How to Deal with Bad Credit Reports

How to Deal with Bad Credit Reports

Today your credit score is everything. Lenders and bankers approve or disapprove loans, mortgages, and credit cards based on your credit worthiness. It is also something that will determine your credibility to employers, landlords, and insurance companies.

Repair Your Credit

With a good credit rating you will be able to apply and be approved for loans and/or credit cards easily. Ultimately, isn't that the goal? You will also have a better chance of getting certain jobs, and living where you choose.

Having bad credit reduces your opportunity for many of these things. If you are able to get approved for a loan or for a credit card, you'll most likely have a much higher than average interest rate. You will be considered a “high risk” customer because creditors are not certain if you will be able to pay your bills on time. If you want to apply for an apartment rental the landlords may take a look at your credit report to determine if you will be able to pay your rent and utilities.

These are just a few of the many reasons why having a good credit score is very important in today's world. However, what can you do if you happen to already have bad credit? If you have a bad credit score, it is imperative to fix the problem as soon as you can. Here are some ways clean up your credit report
.

First, stop your bad credit before it gets worse. So how do you do this? Pay your old overdue debts as soon as possible. This will not immediately improve your actual credit score, but it will put you on the right track to repairing your credit history.

Second, raise your credit score by opening a new savings or checking account. You should also apply for a secured credit card. Although will have a higher interest rate, it is also a good way to control your credit card spending and it will also raise or repair you bad credit score as long as you pay the monthly credit card bills on time you will be able to see a significant rise in your credit history report.

If you follow these steps, and pay your bills on time every month, you will eventually start to see a good credit rating. Remember that it does take time to raise your credit rating. Be patient and diligent to see a positve change.

Once again, remember to pay your loans and credit cards on time in order to get a good credit rating. By doing so over time you will end up with a good credit score and history.

Tags: legal bad credit repair report score

Why You Need a Copy of Your Credit Report!

Why You Need a Copy of Your Credit Report!

Many people are not aware of how important their credit history is, and that they are entitled to one free credit report each year from each of the credit reporting agencies.

Your credit report is an important document which may affect you more than you think. It is perfectly possible to see a copy of your credit report, and it's free. But why would you want to read your credit report, and how do you find it?

In the US there are 3 national credit bureaus which keep information on you and your credit. This information includes a whole range of details on many of the financial transactions that you make through your life.

You may not be aware of it but much of your financial data is kept by credit agencies, and can seriously affect your life. Opening a bank account, considering letting a bill slide a little until it's overdue, going for a loan, buying a house? Any one of these transactions and many many more are all recorded on your credit report. Information is kept on where you live, how you manage most of your finances, much of your criminal history if you have one, your history of loan repayments and much more.

And this information is not just kept there for the sake of it. This information is used to assess your credit worthiness so that when you go for a new loan, for example, the organization through which you are applying can access this information to help it decide whether or not it ought to grant you the loan.

You are in fact, rated for your credit worthiness using this information collected on you, and a credit worthiness score is applied to you. This score is part of the information that an organization may wish to find out if they are judging your credit worthiness.

Something as simple as missing a few bill payments because you were on vacation can quite seriously affect such things as your ability to obtain credit in the future.

So as you can see the information kept in your credit report is important information and can affect your life in ways you may not be aware of.

For this reason it is important to know what information is kept on your credit report. It is not unheard of, for example, for there to be inaccurate entries on your report and if you are unaware of this and therefore cannot correct it this inaccurate information may well cause you all sorts of unexpected problems.

So, how do you get a copy of your credit report? Luckily you are entitled by law to get a free copy of your report each year. You will need to provide your name and address as well as your social security number and date of birth to identify yourself, as well as possible former addresses if you have moved recently.

To get your free credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus go to AnnualCreditReport.com and proceed as directed.

So remember, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report free each year. Make use of your entitlement, check your report and see if there is anything there which could be causing you a problem. If there is then you can start finding out what to do about it.

Another important reason to check your credit report is to look for errors, omissions, and signs of identity theft. Don't leave your credit to chance. Manage your credit not only by paying your bills on time, but by monitoring your credit history diligently.

Tags: credit report

Private Loans Won't Help Credit History - Kiplinger.com

Private Loans Won't Help Credit History - Kiplinger.com: "Private Loans Won't Help Credit History
By Kimberly Lankford
June 28, 2007

Can I establish a credit history in my name if I borrow from a private source, such as a family member? My husband and I are young and are buying a house, and we're borrowing the money from my uncle. If we set up the loan with a regular payment schedule, can we get the loan onto our credit record to show that we've been making payments on time?

Unfortunately that loan won't show up on your credit record. The credit bureaus only report information when they have a contractual relationship with the lender. These lenders and other companies typically have to do enough business with the credit bureau (both reporting and accessing credit information on borrowers) to make the cost of working with the bureau worthwhile.

And the credit bureaus also check out the reporting companies before working with them because they're subject to a lot of legal requirements for how the data is reported, updated and verified. 'Experian does an extensive evaluation of the business to ensure that it is a legitimate company, is well-established in the business, has a physical location, is financially sound, and has gone through a data audit to ensure it has the knowledge and technology to accurately report and verify data according to all legal and policy"

Establishing credit takes time and some patience, but in the end it is worthwhile. If you have no credit history, consider a secured credit card to start. Use it a little each month, but never carry more than 30 percent of your credit limit. Pay it on time, each and every month. Soon you will be able to acquire other cards that are not secured; however, do not request more credit than you absolutely need. In this way you can build a solid credit history and a high credit score.

