A “credit” at the onset here: Everything I learned about credit repair apart from experience I learned through a free PhPBB credit repair forum linked here. If you want to learn, go there! Now for the beef:
I hate credit reporting agencies. Why? Because they suck people’s blood. Back in 2003 my wife and I started repairing our credit and in the process I learned all about their shenanigans and lack of regard for the consumer and her/his rights under federal law. Case in point: California state law now declares that every person is entitled to 1 free copy of her/his credit report each year. Wow! You think. Try getting one, it’s no wow experience.
Another example: If something is being reported wrong on your credit report don’t think you can call and explain the problem. You will need the blood type of your first-born before you sacrifice them at a Mayan altar. Only then will they investigate and change/delete the information. It is the law they have to report to you the reasons for the error or change it within 30 days. BUT they know all too well that there is no law against them having wrong information there without you saying something.
So you know what happens?
Most ignorant people never say anything so the CRA’s never validate anything without a threat of being sued. Oh yes, you can tell I had many dances with them. It had a good ending for me though.
When I started in ‘03 my wife and I both had credit scores in the 400’s. The last I checked in July of ‘07, my scores across the 3 CRAs were: TU:735, EX:722, and EQ:730. Yes, yes, more applause please.
If you are interested in repairing your credit, be prepared to go into battle. At the same time never lose heart because eventually the bullies and the idiots will lose because you are the consumer and that is what the credit world caters to . . . eventually . . . by law . . . when it roars like a lion.
Since there is so much to say on this topic, I will just give you a way to start credit repair in this post: Go to a site like www.mycreditkeeper.com and start a 30 day free trial with their service. Look at your report and dispute online as many negatives as you see. They must be validated or removed within 30 days by law. The ones that won’t budge you can fight later with letters and certified mail. That would be for another post!
After your time with mycreditkeeper is up, there are ways to get free credit reports as often as you like. It’s a set of tricks I learned that work. I know because I got fresh reports in the mail from all 3 agencies through this method for free for 8 months when I was working on my credit. Here’s the tricks I’m speaking of. Just 3 of many I’ve accrued through my adventures in credit repair. Have fun and good luck!
1) TU: Easy. Do an online dispute. They send you a copy of your report once the results are posted.
2) EX: If you’ve applied for anything in the last 60 days just request a free copy of your report from their website. -or- Do an online dispute like TU. They will mail you a free copy of the updated report (or you can receive an email linking you to the report)
3) EQ: The trickiest. Call the number on their website listed in the “Request free Report” due to three different FCRA regulations entitling you to one. Claim one of the reasons. It’s done by a machine that records your responses.
Hi. I'm Damien Riley, MA.
5 Comments
It’s insanity. My 16 year old daughter is out looking for a part-time job and they want to run a credit report on her. I’m sorry but that is just insane. First of all, she doesn’t even have one yet and what could that possibly have to do with her ability to fold t-shirts at the mall?
Everytime I get a copy of mine, it has errors or incorrect job information, address information, etc. and yet this is what they use to base pretty much everything you do now? And trying to correct that….geez! It would be easier to adopt a new identity, I think.
My credit is good and it totally bugs me. I think it’s far too invasive.
Jessica
Running credit for jobs at any age is ridiculous. I think it oughta be illegal to do it.
You can fix most stuff online for free but you have to know what your rights are (they will never tell you.) We paid off a credit card three years ago and cut it up and it’s showing as “charged off” on my wife’s report which is worse than a BK on your score. I’ve already prepared my certfied intent to sue letter as I wait for the results of the debt validation process. Once that falls off my wife’s score will shoot up 50 points or so I predict. You have to study the stuff and know what you are doing . . . or pay someone to do it, which we would never use our money to do.
I never had to fight them on any wrong credit information, but I get my free credit reports each year on line — with no hassle — through these people that our Credit Union told us about when the law came into effect in FL. I stagger them, get one from one of the three, then so many months later, get another free one, because you are allowed one free each from all three agencies per year,
annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
Thanks for that Marcia! Experiences do differ with the CRA’s. Like I said, mine has a happy ending so I’m not complaining. Plus, things are changing every day and ultimately the consumer is the goal so it should get better.
Liking the info on the whole site here and its great to reading others experiences too.
Keep up the good work you are now in my bookmarks folder
Ken
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