I have used these techniques and a nd improved my score by 100 pts in less than 1 year. By following these 10 tips, which worked for me and others, maybe you will get similar results. I am no credit guru, but hopefully it helps you fix your credit score. This is not some overnight fix, nor will it magically improve by the end of the week. You will need time, dedication, and organization o rganization to make this work. If nothing else happens, h appens, you will be more informed and better prepared to become a winner in the game of credit. So... let's get started!
Step 1. Opt-out! Call this phone #... 1-888-567-8688. This keeps the Credit Reporting Agencies (CRAs) from selling marketing lists that include your information. This helps keep the surprise-collection activities (phone calls, home visits, mail) to a minimum.
Step 2. Get Your Credit Report. The free, easy way to do this is to go to annualcreditreport.com annualcreditreport.com.. You need to get one for each credit bureau (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian). They each have different information and have a different way to measure your credit score. With all 3 credit reports, you will have the information you need n eed to fix or improve your credit score.
Step 3. Send Letters to the Credit Bureaus. Mail TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax a letter. In it, you ask them to delete all addresses/names other than your current one. This removes ones that are incorrect, never lived there, etc. The purpose of correcting your contact information is to take away one method of verification when you dispute, if that negative item is tied to that old address or name. When you send your letter, include...
a copy of your drivers license; a copy of a bill with the same name and address as your license; If your license contains your middle initial, use your middle initial and a bill that uses your middle initial and matches your address on your license.
Send these letters CERTIFIED MAIL with Signature Requested. Keep a copy of the receipt for your records. This should cost around $5 and some change per letter.
Sample Letter to the Credit Bureaus. January 18, 2011 Bob Jones 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 94305 Trans Union Consumer Relations PO Box 2000 Chester, PA 19022-2000 Dear Consumer Relations: Going over my credit report, I have found it contains many errors. I request your investigation of the following "personal information". Please see the attached ph oto copy of my driver‟s license for your reference. For the record: 1. My name is: DoingDamage. Please remove all other name variations IMMEDIATELY as they are not accurate! 2. My current address is: 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 94305 Please remove all other addresses IMMEDIATELY as they are not accurate! Please delete these disputed items. Thirty (30) days constitutes a reasonable amount of time for investigation. Per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, send me notification that these items have been deleted, as well as an updated copy of my credit report. Sincerely, Bob Jones SS #: 666-66-6666 DOB: 10/31/77
Step 4. Preparing to Dispute. Once you get your credit reports, use them to compile negative items that appear. Make a list of all negatives on each report. Gather details as best you can. Write the date it first went delinquent, date of last activity, etc.
You need these dates to determine the reporting period. This sets the legal timeframe for the SOL (Staue of Limitations) expiration. The laws are differ by state. So, you need to find a source and read it ** IF this step doesn't help you.
Step 5. Dispute Collections. Dispute all collections first. Wait until you change your addresses on your credit reports (30 days from receipt). Then its time to attack the Collection Agencies. Write to the collection agency. Request any documentation they have that proves you owe them or are obligated to pay them. DO NOT SIGN THE LETTER . Ask them for any document you have signed with them...
stating you owe them something; or, received any services from them.
Let them know you need proof within 30 days of notice. Otherwise, they should report to all the credit agencies that this item should be removed. If they do not, threaten to sue them. Most likely, they will not respond. Wait 30 days after you received confirmation they got it. Send a dispute letter to the credit reporting agencies. It should come off nice and easy!
Sample Dispute Letter. Bob Jones 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 94305 October 12, 2011 BUREAU OF COLLECTION REC 7575 CORPORATE WAY EDEN PRAIRIE, MN 55344 Account #: ******* To whom it may concern: In a recent review of my credit report, I noticed that your company has placed an erroneous and derogatory entry, claiming that I owe you $13800.00. I have no account with you, nor have I ever. The account number referenced above is all the information that I have concerning this alleged debt. Since you saw fit to place this item on my credit report, you obviously have all the information you need in order to investigate and correct your error.
Under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), I have the right to request validation of the debt you say I owe you. I am requesting proof that I am indeed the party you are asking to pay this debt, and there is some contractual obligation which is binding on me to pay this debt. Please also be aware that a sworn affidavit from your compliance officer does not constitute a valid validation of this debt. Be advised that I am NOT requesting a "verification" that you have my mailing address, I am requesting a "validation;" that is, competent evidence that I have some contractual obligation to pay you. Please also be advised that this letter is not only a formal dispute, but a request that you cease and desist any and all telephone collection. I require compliance with the terms and conditions of this letter within 30 days, or a complete withdrawal, in writing, of any claim. In the event of noncompliance, I reserve the right to file charges and/or complaints with appropriate County, State & Federal authorities, the BBB and State Bar associations for violations of the FDCPA, FCRA, and Federal and State statutes on fraudulent extortion. I also hereby reserve my right to take private civil action against you to recover damages. Sincerely, Bob Jones DO NOT SIGN THIS LETTER!