If you have bad credit, and a poor credit score, consider using a credit repair agency such as Lexington Law. They can help you repair your credit, and in many cases even if you have had a bankruptcy.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows a consumer to dispute the information on his credit report on the basis of "completeness and accuracy." When a consumer files a written challenge or dispute, the credit bureaus must contact the source of the credit information (the creditor) and confirm that the information is accurate, verifiable, and not obsolete.

In some cases, the credit bureau is required to go beyond a simple verification of the creditor's own computer record. If the credit bureau has not received verification from the creditor , within 30 days, the credit bureau must promptly delete the credit listing. Learn More.

Don't live with no credit, or worse, with bad credit. Do something about it the right way.

Tags: Private Loans Won't Help Credit History

How_Credit_Reports_are_Calculated

How_Credit_Reports_are_Calculated

A credit score, also known as a FICO score, is a three digit number that lenders use to estimate risk. Generally, borrowers with higher credit scores are less likely to default on a loan than those with lower FICO scores.

How are credit reports and scores calculated?

Credit scores are produced by using certain data from your credit report which is weighted to create your personal score. Since the three major credit reporting agencies don't use the same scoring systems, don't be surprised if your credit scores from each one are slightly different. A FICO score is generated using software created by Fair Isaac Corporation -- FICO.

While we don't know all of the criteria used to calculate scores, we do know that the following items of a credit history are most important, and are weighted as shown:

• 35% - Your Payment History
Number of accounts paid as agreed
Negative public records or collections
Delinquent accounts:
total number of past due items
how long you've been past due
how long it's been since you had a past due payment
• 30% - Amounts You Owe
How much you owe on accounts and the types of accounts with balances
How much of your revolving credit lines you've used--looking for indications you are over-extended
Amounts you owe on installment loan accounts vs. their original balances--to make sure you are you paying them down consistently
Number of zero balance accounts

• 15% - Length of Your Credit History
Total length of time tracked by your credit report
Length of time since accounts were opened
Time that's passed since the last activity
The longer your (good) history, the better your scores
• 10% - Types of Credit Used
Total number of accounts and types of accounts (installment, revolving, mortgage, etc.)
A mixture of account types usually generates better scores than reports with only numerous revolving accounts (credit cards)
• 10% - New Credit
Number of accounts you've recently opened and the proportion of new accounts to total accounts
Number of recent credit inquiries
The time that's passed since recent inquiries or newly-opened accounts
If you've re-established a positive credit history after encountering payment problems

What's a Good Credit Score?
Credit scores range between 340 to 850. The higher your credit score, the lower the risk a lender believes you will be. As your score increases, the interest rate you are offered generally declines.

Borrowers with credit scores more than 700 are typically offered more financing options and better interest rates, which can save thousands of dollars over the life of a loan.

Credit scores among the US population in 2003:

• Up to 499: 1%
• 500 - 549: 5%
• 550 - 599: 7%
• 600 - 649: 11%
• 650 - 699: 16%
• 700 - 749: 20%
• 750 - 799: 29%
• Over 800: 11%

Don't despair if your credit score is low - over time you can increase your score. It takes some work, but it is worth it in the long run. For more information about how to increase your credit score go to Three Tips to Increase Your Bad Credit Score.

Tags: How_Credit_Reports_are_Calculated

Personal Information Contained In Credit Report

Personal Information Contained In Credit Report

If you have never looked at your credit report, you may be wondering what type of information it contains. First of all, we do advise that you order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major reporting bureaus at least once each year. You are entitled to one free report each year, and may access your reports for free online at AnnualCreditReport.com.

You may be surprised at the amount of sensitive personal information that it contains. In addition to your name, address, and past residence addressess, you'll also find your date of birth, social security number, and employer. In addition, information about every credit account and whether or not you pay on time, any collection activity, or legal judgements will also appear on your report.

Understand your credit report and all of the listings there to be certain that you have not been a victim of identity theft. Check your report very carefully for erroneous items or any indication of fraud. Any errors should be disputed and reported immediately to the credit bureaus so that your credit is not negatively impacted.

Personal information contained in credit report should also be safeguarded. Be careful to whom you give access to your credit information. Identity theft prevention protection is available, and highly recommended.

Tags: Personal Information Contained In Credit Report

Identity Theft Statistics

Identity Theft Statistics
Did you know that nearly 20,000 people each day become victims of identity theft? Are you one of them? Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States.

Most identity theft victims are not aware that their personal information has been stolen until they try to get a loan, insurance or job, and find out that they have a bad credit report. Even worse is to get a call from a collection agency trying to collect on a debt that you know nothing about, or being arrested due to mistaken identity!

Your credit history can be ruined very quickly by identity theives. You can be denied credit, a job, or face higher rates for insurance due to bad credit that you did not cause. It is essential that you protect your personal information to the best of your ability to avoid this crime.

Here are 5 things you can do to prevent identity theft:

1. Shred all junk mail, and any other correspondence that contains your name, address, account numbers, or other personal information. (Often identity theives need only your name and address to start stealing your identity.)
2. Do not give your personal information to anyone that calls you looking for information
3. Avoid applying for loans or credit cards and such over the Internet
4. Check your credit report frequently for signs of fraud or identity theft
5. Subscribe to a proactive identity theft protection services such as LifeLock. They are the only service of this type to offer a $1 million guarantee against ID theft.

Everyday we hear about another way that identity thefts are hurting consumers. You can avoid this crime with a small amount of effort on your part.

P.S. You only have 5 days left to file your federal income taxes.....

