texastailfeathers asked:


Nearly a year ago I paid someone to repair my credit. She is licensed. I have a written contract. She has done nothing to help my credit and will not respond to email or telephone inquiries. How can I report her to state licensing agencies (Texas) and the credit bureaus?
This person is not a member of the Better Business Bureau. She works for a mortgage company, but does the “credit repair” independently.
By “independently”, I mean she does not represent any company. This is her “side business”.
She is not representing a COMPANY. She is not a member of BBB. She is a licensed loan officer who does credit repair INDEPENDENTLY as a SIDE BUSINESS. I do have a signed contract with a ONE YEAR GUARANTEE, signed on July 23, 2006.

Ready Realtor asked:


I really would like to repair my own credit without having to pay someone.I recently enrolled into a service online that lets me see my credit scores from all three credit bureaus but what can I do from there.Do I need to remove all or just certain ones?Any advice would be very apreciated.

Jordan FeRoss asked:

If you are one of those people who has bad credit and need to make some changes, you can start the rebuilding process with a credit repair program. There are companies that specialize in credit repair services that can help you do just that. The companies are professional and they know what they are doing when it comes to rebuilding your credit.

The credit repair company will work with you to adhere to the local, state and federal government laws that deal with consumers and credit. There are rules that creditors and collectors are supposed to adhere to as far as providing information to the credit bureaus. When the company is in compliance with these laws, they will be able to help you rebuild your credit. Using credit repair services can help to do just that.

The credit repair company will work with the credit bureaus to get assistance on clearing debts of consumers that should not be there. So, if you have debts that are questionable, you can challenge them first. Then if you’re not satisfied, then you can get the company involved. Using credit repair services can help to straighten this out.

Nine times out of ten, the bureaus will respond to the credit repair company and comply with their wishes. This is done through written correspondence and a follow up. Credit repair services can be used for this purpose. Once those items have been removed, you should see a difference in your credit report and your credit score.

Another way to rebuild your credit is to get a debt consolidation loan. These loans work to get rid of your current debt. The loan is structured in affordable monthly payments that are to be paid every month on time. The credit repair company will work with you to get you a loan that is affordable and that you will be able to pay off every month. When you start to make timely payments, your credit will improve and your credit score will increase. Using credit repair services enables you to do this.

You can also rebuild your score by paying the credit repair company directly. They in turn, are responsible for sending the payments to the creditors in a timely manner. Even though they are doing your work, you are still held responsible for the payments. So you’ll have to find a company that you can rely on to get the payments in on time. There are companies that specialize in credit repair services that can make this happen.

Using credit repair services is an advantage that everyone wants to take advantage of. However, for those who do want to implement a credit repair program, it will be well worth their while in the long run. They just have to keep plugging away at making timely payments on a regular basis for the duration of the process. Before they know it, their credit will be new and improved. Their credit scores will turn back to normal. They will become a member of the creditworthy society.

Christina Costa asked:


If you have decided to fix your bad credit, there are credit repair companies that can help. This is a big decision and not one you should take lightly. On average, a credit repair company will charge you a few hundred dollars and their program usually takes a year to complete.

You don’t want to pick the wrong company and find yourself deeper in debt and nowhere closer to improving your credit. On the other hand, if you find a great company to help you that might be one of the smartest financial decisions you can make!

Let’s first of all take a look at what you should hope a credit repair service will do for you. Take a look at your credit and ask yourself what you think needs to improve. Credit repair goes beyond disputes with your credit companies and the credit bureaus.

Credit repair has been seen as something that is repairing the credit report. Now, working to repair your bad credit can also help to fix your credit report. You have rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to dispute any items that you feel are inaccurate.

This part of repairing your credit has been very beneficial to people who have incomplete or inaccurate information on their credit reports. This will of course only help your credit score once you get the items corrected.

This is just the beginning, repairing your credit. Although some people are not satisfied with just working to correct their credit reports. If you find a reputable credit repair company then they should also work with your creditors to have them stop reporting negative accounts.

Another thing they should do for you is contact collection agencies to have them stop reporting negative accounts. Some credit repair companies will even dispute some debts reported and find out how legitimate those claims really are.