Step 6. Dispute Bad Credit Information. Any bad credit information thats less than 2 years old, you need to dispute it. The more recent the negative statement on your report, the more it effects your credit score. This is how you do it: dispute only 2 to 3 items at a time. But, it works more effectively if you dispute specific items within those accounts. For example, dispute the amount owed, dispute the days late, dispute the type of account, etc… Do about 4 line items per account. You can dispute various trade line items. Below is an example of the items:
This is Not a Data Factoring account. Please remove this. It is reported as an "Open" account, which is false. It should have a status of "Closed". Please remove this. It reports a One Month term which is false. Please correct or remove this. The Estimated date of removal for the CA does not match the date that the original creditor, reports. The Original creditor is reporting 9/2011. Please correct or remove this. The Date of First Delinquency with the Original Creditor is not provided Please provide this. The Date of First Major Delinquency with the Original Creditor is not provided Please provide this It has never been 120 days late Please remove this. It is listed as a loan. They have never provided me a loan. Please remove this.
No payment was made in 2/2007. Please remove this. It is listed as an installment account, which is false. Please remove this. The Balance is not correct. Please correct or remove this. The end of the seven year reporting period should be listed as 09/2011. Please correct or remove this..
Sample Dispute Letter for Bad Credit Information. Bob Jones 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino, CA 94305 October 12, 2011 Trans Union Consumer Relations PO Box 2000 Chester, PA 19022-2000 To Whom It May Concern: In a recent review of my credit report, I have noticed some errors. Pease make the following changes: Verizon Wireless - South, Account # ***** 1. The Date of First Delinquency is not provided. Please provide this. 2. The end of the seven year reporting period should be listed as 12/2011 and not 01/2012. Please correct or remove this. 3. The High Balance of $888 is not correct. Please correct or remove this. 4. It is reported as an “Open” account, which is false. Please correct or remove this. Whitney National Bank, Account # ***** 1. The Date of First Delinquency is not provided. Please provide this. 2. The end of the seven year reporting period is not provided. Please provide this. 3. The Date Closed of Mar 2006 is incorrect. It should be Jan 2006. Please correct or remove this. 4. It has never been 30 days late. Please correct or remove this. In the event that you can not verify the details of these accounts, please remove these damaging accounts from my credit report. Also, I formally request a procedu re process report. If you can verify the information you have listed as accurate, I would need the name of the person providing this data, and the manner in which it was provided in order that I may pursue additional legal remedies. Your failure to comply with my request constitutes a major violation of FCRA. Sincerely,
Bob Jones
Step 7. When Disputes Don't Work. If those disputes don't work, write letters to the Creditors (the business that you hav e the account with). Ask them to provide you with validation that you owe them or have been late. Ask them specifically to provide you with proof you have been late. This includes dates when every bill was sent out, any notifications sent, any verification that you received those letters, any call logs, etc... Ask them for a copy of the contract you signed. Request they send you proof within 30 days of notice, or else report to all the credit agencies that this item should be removed. Don't be hostile with the original creditors. If their stuff is in order, you may h ave to send a goodwill letter to them.
What If They Validate the Debt? If they validate everything (which I doubt), try the goodwill approach. Write a goodwill letter explaining that you are trying to fix your credit. Tell them they have the power to report negative items or not. See if you can work out a deal with them to pay off the balance. In return, they delete it from your credit report. Be sure to get it in writing before you pay them anything! You may have to try a couple of times. Or, you may need to get a managers name and send the letter to them. The worse thing that happens is you get on their nerves and they'll delete just to get rid of you.
What If They Don't Validate It? If they don't validate it, or the time has surpassed 45 days, write a dispute letter to the 3 credit bureaus. Indicate you have been in contact with this creditor and they have not validated this debt. Ask the credit bureaus to verify that the information which the creditor issued is accurate. Also, request a procedural letter. It asks who they talked to or who they contacted and how, to verify this debt. 99 times out of 100, it will be deleted off your report.
