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Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair and Tips to Improve
Credit Scores
by Lisa Phillips
Credit Scores
by Lisa Phillips
The good news is that there are steps you can take to repair your credit report, improve and
rebuild credit scores. Your first step is to get copies of your credit reports from all three major
credit reporting agencies. See Credit Reports. When cleaning up your credit you should
always get three separate reports and not a 3-in-1 report which combines credit information
from the three credit reporting agencies. Each report can and will contain different information
so do not be surprised.
Before starting the dispute process, examine your credit reports very closely and
look for the following:
1. Public record information. Bankruptcies, Judgments and Liens are considered public
information. Bankruptcy listings that are older than 10 years should be deleted. Judgments or
Paid Liens older than 7 years should be deleted.
2. Delinquent accounts. A delinquent account older than 7 years should be deleted.
3. Accounts listed inaccurately. An account listed as delinquent that does not include the
date of delinquency.
4. Accounts not listed in bankruptcy. For Bankruptcies that are less than 10 years make
sure that all the accounts you filed in the bankruptcy are listed that way on your reports
“Account included in Bankruptcy”. Some accounts may still be listed as “past due” and this will
hurt your credit score.
5. Duplicate collection accounts. Having more than one collection account for the same
debt is a very common mistake.
6. Incorrect date of activity. Collection accounts that do not show the original date that the
account went delinquent.
7. Inaccuracies. Any items that are not yours, this includes accounts, delinquencies,
collections, employment history, addresses, telephone numbers and incorrect name spellings.
8. Hard inquiries. Hard Inquiries also known as "Permissible Purposes" inquiries that you did
not authorize.
Online Disputes
While disputing online is convenient it may not aid you much if you need documentation for
future purposes, such as a lawsuit. If you choose this method of disputing make sure you print
out every credit report, every disputed item and all email confirmations and updates.
U.S. Mail Disputes
Disputing via U.S. Mail, Certified, Return Receipts creates a nice paper trail if any problems
arise. Disputes with collection agencies must always be in writing and mailed certified, return
receipt. Retain all the green cards that come back to you along with copies of the letters and
any support documentation you may have submitted.
Your Rights to Dispute According to the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act):
rebuild credit scores. Your first step is to get copies of your credit reports from all three major
credit reporting agencies. See Credit Reports. When cleaning up your credit you should
always get three separate reports and not a 3-in-1 report which combines credit information
from the three credit reporting agencies. Each report can and will contain different information
so do not be surprised.
Before starting the dispute process, examine your credit reports very closely and
look for the following:
1. Public record information. Bankruptcies, Judgments and Liens are considered public
information. Bankruptcy listings that are older than 10 years should be deleted. Judgments or
Paid Liens older than 7 years should be deleted.
2. Delinquent accounts. A delinquent account older than 7 years should be deleted.
3. Accounts listed inaccurately. An account listed as delinquent that does not include the
date of delinquency.
4. Accounts not listed in bankruptcy. For Bankruptcies that are less than 10 years make
sure that all the accounts you filed in the bankruptcy are listed that way on your reports
“Account included in Bankruptcy”. Some accounts may still be listed as “past due” and this will
hurt your credit score.
5. Duplicate collection accounts. Having more than one collection account for the same
debt is a very common mistake.
6. Incorrect date of activity. Collection accounts that do not show the original date that the
account went delinquent.
7. Inaccuracies. Any items that are not yours, this includes accounts, delinquencies,
collections, employment history, addresses, telephone numbers and incorrect name spellings.
8. Hard inquiries. Hard Inquiries also known as "Permissible Purposes" inquiries that you did
not authorize.
Online Disputes
While disputing online is convenient it may not aid you much if you need documentation for
future purposes, such as a lawsuit. If you choose this method of disputing make sure you print
out every credit report, every disputed item and all email confirmations and updates.
U.S. Mail Disputes
Disputing via U.S. Mail, Certified, Return Receipts creates a nice paper trail if any problems
arise. Disputes with collection agencies must always be in writing and mailed certified, return
receipt. Retain all the green cards that come back to you along with copies of the letters and
any support documentation you may have submitted.
Your Rights to Dispute According to the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act):
- Right to Investigation of your Dispute. The credit bureaus must investigate your dispute
within 30 days of the date they receive the dispute request. That investigation includes
contacting the creditor, collection agency or the provider of the information in dispute.
Any information provider contacted in this way must launch its own investigation and
report its results back the credit bureau.
- Note: One dispute does not cover all credit bureaus, a separate dispute must be
launched with each credit bureau for the same item.
- Right to have erroneous information corrected. If the information provider says the
information is inaccurate it is required to notify the bureau that originally contacted it, but
all the other major credit bureaus as well so that the error can be fixed, or in some
cases, deleted. If the provider cannot verify the information, then it must be deleted
from your credit files.
- Note: The credit bureaus can reinsert the deleted information or undo the correction if
the provider later verifies that the original item was in fact complete and correct.
- Right to a Written Response. After the bureau completes its investigation they must give
you a written report of its findings and a free copy of your updated credit report if the
investigation changed information in your files.
- Note: If the credit bureau later restores the information that was deleted or changed, it
must notify you in writing and provide you with the name, address, and telephone
number of the information provider.
- Right to 100 Word Statement Added to Your File. You are entitled to a 100-word
Statement added to your credit file if the dispute does not resolve the matter to your
satisfaction. That 100-word Statement is meant to explain your side of the story.
- Note: Hardly any creditor ever reads that statement and it does not change your credit
score!
- Right to Sue. If a creditor or collection agency violates any of these rights you can sue
the creditor or collection agency. Your rights may be violated if the creditor or collection
agency continue to report inaccurate, unsubstantiated information.
- Note: You can bring a lawsuit in State, Federal or Small Claims Courts.
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Just the thought of looking at your credit report may make you cringe. Credit repair does not
have to be difficult and your credit report may be better than you think. Credit report repair
can be done successfully as long as you know the rules and laws that protect you.
have to be difficult and your credit report may be better than you think. Credit report repair
can be done successfully as long as you know the rules and laws that protect you.
Take a deep breath and order your credit reports.
You need to know what type of information, true or
false, exists about your credit habits. The credit
bureaus make mistakes all the time.
According to a study by PIRG (Public Interest
Research Group), as many as 79% of credit
reports contain errors.
For instance, it’s very common to have more than
one collection entry from different collection
agencies for the same debt. Mistakes like this can
be detrimental to your credit score.
You need to know what type of information, true or
false, exists about your credit habits. The credit
bureaus make mistakes all the time.
According to a study by PIRG (Public Interest
Research Group), as many as 79% of credit
reports contain errors.
For instance, it’s very common to have more than
one collection entry from different collection
agencies for the same debt. Mistakes like this can
be detrimental to your credit score.
More Resources
Disputing information on your credit files
Tips for Disputing Negative information in your Credit Files.
Debt Validation
How to halt the collection process by requesting a collection agency to validate
your debt.
Collection Agencies
Information on Effectively Dealing with Collection Agencies.
Get Deletions
Request Deletions when paying a negative account because paid collections do
not change your credit scores.
Tips for Disputing Negative information in your Credit Files.
Debt Validation
How to halt the collection process by requesting a collection agency to validate
your debt.
Collection Agencies
Information on Effectively Dealing with Collection Agencies.
Get Deletions
Request Deletions when paying a negative account because paid collections do
not change your credit scores.
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