Now, it depends on each individual credit situation just how well a credit repair company can help you. Some people might only want to get help on fixing their credit reports, while others need more extensive help and look for a company that provides full credit repair service.

Here is an important question most people ask, how can you tell if this is a reputable credit repair company? There has been a bad rep given to this industry because of many scams that have taken place. Fortunately, the fraudulent companies have been shut down. I think it is still necessary that you take some precaution and figure out if you have found a legitimate company before working with them.

Familiarize yourself with some of the laws that surround credit repair companies. The Credit Repair Organizations Act was drafted to protect you, the consumer, from any credit repair scams. They also protect your right to get any help with credit repair for your report.

There is always the Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports, they keep all complaint on file made against companies. If there are multiple complaints against a company or a low rating, proceed with caution.

Also, if you come across a company that does not list “credit repair” in their services on the BBB then also be wary of them. The nice thing about the BBB is that they have high standards for credit repair companies. If you have found a company that is possibly fraudulent, the give away is that they have not listed “credit repair” with the BBB.

As with anything you do, concerning your finances and credit, take the time to do some research. There are many reputable companies available and thanks to the internet you can find them within minutes of searching! Credit repair is possible for everyone and good credit is definitely in your future.

Joseph Feross asked:


It is not always easy to know the best way to deal with debt and credit problems. Most people would want to wipe the slate clean, but do not know how to do it. The facts of credit repair are often quite different from the fictions people have created in their minds.

Fiction: You have to pay huge amounts of money to get your credit repaired.

Fact: Some companies will charge high fees. Some even demand that you pay them money for the debts and then never send the money to your creditors. You can save yourself all this money by doing the credit repair yourself.

Fiction: You have to sign up with a credit report service to get a look at your credit report.

Fact: Those services offer some special features besides a simple credit report. Some, for instance, offer identity theft protection through alerts when someone uses your credit in an unusual way. However, you have the right to get one free credit report from each credit bureau each year. You can get them spaced out through the year to work on your credit repair.

Fiction: The best way to repair your credit is to sit down with a credit report and pay all the debts listed.

Fact: Almost anyone who gets a credit report will find something on there that does not belong to them. What is more, you can continue to work on credit repair even after you have disputed the obvious mistakes.

Fiction: There is a limit to the number of debts you can question.

Fact: The truth is that you could question every debt on your credit report no matter how many there are. The credit bureaus realize that mistakes are made. Mistakes, in fact, are made quite often. Finishing your credit repair may depend on this reality.

Fiction: There is a limit to the number of times you can question a particular debt.

Fact: The number of times you can question a single debt is limited only by your imagination. You cannot repeat a reason for questioning a debt if you have been satisfactorily answered. However, you can question the debt on other grounds. That is one tool in completing credit repair.

Fiction: Credit repair is best left to lawyers.

Fact: Most lawyers do not actually repair your credit. They advertise that they will help you do away with nagging creditors and escape judgments. The way they do this is not by fixing your credit, but by helping you file bankruptcy.

Fiction: It will take many years to repair your credit.

Fact: It does usually take several months to do the job. Yet credit repair rarely takes longer than a year or two to complete. As long as you are persistent and understand the process, you can get it done fairly quickly.

By sorting out the fact and fiction of credit repair, you can begin to get an idea of what is possible. Once you have explored your options, you will see that you can probably take care of your bad debts by following the correct procedures.

Chane Steiner asked:


Well, first let’s start with what credit repair is. “Credit repair” is a term most commonly used to describe a systematic process of improving ones credit scores by obtaining copies of the individual’s credit report, reviewing the credit report for errors and misleading information; then disputing the information with the credit bureaus. This is just a basic explanation of the process. While it can be very simple for some, it is much more complex and time consuming for others.

Most consumers with bad credit are searching for free credit repair. Regrettably, there are no services that I know of that will repair your credit for free so, if you are looking for “free credit repair” you will have to do it by yourself. There are also some reputable, inexpensive credit repair services available for consumers who just don’t have time to learn the credit repair process. But, doing it yourself has many advantages and I think that most people who learn about the credit game have better chances of not getting into credit trouble again.