Tags: identity theft statistics, avoid identity theft protect your credit report,

Do-it-Yourself Credit Repair

Do-it-Yourself Credit Repair

Do-it-Yourself credit repair to improveyour credit score takes a conscious effort on your end. There are several factors that affect your credit score; improving the score requires you to take care of the most important of those factors so that you can manage your credit better, and improve your score. Follow some simple steps to improve your score and your credit history.

Improve your payment history:

• Avoid making late payments on your bills.
• Pay off all your past-due bills as soon as possible.
• Request an alternative plan with low monthly payments from your creditor if you need help.
• Negotiate with your creditors to remove charge-offs from your report and re-open those accounts.
• Request that your creditors erase late payment entries after you re-start paying on time.

Reduce your outstanding debts:

• Pay off high interest debts first.
• Keep your balances low and try to keep your revolving debt to 50% of your available credit.
• Don't close old and unused accounts quickly in order to lower your available credit. It will raise your debt-to-credit limit which has a negative impact on your score.
• Try to close accounts gradually over several months.
• Verify that the accounts closed are reported as "closed by consumer".

Improve Your Credit History:

• You should not open several new accounts within a short period of time.
• Adding too many accounts in a short interval implies that you are not able to manage your credit properly.

Manage new credit efficiently:

• Restrict yourself to a medium credit limit and not a higher one as your creditor suggests.
• Do not open too many new accounts if you have gone through credit problems in the past.
• Plan your budget taking into account your finances and credit.
• Avoid several credit inquiries within a short period; otherwise it would mean that you are about to open multiple new accounts and this will affect your score.

Use a proper mix of credit:

• It is better not to have too many installment loans as they can reduce your score. This is because the payments remain unchanged until you pay off the balances.
• You can have a combination of credit cards and installment loans or loans with fixed payments as they help in improving your score. But you need to handle your credit cards efficiently.You can also contact a credit counseling agency for tips on managing your debts. These agencies are different from the credit repair companies and they can guide you on how to improve your financial situation.

Once you have worked through the various factors influencing the credit score, try to maintain a stable credit report with the latest details. Check your credit report periodically for errors and problems. A few simple steps will help you in this regard.

• Request your creditors to send your account details and payment history to the credit reprting agencies.
• Create a savings account at your bank. Your creditors will be convinced that you have started to save and maintain extra funds to pay down your debts.

Besides practicing good payment habits and updating your credit report, you should look at removing any errors from your report. This will also help you to get a better score. When you request your credit report, the credit bureau will give you detailed instructions on how to file a dispute. Do so right away if you find errors.

Tags: do-it-yourself credit repair

When Good Credit Marries Bad Credit [Fool.com] April 09, 2007

When Good Credit Marries Bad Credit [Fool.com] April 09, 2007
Don't wind up in divorce court! Here is some very good advice for couples who have very different ideas about how to handle money and credit.
When Good Credit Marries Bad Credit
By Mary Dalrymple
April 9, 2007
"If the law of love says opposites attract, then it's no wonder that sometimes Miss Good Credit finds herself falling head-over-heels for the bad boy, Mr. Poor Credit. There are a few things this unlikely pair should know before they walk down the aisle.
Marriage and financesWhen two people marry, they decide to share everything, but the wedding license doesn't force a merger between two credit reports. Married couples keep their separate credit files. Wedding vows do not automatically ruin anyone's good credit. Unfortunately for Mr. Poor Credit, they don't automatically improve anyone's creditworthiness, either.
That can change if our couple decides to share financial accounts. After all, marriage means not just love and companionship, but also mortgages and joint checking accounts. The bad behavior of one spouse can start to affect the other if they rush to merge their financial lives without first cleaning up any past credit transgressions or mending the problems that led them to a checkered credit history in the first place.
Married couples, separate financesAlthough it may sound heartless, maintaining some financial distance for a while might help a couple in the long run.
Let's say Mr. Top Credit and the newly Mrs. Bottom Credit visit their mortgage lender. Because they've both taken to heart the Foolish advice to talk money before marriage, they have already had a long chat over a candlelight dinner about Mrs. Bottom Credit's poor financial past.
When they start shopping for a loan to purchase their first home, they have a few choices. Mr. Top Credit could purchase the home only in his good name, but he will probably qualify for a smaller loan than the couple would together. Often, the smaller loan won't be enough to purchase the home they want. They could apply jointly for a loan, but Mrs. Bottom Credit's poor record could cause them to run into limitations and get less attractive mortgage terms, a potentially costly proposition.
Another option is to put off their home purchase and spend some time rebuilding Mrs. Bottom's credit rating. This can take a while and will require our newlyweds to be diligent and patient. In the end, they would be rewarded with cleaner credit, better loan terms, and maybe even fewer fights over money.
Fixing bad credit
The spouse with poor credit history can start cleaning up his or her act by ordering free copies of each credit report held by the three large credit brokers. That will quickly reveal the problems that need to be tackled, as well as any incorrect information that might be unnecessarily dragging a credit score down. Dispute any incorrect information with the credit bureau, and follow up to make sure it gets fixed.
Our bad creditor will then need to start mending the errors of his or her ways. That means determining how much is owed and to whom, catching up on payments, and demonstrating responsibility to lenders. Maintaining separate financial lives for a while might be a good idea if Mrs. Good Credit has some doubts as to whether her bad-boy husband has really mended his ways. Past credit problems can be the result of a job or health emergency that threw someone's financial life into turmoil. On the other hand, they can be a sign of irresponsibility. Mrs. Good Credit may want to hold off on merging her financial life with her new husband until she sees him acting responsibly.
If that's the case, Mrs. Good Credit might want to postpone creating any joint accounts or adding her husband to her credit cards. Any late payments or other misdeeds occurring on joint accounts will show up on both spouses' credit reports. She will also be just as liable for any debts incurred on those accounts, even if her husband's the spendthrift. "

Free Credit Report

Free Credit Report

Checking your credit report is an essential element of credit repair, but also for uncovering identity theft, as well. Did you know that most credit reports contain at least one error? If you are thinking about applying for a loan, mortgage, or other credit account, check your credit report firsts to be certain that it is in the best shape it can be.

