The answer is maybe -- but they cant do anything that you couldnt do yourself, for free. Anything on your report thats bringing down your credit score is going to stay on, if its accurate information. So if a credit repair company promises to remove negative information such as a bankruptcy or judgment, and they want money up front to do it -- run. Credit experts say that only time, effort and a solid plan for repaying your debts will improve your credit-worthiness. There are plenty of unsavory operators out there, so be careful. Many consumers have lost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to scammers who take their money and do nothing to improve their credit. Here are some warning signs, according to the Federal Trade Commission: The company wants you to pay up front for credit repair service before they do any work. They do not disclose your legal rights. They recommend that you dont contact the credit bureau directly. They advise you to take action that seems illegal, such as creating a new credit identity or disputing all the information in your credit report, even info that is correct. (You can be charged with mail or wire fraud if you apply for credit and give false information.) Under the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies need to provide a detailed written contract about the services theyll perform, include a three-day right to cancel without charge, state how long it will take to see results, disclose the total cost to you and outline any guarantees. Its illegal for them to charge you up front. Before you hire anyone, remember this: The sad truth is that accurate negative information stays on your report for seven years. Bankruptcies are reported for 10 years. Criminal info can stay on forever. No credit repair company can get rid of that. If theres incorrect information on your report, however, thats another story – and you can fix that yourself. All consumers are entitled to a free copy of their reports with the three major credit reporting bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) every 12 months at annualcreditreport. And if youve been denied credit, insurance or employment due to a lousy credit report within the last 30 days, you also are entitled to a free copy of your report. Look for mistakes or outdated items. You can dispute these for free through the credit reporting bureaus. Explain why youre disputing it, provide copies of documents and request an investigation. Tip: Include a copy of the credit report with the questionable items circled. Send it by certified mail, return receipt requested. The credit reporting bureau must investigate within 30 days. You also should contact the company that provided the inaccurate information so they can correct it. If you win your dispute, the credit reporting bureau will have to correct your report. You may also request that they send the corrected version to anyone who received your report in the past six months (or two years for reports that went to prospective employers). If you dont win, you can ask that your report includes a statement with your version of the dispute. Page 1
Posted on: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 12:00:42 +0000
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