When you are ready to start your free credit repair journey, I suggest starting at a credit repair forum or by reading a credit repair book. A credit repair forum is a discussion group of people teaching and learning credit repair. There’s tons of information online – just be careful – there is lots of misinformation online as well. Remember to always research your questions with different sources.

After spending hours and hours researching credit repair online, I’ve realized that credit repair has got to be one of the most misconstrued topics online. There are way too many people being mislead online. They don’t research the information they find and end up repeating it to others. And yes, some of them are even repeating the information on their websites. They are only trying to help, but instead usually end up really hurting other people financially. Please, please do not be one of those people.

This is why I suggest credit repair forums; usually when someone is wrong, there are plenty of professionals at the forums that will correct that person immediately.

Ian Webber asked:


Credit Repair and Credit Scores

Credit repair is on everyone’s mind these days. And credit scores are for sale everywhere. There is only one problem. None of these advertised credit scores are the same as the credit scores that lenders use when making credit decisions. Whoa. That’s right. People spend huge amounts of money to buy credit scores which they mistakenly believe are relevant to their life. What the heck is the story? You want to know? Okay. I’ll tell you!

Lenders Use FICO Scores

Lenders use a type of credit score called the FICO score. FICO stands for Fair Isaac Corporation, the creator of this important score. The credit bureaus gather consumer credit data and run their data through the FICO credit score software to produce the scores that lenders use to make decisions.

Avoid Knockoff Scores

If you are starting a credit repair project or plan to get a loan in the near future and want to know where you stand you should purchase your FICO scores. But if you buy your scores from one of the credit bureaus websites you will get the bureaus own proprietary scores. And you will be no wiser than you were before because these knockoff scores can easily be 100 points different from your FICO scores; deceptive for your loan information, and useless for benchmarking your credit repair.

It’s About Money Honey

Alas, the credit bureaus realized they could make more money by creating their own version of a credit score and selling it to the public. If they sold genuine FICO scores to consumers they would have to pay fees to Fair Isaac. Lenders demand FICO scores; it’s a simple fact, they would never settle for less. Consumers on the other hand seem to be clueless. But there is a reason that consumers are clueless, the credit bureaus don’t offer any transparency, just a sales pitch.

Credit Repair and the Right Stuff

It’s all about your FICO scores. If you are going to benchmark your credit repair effort or plan to get a loan these are the only scores that matter. And you can get them online at the website for Fair Isaac Corporation, MyFico.com. The cost is about $50 for all three scores. Now are your ready to hear how these important scores work? Here is a mixture of the information published by Fair Isaac and some practical credit repair tips from yours truly, and I do know a bit about this, so listen up.

Major Credit Repair Weight

Fair Isaac is happy to tell you that the major part of your credit score is based on two categories. These are your payment history, weighing in at a hefty 35% of your score, and your account balances, tipping the scale at 30% of your total score. This is a bare bones fact, and much useful credit repair info is left unsaid, so I guess I’ll say it. If you care about your credit scores you need to focus on your revolving balances.

Revolving Account Bombs

Revolving balances are the lynchpin of your credit scores, and hence your credit repair effort. You can have a decade of perfect credit under your belt. You may have paid off a dozen cars and made every payment on time, but if you run up your credit card balances to the max and then check your credit scores you are in for a rude awakening. Maxed out credit cards will devastate your scores. Do you want some numbers? Okay.  A maxed out card can erase 100 points from your score. An over-limit card can knock 150 points off; it’s a credit repair disaster. But wait, there is more.

Credit Repair Leverage

I don’t want you to feel like this is all bad news. Revolving debt is conversely the most powerful credit repair tool you have at your disposal for pumping up your scores. FICO recognizes 5 different balance tiers: 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 percent usage. If you are getting a loan in the near future and have the resources to pay your balances under 20% of the limit your scores will be shining.

The Rest of the Story

The other ingredients relevant to your credit repair task include the age of your accounts, coming in at 15% of your score, new credit and inquiries at 10%, and the type, or mix of credit at the final 10%. These remaining ingredients are minor and for most people will take care of themselves as life goes on. I should, however, add that it is valuable credit repair advice to avoid opening new accounts before applying for a major loan, and to keep those inquiries to a minimum. Cheers!