Free credit report is available at AnnualCreditReport.com. This site was setup when the government mandated one free credit report each year from each of the credit agencies must be offered to every consumer. Check you credit report for errors, omissions, and any sign of credit fraud. Dispute any negative and erroneous item immediately. Each credit report will spell out exactly what you must do to make a dispute.

LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention - Save 10%

Don't wait to be denied credit - check your free credit report now!

Tags: free credit report, identity theft prevention,

OnlineCreditProfessor.com - Improve Your Credit Score

OnlineCreditProfessor.com - Improve Your Credit Score
"Understanding Your Credit Score
What does your score mean?
This credit rating system is meant to develop a snapshot of the risk you currently represent to a potential lender. Several factors in your credit file, including length of credit history, number of open accounts, loans, mortgages, public records, and others are calculated to produce a three-digit score between about 300 and 950. While there are other scores used by lenders and insurance companies (some of which were developed by FICO) such as Application and Behavior scores, these other scores take other information into account. Most often a lender will use a combination of your credit score with several other factors when determining your credit risk. However, they all have the same objective, to determine the potential risk of a particular borrower. Whether the score was generated by FICO or another system based on FICO parameters, they all formulate an industry standard three-digit score. This credit score places the borrower in one of three main categories (we named the third one ourselves.) For up-to-date information on credit reporting, credit repair, identity theft, and other financial issues, go to the OnlineCreditProfessor.com Blog.
Get your Credit Score and Credit Report Now!
Prime, sub-prime, and shafted
Prime: If your credit score is more than 680, you are considered a "prime borrower" . You'll have no problem getting a good interest rate on your home loan, car loan, or credit card.
Sub-Prime: If your credit score is less than 680, you are "sub prime", and will most likely pay a much higher interest rate on your loan.
Shafted: Below 560 is the shafted credit score, or that is how most lenders and credit issuers think of it. You may still get a credit card but you will likely be hit with a security deposit or high acquisition fee. Also, your interest rate will likely be 22 to 23%. Forget about most home loans and the majority of new car loans at this score. Below 560 is not where you want to be. At this level, you will pay much, much more in higher interest and unnecessary fees. In addition, you may even pay more for your insurance rates, and a very low score can even prevent you from getting a job with many companies. If you're in this category Click here for help.
How are credit scores calculated?
The methods of formulating your FICO score may differ slightly depending on the credit bureau. When requesting your score from one of the Credit Bureaus it is important to understand that your score does not come directly from FICO. It is unique to each bureau and is given its own name: Equifax uses "Beacon", Trans Union uses "Empirica", and Experian uses "Experian/Fair Isaac." These credit scores are also referred to as your "Bureau Scores."
Since your score is derived from your bureau data statistics, the score will change every time your report changes. However your score is calculated, it will always take into consideration many different categories of information. No one piece of information, item, or factor determines your score. As the information in your credit report changes, the importance of one or several categories or factors may change in your FICO score. Potential lenders look at many things when making a credit decision, including your income and the kind of credit you are applying for. Your FICO score does not reflect these other facts as it only evaluates the information retained by the credit reporting agencies.
Learn more.
What factors affect your credit score?
There are five major factors used in credit scoring calculations that determine your overall credit score.
Previous Credit Performance (Payment History) weighted 35%. A potential lender wants to know what your prior payment history is like. Have you paid everything on time, are you late on any payments now, and so on. Your payment history is just one factor used in calculating your score, but it can be the very important.
Current Level of Indebtedness (Amount Owed) weighted 30% How much credit is too much? Can the borrower pay the lender and still afford to pay his or her other bills? When you have available credit it can actually help your ratio of debt to available credit. These are the types of questions that most lenders want to know and the answers are almost as important as your previous credit history.
Amount of Time Credit Has Been In Use (Length of Credit) weighted 15% Generally, the longer the credit history the better your credit score. However, this item only makes up 15% of your total score so even young people, students or others with short histories can still score well overall as long as the other factors are good. If you are new to credit there is little you can do to improve this part of your score, just open an account and be patient.
Pursuit of New Credit weighted 10% Credit is more popular today than ever before. Just look at the number of credit card and loan offers you get via the Internet and in the mail. Consumers can now shop for credit and find the best terms to meet their financial needs. Every time someone runs a credit check on you, it creates an inquiry.
Fair Isaac has changed some of its calculations to account for these trends - specifically, they will treat a group of inquiries - which probably represents a search for the best rate on a single loan - as though it was a single inquiry (note: this only applies to auto or mortgage loan inquiries.) For example, auto loan inquires within 14 days of each other only count as one inquiry.
Types of Credit Experience weighted 10%. Lenders are looking for a healthy mix of different types of credit accounts, installment loans, retail accounts, credit cards, and mortgage. While this factor is not normally a key element in determining your score, it can help a close score. It is not a good idea to try and open different types of credit accounts just to try and make this factor better, as it will likely reduce your score in other areas. Never open accounts you don't intend to use.
The type of credit accounts you have, and how many, can make a big difference. The optimal ratio of installment accounts versus revolving accounts depends on your profile and differs from person to person. One factor that appears to have significant influence on your credit score is your percent of open installment loans. Too many open installment loans can lower this portion of your score. For more information Click here
Improving your credit score
Now that you know how your credit score is calculated, you can begin making changes to your current financial planning. The best things you can do to improve your score are simple.
Pay all your bills on time. While it sounds simple, this is the most important thing you can do to keep your score high. Delinquent or late payments and collections have a major negative impact on your credit score.
Keep balances low on unsecured revolving debt such as credit cards. High outstanding unsecured balances can negatively affect a score. In addition, the amount of your unused credit is an important factor in calculating your score.
Only apply for credit that you really need.
Make sure that all the information listed on your credit report is correct. If it is not correct, dispute it with the credit agencies and/or with the creditor directly. Removing negative items on your credit report has the largest impact on your FICO credit score. Generally, negative items stay on your reports for at least seven years, but you can hire a professional credit report repair service such as Lexington Law Firm to repair your credit for you. While you can try to understand the laws and repair your credit yourself, we have found it's much easier to have a professional do it for you. We strongly recommend using Lexington Law Credit Report Repair, they are the industry leaders in credit repair, and they have a proven track record of removing negative items (even bankruptcies) from credit reports permanently."