Sample Goodwill Letter. To whom it may concern: I have been a Big Leech Loans customer since February of 2005 and during that time, I have enjoyed my experience with Big Leech greatly. I am writing to see if you would be willing to make a "goodwill" adjustment to your reporting to the three credit agencies. I have late payments
on the above referenced account that date back to January 2007. Since that time I have been an exceptional customer paying every month on time, and most times more than the payment requested. Because of my exceptional payment history over the last year, I would like you to consider removing the negative payments from my credit report. At the time of the late payments, I was affected by xxx and moved to several different cities and also changed jobs. I did not receive my statements until February 2007 and did not know of any delinquencies to your company. I say that not to justify why the payments were late, but rather to show that the late payments are not a good indicator of my actual credit worthiness. I hope that Big Leech is willing to work with me on erasing this mark from my credit reports. I have been a very happy customer in the past and hope to continue a long relationship with Big Leech. With today‟s credit industry so competitive, I know h ow important it is to maintain good relationships with customers. Big Leech has been exceptional in my book so far and I highly recommend it to all my friends and relatives. I hope that you will deeply consider my request and prove once again, why Big Leech is heads above the rest. I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Bob Jones
Step 8. Preventing Inquiries. If you have inquiries you did not authorized, they should not be on your report. Inquires stay on for 2 years. If you see some inquiries are on there, write a letter to the CRAs (Credit Reporting Agencies i.e. Equifax). Let them know you did not authorize this inquiry and they need to remove it. If they don't, contact the company that made the inquiry. Ask them to provide you with written documentation that you have signed or authorized them to access a copy of your report. After they respond, write another dispute letter to the CRAs.
Sample Inquiry Letter. Dear Creditor: During a standard review of my credit files from the three major credit reporting agencies I was dismayed to find an inquiry posted by YOUR COMPANY on DATE, 2011. As you are probably aware, the credit reporting agencies regard inquiries as a statement of fact and will not allow a consumer to dispute them. They maintain that if the inquiry is on file then the company listed did in fact view the consumer‟s record.
Since it is unlawful under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for a person to view a consumer report without a „permissible purpose‟ I am writing this letter. I don't recall applying for credit or employment with YOUR COMPANY. From the FCRA ? 616. Civil liability for willful noncompliance [15 U.S.C. ? 1681n] "Civil liability for knowing noncompliance. Any person who obtains a consumer report from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses or knowingly without a permissible purpose shall be liable to the consumer reporting agency for actual damages sustained by the consumer reporting agency or $1,000, whichever is greater." Also from the Fair Credit Reporting Act: ? 617. Civil liability for negligent noncompliance [15 U.S.C. ? 1681o] (a) In general. Any person who is negligent in failing to comply with any requirement imposed under this title with respect to any consumer is liable to that consumer in an amount equal to the sum of..
(1) any actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure; (2) in the case of any successful action to enforce any liability under this section, the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney's fees as determined by the court.
Sincerely, Bob Jones
Step 9. After Cleanup. Best way is to get a credit card. Make sure that when you get one, pay it on time and don't use more than 30% of the Credit Limit (if your credit limit is $1000, don't let your balance get above $300). I use Google Calendar. Whenever I get a bill, I open it and look for the due date. I put that on my Google calendar at least 5 days before its due and have Google Calendar email me a reminder. You can look up what people have applied for, if they were accepted, what CRA they used, and what their score was. This can alleviate all the useless credit inquires for new credit. If your score isn't as good as it should be, try HSBC credit cards (they'll give a credit card to a roach, but you probably will have to pay a annual fee). If you sign up for an annual fee, use the card for a year and then cancel it once you got other cards. Also, try Capital One. I know they suck, but you can get a card and become responsible.
After you get about 2-3 cards, do not apply for any more credit for another 6 months. Make sure you are paying your bills on time and keep the utilization rate under 30% (or lower). I got a HSBC card for 300 and a Capital One card for 300 and a Macy's card for 300. After a year, my HSBC is still only 300 (Fucking hate them, bout to cancel). My Capital One is at 1000. And my Macy's is 2500. After having those cards for a year, then apply for some other ones. I got a Discover for 5000, 2 Master Cards (2800 and 3500), an Amex Blue (1500). I'm a member of the 700 club. And, I just bought my girlfriend's engagement ring (they offered my a credit limit of 9500).
Step 10. Stay On Top Of Your Credit Report. You've done all that work to clean up your credit report. This won't prevent it from becoming a mess again. To help you, Equifax offers a Credit Watch service to keep your credit report in good shape. It is Credit Watch and it may be worth trying.