Copyright © 2008 Ian Webber. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Mike Samadi asked:


(copyrighted)

After twelve years of credit repair, credit score repair and writing credit repair letters to all sorts of creditors, collection agencies and credit bureaus, I realized that it was necessary to provide my services at a serious discount to consumers in need. I realized that not all consumers could afford my credit repair services. As a result, I created a hot line to answer credit repair and credit score questions. However, I noticed that it was becoming an overwhelming task for my staff and at much expense in order to provide the free credit repair services.

A little over two (2) years ago, a couple of my clients suggested I should write a booklet (20 pages) about credit score, how credit score is calculated, what to look for when calculating credit score, what is the best way to repair credit and some of the main topics of credit repair. They suggested I should provide this ebook for a price of $9.95. I thought about doing so for some time as I was thinking that 20 pages of credit repair ebook would not be enough to even touch the surface on so many subjects that needed to be covered. You see the entire idea of credit repair (credit score repair) or credit repair letter writing is not a simple task that even 50 pages would be enough. However, it was also bothering me to charge $9.95 for some limited number of pages.

Then I realized, I could sit and think and continue contemplating about writing a credit repair – fix credit summary pages until I turn blue, or if I truly want to help consumers with their credit repair and credit score issues, I must take a step and start now. That was two (2) years ago.

As I was writing, in August 2006, I realized, we’ll have a major problems with the mortgage loans being granted so easily due to the unethical practices of mortgage lenders, brokers and direct lenders. You must understand this point. For the past eleven (11) years, I was directly involved in assisting my clients get loans after their credit repair was reasonably completed and their credit score was around 740 or higher. Initially, I was just fixing credit and let them enjoy the luxury of such good credit score. However, after communicating with my clients a couple of months later, I noticed that they were getting rubbed by “mortgage brokers” and the so called “Direct Lenders” or even the loan servicing companies. It was unjust then and it continued to be unjust now. Since this is a separate issue of its own, that I must share it with you and teaches you what to watch-out for, I am going to create a separate article about Creditors, lenders, mortgage brokers and the “direct lenders.”

Let’s stick with issue regarding credit repair.

Most consumers fall in the trap of over extended credit when banks and credit cards companies offer one card or loan after another. The consumers think the best way to get-out-of debt is borrowing more. In other words, “steal from Pete to pay Paul.” This is one of the major misconception consumers have that puts them in a deeper debt and causes even more problems for them to the point that they have credit collapse (beyond credit crunch). They experience receiving a lot of called from collection agencies, having late payments, collections and charge off entries on their credit files (credit reports) and their credit score goes down to 400 or 500 level.

As I was typing my so-called ebook (according to push my clients given), I noticed that the summary book was expanding to over one hundred pages and I was not even touching half the issues. Then I decided to continue and make the book a “credit repair” book called “Your Credit = Your Life, Fix It Now!” Since August 2006 realization that we will have mortgage problems, my only option was to inform as many people as I could either by emailing or calling, I was not able to reach all consumers. However, “Your Credit = Your Life…” book addressed all issues.

Other misconceptions consumers have, is the fact that some of them think, a credit repair is a quick fix. They think, they can just wave a magic wand and their credit score will go up from 495 to 720 or more. That’s not how it works. A true credit repair or improvement in credit score takes time (several months to a couple of years). Don’t be fooled by what you hear as quick “credit repair fix.”

In order for you to do self credit repair which is the best method, your must follow several steps. Those steps are lengthy and require patience. It requires dedication, willpower and application of your own gradual experiences. For the past several years, I have a sign on my office door so that everyone can clearly see. I also have the quote on my business cards, letterhead, books I wrote and talk about it repeatedly. It says, “more is lost by indecision than by bad decision.”

Think about it for a couple of second and then relate these words to what has transpired in your life thus far. Just as I was contemplating to write 20 pages for an ebook and sell it for $9.95, I was thinking of two things:

a. It is not possible to write just 20 pages,

b. I wouldn’t have the heart to sell a summary book for $9.95.