Tags: improve your credit score, credit repair

OnlineCreditProfessor.com - Is Credit Repair Legal?

OnlineCreditProfessor.com
Is Credit Repair Legal?

"This entry was posted on 3/12/2007 8:43 AM and is filed under Credit Repair,Credit Report,Credit Rating,Credit Score.
Is Credit Repair Legal?Credit repair is the process of re-establishing or restoring your credit. It can also be a method of improving your credit score. Is it legal? Yes, of course it is legal. The methods of credit repair that we recommend are totally legal, and can help you greatly to save money over time.Let's take a look at what is necessary to repair credit. First, you must obtain a copy of your credit report. This is easy. You are entitled to a free credit report once each year from each of the major credit bureaus. Go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ for instructions on ordering your credit reports. You can even access them online. Next, check your credit reports carefully for any clerical errors such as payments posted as late that were not late, and especially for any credit accounts that you did not open. Any accounts that you do not recognize could be a sign of identity theft. Check also for incorrect address information, and any other personal information about you that is not correct. Each of the credit reports will supply you with information as to how to dispute any erroneous information or listings on your credit report. DO IT, don't wait until you need a loan, mortgage, or credit card. Dispute any erroneous items immediately, especially if you think you have been a victim of identity theft.Finally, take steps to Clean Up Your Credit Report. Pay your bills on time each and every month. Don't open credit accounts that you don't need, and use your credit wisely. Be careful to spread your purchases among your credit accounts so that any one account does not use more than 30 percent of your available credit. Do this over the next 6 - 12 months, and watch your credit score improve. You can repair your credit, but it takes time. For anyone who needs faster results, or help due to extremely bad credit, don't hesitate to contact a reputable credit repair service such as Lexington Law. They offer Legal Online Credit Repair, with guaranteed results. You don't have to live with bad credit. Now is the time to get your finances in order, and start down the road to improved credit and credit scores. The benefits of good credit are well worth it."
Tags: legal credit repair, improve credit score

Online Credit Professor - The Truth About Credit Repair

OnlineCreditProfessor.com
The Truth About Credit Repair

This entry was posted on 3/6/2007 9:45 AM and is filed under Credit Repair,Credit Report,Credit,Identity Theft.
The TRUTH About Credit Repair…Here is a very good article about the ins and outs of credit repair by Sebastian Foss
"Have you ever wondered what companies send you when they claim you can erase your bad credit overnight? How about those ads that say you can get any major credit card 100% Guaranteed regardless of your credit?
Ads abound almost everywhere (online and off) selling books, systems and secrets to help you fix your credit in a hurry. Many of these programs have claims which read like the covers of supermarket tabloids “In 3hrs my credit score jumped from 580 to 676!”… “Erase bad credit and smash your debts with just 2 Magic Letters!”. "Create a completely new credit file in 24hrs!” Are these types of claims ALWAYS too good to be true? The answer is “Yes and… no”.
While many people would love for you to believe that the only thing that can fix bad credit is time; in reality… nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is, time is only one factor which will fix a credit report (but it’s a far cry from being the only factor). How can I back this up? Easy. Under a consumer protection law known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (a.k.a. the FCRA) the only negative information which can remain on your credit report is not what is accurate… but what can be proved as such. What’s this mean to you?
It means any negative item on your credit report can only remain there if it is accurate and CAN BE PROVED AS ACCURATE under the guidelines of the FCRA. This undisputable fact presents consumers with both good news and bad news. The good news is that through the FCRA your credit score can most likely be improved dramatically in a very short period of time with only a modest amount of effort on your part.
The bad news is that while the actual “work” will take very little of your time, it is vital that you have good information on “how” to go about it. This is the bad news; 9 out of 10 courses on restoring your credit will do nothing more than lead you into a snake pit. This is because they provide you with out-dated “Boiler Plate” dispute letters which are rarely effective. These are nothing more than form letters and… quite frankly (more bad news) the Credit Bureaus and Creditors will laugh at you if you try to use them.
While I agree with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that “Anything a Credit Repair Clinic can do for you legally, you can do for yourself at little or not cost”… the key element you need for success is the latest inside techniques and procedures to get the results you want. These involve strategies known as “Proof of Contract”, “Constructive Notice”, “Challenge of Procedure” or “Restrictive Endorsement” and many others.
All these terms may “sound” impressive but they are really quite simple. In the end, it is nothing more than a method of communication which exercises your consumer protection rights, gets the results you want and raises your credit score. Even more impressive, once you learn how simple it can be by doing it for yourself, you will find there is a fortune to be made doing it for others! Either way, it all starts by requesting a free copy of your credit report by " Clicking Here For Credit Secrets Bible™" To receive Free Credit Tips including “How to Bullet-Proof Yourself From Identity Theft For FREE!” "
I found this to be a very imformative article about credit repair. While it is easy to do, sometimes you may require help from a credit repair agency. If so, don't live with bad credit, seek help when you need it.Tags: credit repairMore blogs about credit repair.

