of any fees paid if that doesn't happen. Other providers actually specify a minimum credit score improvement. It's a good idea to know exactly what you'll get from the service you select, before you sign up as a member.
Credit repair is legitimate: working with a reputable service, you can absolutely see big changes in your credit report. On the other hand, there are companies that don't deliver what they promise. Be sure to check out the reputation of any credit repair service you're considering: customer feedback, number of years in business, and the service's BBB rating are all helpful indicators of a provider's trustworthiness.

Compare Credit Repair Companies

Select any 2 Credit Repair Companies to compare them head to head

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  • Sky Blue Credit
  • Credit Firm
  • The Credit People
  • Ovation Credit Services
  • Credit Saint
  • MSI Credit Solutions
  • The Credit Pros
  • Lexington Law
  • Credit Repair
  • Pyramid Credit Repair
  • Credit Repair Consultants
  • Credit Monkey
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