I lost the track of my own quote. “More was being lost be my indecision…” I wanted to help teach others how to fix credit; I hired a staff teaching them the credit repair concepts, but wasn’t grabbing my keyboard to type what was in my heart and mind. As my clients were pushing me, I was lost in my indecision.

Most consumers do exactly the same as I did for a couple of months. Think with yourself. How many times were you planning to do something and you kept contemplating if you should do what was in your mind or suggested to you? I bet you did that a few times. I bet part of your problem was the same as mine. Where do I start? How do I approach it? What would be my next step? And, a long list of other questions. You know something. Unless you take the first step, you wouldn’t know what the next step is. Unless you set your goal, mind and heart to take an action, it will never happen. You will contemplate and continue in your indecision yet time passes you by and all you do get deeper and deeper in debt, pay more for simple loans, get drowned in debt to a point that you will take your credit or financial anger on your loved ones. ALL BECAUSE YOU DID NOT MAKE YOUR DECISION IN DOING SOMETHING TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND.

My dear friend, stop feeling sorry. Here, I am pushing you to do something. Make a decision and do something about it NOW. It is never a bad idea to have a better credit so that you could have a better life and save more money. It took me several months to prepare the book that offers all you need to know about your credit. Believe me, I have seen so many credit reports that yours would not be half as bad as what I’ve seen. There is hope for everyone, especially you. You only become hopeless when you don’t get up, shack off feeling sorry and do something to turn your credit life around.

Please let it be now. Here are a few steps in what you can do.

1. Get copies of your credit reports. You must obtain recent copies for all three (3) credit bureaus. One credit report won’t do. Why? Different creditors and collection agencies report to different credit bureaus. See the book.

2. Compare each entry shown on your credit reports with the account statements you have. Whether it is an open account, closed account, a collection, a charge off or late payment account. You don’t know how many times, I seen credit reports where the consumer did not have any such account and it was creditor or credit bureaus mistakes. Read the book.

3. When you notice inconsistencies (whether it is an account you don’t recognize or misinformation about an account), call creditors and credit bureaus. Discuss, dispute and be persistent.

4. Ask for a conclusion, removal or correction letter.

5. Do NOT settle with collection agencies. If you do or have no other choice, you must do two things, settle for less or don’t pay unless they agree to correct the entry by removing it.

6. Do not trust a collection agent. They do NOT mean well.

There are so many things to talk about and so many techniques to offer. It is impossible to discuss all in this article. So, I ask you to do something useful and quick to improve your credit score, which is as a result of your steps in your credit repair. You don’t know how good it will do for you.

For a complete details of the list above and other topics use the knowledge base provided at link and pick up a copy of the book “Your Credit = Your Life, Fix It now!”

Best wishes

Mike Samadi

Any questions?  Go to Q & A of www.MasterCreditRepair.net, read and post.  Go to the “Comment” page and post your story or comment.

Ian Webber asked:


Credit Repair – It Takes Three to Tango

Get all three of your credit reports. There are a variety of ways to do this. In fact, as any one who has started a credit repair project knows, there are about a thousand ways to get your credit reports on the Internet. Everyone has his or her own favorite, so this is somewhat subjective, but you may want to try it my way.

It’s Free, but it’s Hard

Stay away from annualcreditreport.com. Annualcreditreport.com is the site set up by the three credit bureaus under the mandate of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for the purpose of providing free credit reports, one from each bureau, one time per 12-month period. Okay it’s free. But darn, it’s a pain in the butt. The site itself is a hub that directs you to each bureau in turn, so you will be making your effort in triplicate. Did I say effort?

Millions are stopped at the Security Blockade

Yes, folks, you will probably be sweating by the time you are done. And there is a pretty good chance you will not get all three reports. What? Right-o. You will have to face a series of security questions that may block you from your credit reports and delay your credit repair project until the obstructing bureau mails you a pass code. Credit repair is tough enough without the frustration that this site can impose. There is a better way.