How LifeLock Protects Your Identity

How LifeLock Protects Your Identity
LifeLock is an amazing service that protects consumers and businesses from identity theft before it happens! We found a very good description of how it works at Identity Guard Central.
"How It Works
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS
When you become a LifeLock client, they set alerts on all of your credit reports (there are more than just the "big three"). These credit report alerts will usually be set within an hour of enrolling at LifeLock . You will start receiving letters from the credit bureaus about 7 days after enrolling, to confirm that your alerts have been placed.
While your initial locks will be set within about an hour of your enrollment with LifeLock , they must be renewed every ninety days to stay in effect. LifeLock takes care of this for you automatically.
In two to four weeks, you will receive credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, the three largest national credit bureaus. Most importantly, LifeLock's guarantee is in full force from the moment you enroll. They will re-order these reports periodically for your files.
The great news is that you will stop receiving pre-approved credit offers and your junk mail load will be reduced dramatically. Many people tell us that if nothing else, reducing the junk mail alone is worth the price.
Of course, you can do everything listed above yourself for free. However, it's the details of actually doing it, then re-doing it, then dealing with any problems that arise, then keeping up on the changes in the procedures of the bureaus, the new databases that are coming online, and the laws that become too much for most people and the reason that tens of thousands of people have turned to LifeLock.LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention - Save 10%
Your Identity is much more than credit fraud. Although it can take many hours and even years to repair, damage to credit reports is often the easiest thing from which to recover when your personal information is stolen. Every day, all over the United States, identity theft victims find themselves being arrested, denied earned entitlements, being passed over for promotion, not getting hired or, worse, actually getting fired, not getting rental leases, not getting insurance, paying higher life, health and auto insurance premiums, facing the IRS because an audit alert has been triggered...the list is long and limited only to the thief's imagination and industry. LifeLock is constantly updating their systems, adding new databases, working to educate legislators and congress, and helping to track down and prosecute the thieves. These thieves have literally unlimited resources, unlimited time and no scruples whatsoever. LifeLock has integrity and operates within the law, but they have no mercy whatsoever for the thief. That's why they stand behind everything they do with a $1 million guarantee.LifeLock is the only Identity Theft Prevention Solution backed by a one-million dollar guarantee! Click here to get a 10% discount.
In the unlikely event your lock is picked and you find yourself fighting to regain your good name, LifeLock is going to do the fighting for you. They are going to pay for the fight, and make sure that you get every dollar back, lost wages, attorney's fees, costs, actual losses, every dollar up to $1 million. Period. No fine print. If your Identity is stolen while you are a LifeLock client, and your claim is legitimate, they're going to do whatever it takes, for however long it takes, however much it costs to fix it and you won't lose a dime, again, up to $1 million.
Here's what you can expect: Your personal information is locked. It's patrolled and guarded by the experts. If your personal information is stolen, you're covered and you'll have the best in the business fighting for you. No one else does that. "

Tags: identity theft prevention

Southern California InFocus - Understanding credit scoring and credit repair

Southern California InFocus - Understanding credit scoring and credit repair


"Understanding credit scoring and credit repair

By Uzma Afzal
This article is intended to provide information to all people trying to improve their credit score, including those seeking a riba free loan. Credit remediation is a subject consumers often face with fear and trepidation, and for good reason. With the exception of recognizing that the best score wins, the average home shopper knows very little about the whole credit scoring process. Sub-prime borrowers who are eager to move into A-Paper territory often find themselves at a loss when trying to find ways to upgrade their credit history. The good news is there are ways to improve less-than-perfect credit scores and obtain a loan for the home you really want.
The first step in the process is making sure that you have a current copy of your credit report. Congress recently amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act so that consumers may now receive one free credit report annually. There are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. Since entries can vary across bureaus, you’ll want to request a free report from each of the three companies. (Go to www.annualcreditreport.com)
It’s also important to know just what a good credit score is. Most A-Paper scores generally begin around 680, although this number may differ slightly among lenders. Don’t despair if you come up shy; there is always room for improvement. Increasing your score just 5 points can save a significant amount of money. For example, if your score is 698 and you increase it to 703, then you could save yourself thousands of dollars over time as a result of a slight improvement in your loan’s interest rate.
While credit repair is necessary for some, it’s not the only way to increase your credit score. Even if you have stellar credit, you can enhance your score through these steps:• Evenly distribute your credit card debt to change the ratio of debt to available credit. Let’s say you have a credit score of 665. If you have debt on only one card, and four additional credit cards with zero balances, evenly distributing the debt of the first card could move you closer, and possibly into, that ideal bracket.
• Keep your existing accounts open and active. The average consumer is usually anxious to close credit card accounts that have zero balances, but doing this can cause them to lose the benefits of a long-term credit history and increase their ratio of debt-to-available credit. The bottom line is don’t close those old accounts!
• Keep credit inquiries to a minimum. Each inquiry into your credit history can impact your score anywhere from 2-50 points. When it comes to mortgage and auto loans, even though you’re only looking for one loan, multiple lenders may request your credit report. To compensate for this, the score counts multiple auto or mortgage inquiries in any 14-day period as just one inquiry, so try and stay within that time frame.
Remember, credit scores don’t change overnight. Improving them requires time and diligent effort on your part, so it’s a good idea to get the ball rolling at least three to six months prior to submitting your application for home financing.
If credit repair is what you need, you can either begin the process yourself or seek out a repair service. If you decide to make your own improvements, visit as many websites as possible to get information regarding credit laws and consumer rights. Diligently search through them and educate yourself to ensure that you don’t sustain any self-inflicted wounds. A good place to start would be the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website, which contains a wealth of helpful literature.
If you’re facing severe or complicated credit issues, then you’ll probably want to enlist the assistance of a professional credit repair company. Before you do, be sure to familiarize yourself with the FTC’s regulations on credit repair. With over 1,100 credit repair companies to choose from, it’s important to be certain you are dealing with a reputable firm. Examine the FTC’s information on fraudulent practices to avoid falling prey to credit repair scams. Addressing credit issues can be uncomfortable to say the least. But by taking these steps now, you’ll be that much closer to obtaining the home of your dreams.Additional Resources:
To order your free credit report, go to:
http://www.annualcreditreport.com/To read the Fair Credit Reporting Act, go to: http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/frca.htmlForFor the Federal Trade Commission’s information on consumer credit, go to:www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html"

Tags: understand credit score and credit repair

What Is A Credit Report and Why Does It Matter

What Is A Credit Report and Why Does It Matter
What Is A Credit Report and Why Does It Matter

"We've all heard of it. We all know we have one and have probably spent a fair amount of time thinking about it, but the fact of the matter is that most people have never seen theirs. So, what is it? Our credit report. Oddly enough, even though our credit report influences just about every aspect of our financial life, most of us have never even seen ours, let alone know what our FICO or credit score is. Not only will understanding your credit report help you make important financial decisions, it can also help you see just what it is that is keeping you from getting the credit that you may need.What Is A Credit Report?A credit report is a document that includes all your pertinent personal and financial information. It will contain your full legal name, your social security number, previous and current addresses, date of birth, and current and previous employers. This information has been obtained from any previous credit applications you have filled out.This report will also include information about any financial accounts you have now or have had in the past. This will include any loans, credit cards and their credit limits, monthly bills, and so on. It will also include the names of any other persons that may be responsible for payment on these accounts.Any financial situations that you have been involved in that are public record will also be included. This means that judgements, tax liens, bankruptcies, overdue child support, etc., will also show up on this report.Inquiries are also marked on your credit report. Anytime you apply for a loan, credit card, or anything that requires an institution to request a copy of your credit report, it will be noted.What Is My Credit Score and Why Is It Important?Basically your credit score is based on a mathematical equation that evaluates all the information on your credit report. The end result is called your FICO Score. FICO stands for Fair, Isaac, and Company, the organization that developed the scoring mechanism. This score is what will be used by companies to determine whether you are a safe financial risk or not. In order to even have a FICO score, you must have at least one open account on your credit report and that account needs to have been open for at least six months.Your score is influenced by your financial history. Outstanding debts past 30 days, consistent late payments on monthly bills, and any collection action that has been brought against you will determine what your score will be. Your credit score will influence not only the decision to give you the loan or credit card, but also the amount of interest to attach to the line of credit. The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate and vice versa.Knowing and understanding your credit report is vital to getting a mortgage, car loan, and even renting an apartment or getting a job. If you have never seen your credit report, check it out soon. There is a chance that yours may contain errors and it's critical that you get those errors cleaned up quickly."

This is a very good article to help you understand your credit report. For further information you can also see the discussion "Understand Your Credit Report" at Online Credit Professor. Suzanne Busby, the Online Credit Professor, does an excellent job explaining your credit report, and how to fix any errors or problems you may find on your credit report. In her blog, Online Credit Professor Blog, she also give advice and tips regarding how to obtain your credit report for free, as well as other relevant personal finance topics.
Tags: understand your credit report

Free Chapter of Credit Repair Book Now Available

Free Chapter of Credit Repair Book Now Available
"
Free Chapter of Credit Repair Book Now Available
Download this press release as an Adobe PDF document.
Consumers can download a free sample chapter of the popular "How To Get GREAT CREDIT!" e-book by going to http://www.nfan.com/99tips/.
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) February 26, 2007 -- The National Financial Awareness Network, a Dallas-based financial literacy company, is offering a sample chapter of its popular "How To Get Great Credit! Easily get the credit you need to get the loan you want" e-book. Interested consumers should go to http://www.nfan.com/99tips/."How To Get Great Credit!" is a 50-page e-book that explains how credit reporting and credit scoring works, how to obtain your credit report, how to dispute errors on your credit report and how to safeguard your credit. The e-book includes tips for removing erroneous negative information and feeding positive credit information into your credit report. Such information is vital for consumers who want to understand the credit system and benefit from the financial advantages of having good credit. "We've received great responses from our credit guide," says John Janney, president of NFAN. "We are hoping that this free sample chapter will help get the guide into the hands of more consumers who can truly benefit from the valuable information it provides." The free sample chapter is bundled with a series of 99 financial tips that are delivered for free via email. Interested consumers simply need to enter their name and email address and then click on a confirmation link they will receive via email. Once a subscriber confirms his or her email address and subscription to the 99 free financial tips, a link to the sample chapter is sent. Afterwards, subscribers will enjoy free financial tips every-other day, but are able to unsubscribe if they no longer want to receive the free financial tips. "American consumers need to become more financially literate," Janney continues. "Our series of 99 financial tips and the free sample chapter of our credit e-book will provide a lot of valuable information to help consumers be more money-savvy."Interested consumers can apply for their free sample chapter of "How To Get Great Credit!" and subscribe to the 99 financial tips by going to http://www.nfan.com/99tips/. The free chapter and free subscription requires email confirmation to prevent abuse of the offer. Subscribers can unsubscribe at any time if they no longer want to continue receiving free financial tips. "