Credit Repair Bucks Well Spent

Your credit repair effort is really important. Keep everything in perspective. If you have the fortitude, are comfortable on the computer, and feel up to the task, go ahead and get your reports from Annualcreditreport.com. Otherwise, if you are like me, and want to get the show on the road, just go to Truecredit.com and part with $14.95 for a one time tri-merged report.

Minimize the Credit Repair Pain

The process is quick the security is appropriate but manageable, and the report is easy to look at. And that may make a big difference as you get your credit repair job underway. But there is a trick. On the Truecredit.com site you need to find the light grey text that says, “You can also get your three bureau report, without the free scores”.

The Case of the Hidden Link

Just click on the underlined phrase, “without the free scores”. This line does not conform to web standards for a link and is almost hidden. You need to look hard. Oh, and once at the order page please deactivate the two pre-checked boxes that attempt to sell you nonsensical “Debt Analysis” and “Home and Auto Insurance Scores”.

My Credit Repair Money

I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about the accessibility of the link, but as far as I know this is the cheapest way to get a great tri-merged report without signing up for a monthly monitoring service, identity theft protection, and other costly extras that the credit bureaus want to sell. There is nothing particularly wrong with any of these extra features, so it’s up to you, but for my credit repair money, I like the simple path.

A Few Good Tips

Once you decide to take this path here are three pointers. You should jot these down. Your credit repair project will benefit. Here you go. One, make a note of your user name and password; you may want to log back in later. Two, look for the “printable copy” link. If you are going to print your reports this option is much better than a screen print. And lastly, notice the extra-info links offered in each account section. This info may be handy, so don’t overlook it.

The Credit Repair Lifeline

If all of this is daunting just call a credit repair professional. He will guide you through the process of getting your reports. And of course, once your reports are in hand a credit repair expert will provide all of the guidance you need to make sense out of the entire task. This is an important business! So if you find yourself intimidated, just call a pro. One way or the other, take action and you will succeed!

Copyright © 2008 Ian Webber. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Joseph Feross asked:


This generation has turned into a microwave society. People want things done quickly, and repairing your credit is no exception. People get hyped up by guaranteed claims of repairing credit fast and easy. The truth is that is not the case. There are places called credit repair clinics that claim to be able to remove all negative information from your credit report. They also claim that your can credit can be wiped clean. Of course, there is a catch. You will have to pay a fee and it’s usually in the hundreds of dollars for their “services”.

Credit repair clinics are nothing more than a sham. You shouldn’t fall for them because they have no legal right to delete, repair or adjust your credit report. The only entity that can legally adjust or delete information is the credit bureau. Negative items, depending on what they are, can stay on your report for either seven (general negative information) or ten years (bankruptcy, i.e. Chapter 7). These so-called clinics have no legal right to remove these items from your credit report. If they tell you otherwise, they’re lying in order to get your money. In fact, they really don’t do anything to help you improve your credit.

However, there is a way to do credit repair without you having to be scammed by these companies. You can repair your own credit. It’s good for you to do that so you’ll know what’s on your report and what each item posting is about. You will also learn different legal and cost-effective strategies that can be used to repair your credit. If you have quite a bit of debt, it may take some time to clean it up, unless you have a large lump sum to wipe it out.

Since you’ll be doing your own credit repair, Get a copy of your credit report and look at it thoroughly. If you find errors in it, make note of them. You will have to contact the credit bureaus and dispute the claims. By law, the bureaus must at least conduct and investigation to find out whether adjustments need to be made to your credit report. If they do find errors, they must be corrected. Or if they can’t verify the information, it must be deleted. If you wish, you can also send them a brief correspondence disputing the errors in your credit report.

Just think-if you were to allow a credit repair clinic to do this for you, do you know how your credit would end up? In addition to charging you hundreds of dollars to do what you can do yourself, they won’t tell you what you need to know about getting your credit straight. They’ll just take your money and run.

Credit repair clinics could care less about helping your to get your credit together. They’re just looking out for themselves to see how much they can get out of the deal. Some of them will actually use some of the same strategies that you would use to repair your credit.

This may sound like a lot to do, but it’s a far better credit repair strategy that paying hundreds of dollars to a company that claims they can erase your negative credit. When it’s all said and done, you will be glad that you chose to do it yourself.