Tags: credit repair

credit card fraud alert

credit card fraud alert
"Credit Instant Report to Prevent Identity Theft
Find credit card fraud alert Online Now!
LifeLock credit card fraud alert prevention is the only service of its sort to offer a $1 million guarantee. With credit card fraud alert protection and prevention, you can sleep better at night. LifeLock stops would be identity thieves in their tracks.
The Federal Trade Commission reports that Identity Theft has become the fastest growing crime in the US. It has become easier than ever for Identity theives to steal your personal information, and get away with it. Often, all that they need is your name and address - that'scredit card fraud alert prevention is so important.
It takes on average more than 600 hours and sometimes years to fix the damage that occurs when your personal and credit information is taken. Don't wait for credit card fraud alert to happen to you, enroll with LifeLock today.
LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention - Save 10%
How Does LifeLock Work?
LifeLock credit card fraud alert prevention starts when they set alerts on your credit reports - usually within 1 hour of your enrollment. These alerts must updated every ninety days, and LifeLock does it for you, on time. So anytime someone trys to obtain credit information, you are notified by the credit bureaus so that you may prevent credit card fraud alert.
Within two to four weeks, you receive your credit reports from the three national major bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Check them carefully for any clerical errors, negative entries, and especially for credit card fraud alert. LifeLock's credit card fraud alert protection continues when they re-order these reports periodically for your files, and your analysis.
They also delete your name and address from junk mail lists, so you will stop receiving pre-approved credit and your junk mail load will be reduced dramatically. Identity thieves often go through your trash to find junk mail to use for credit card fraud alert.
Unfortunately, credit card fraud alert is not the only aspect of your life in danger. You need proactive protection. Even though it may take years to repair, damage to your credit is often the easiest thing from which an ID theft victim can recover. Each and every day, all over the US, Identity theft victims find themselves arrested, denied earned entitlements, passed over for promotion, not getting hired or, worse, actually getting fired, not getting needed rental leases, not getting insurance, paying higher life, health and auto insurance premiums, facing the IRS because an audit alert has been triggered...the list is long and scary.
LifeLock credit card fraud alert and identity theft prevention service has integrity and operates within the law; however, they will have no mercy for the identity thief. That's why they guarantee their proactive service up to $1 million.
LifeLock credit card fraud alert protection. LifeLock is the only Identity Theft Prevention Service backed by a one-million dollar guarantee!
Click here to get a 10% discount at LifeLock.
Click Here For More credit card fraud alert details.".
Tags: identity theft prevention

Credit Repair Due to Identity Theft

OnlineCreditProfessor.com
Credit Repair Due to Identity Theft

This entry was posted on 2/19/2007 8:49 AM and is filed under Credit Repair,Credit Report,Identity Theft.
"In the past week I have seen serious stories about Identity Theft, how to avoid it, and the consequences of it on the NBC's Today Show, the February issue of Ladies Home Journal, the Yahoo News Finance Page, and several other news outlets. It is no secret that Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States. It is a crime that is relatively easy to get away with, and the punishments if caught are not severe. Identity theives have moved from using fraudulent credit for one-time major purchases, to buying their everyday necessities. ID theft has become their only occupation. But, they are stealing from consumers, and ruining their victim's credit. The need for credit repair due to identity theft is growing rapidly.Knowing this, how can you protect yourself both online and offline? Although we have written much of this before, it bears repeating:
Take control by monitoring your credit reports frequently. You are entitled to one free credit report each year from each of the credit bureaus. Go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ for more information about this absolutely free service mandated by the Federal Government. One time per year, however, is simply not enough. Consider a credit monitoring service such as Equifax Credit Watch Gold 3-in-1Credit Monitoring Service or LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention .
If you must post your resume online, try to avoid offering any personal information such as your address, social security number, or date of birth.
Don't leave personal information in your car, or out in the open in your house. All of your personal information should be locked away in a drawer or locking file box.
Cross-Shred all junk mail, including credit card offers, cellular phone service offers, etc. In addition, always shred credit card bills, bank statements, utility bills, and the like. Identity thieves need little more than your name and address to steal your identity.
Don't be a victim. Guard your personal information, and monitor as closely as possible for any signs of ID theft or fraud. I highly recommend a monitoring service such as LifeLock. It is more than worth it to protect your identity. It is estimated that identity theft victims spend an average of 600 hours over several years trying to clean up the mess caused by identity theives. It is much easier to protect yourself, than to spend the time and effort cleaning up your credit later. "LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention - Save 10%
Tags: identity theft prevention, credit repair

OnlineCreditProfessor.com-Credit Repair Agencies Can Help Improve Your Credit Score - Identity Theft Prevention

OnlineCreditProfessor.com
Credit Repair Agencies Can Help Improve Your Credit Score - Identity Theft Prevention
Excellent advice for determining if you need to use a credit repair agency to fix your credit.
This entry was posted on 2/12/2007 8:55 AM and is filed under Credit Repair,Credit Report,Bad Credit,Credit,Credit Score,Identity Theft.
Credit Repair Agencies Can Help Improve Your Credit Score - Identity Theft Prevention
"There are so many negative consequences to having bad credit. With bad credit you will have difficulty receiving credit, pay higher interest rates, and have difficulty getting employment or an apartment. In addition, bad credit can make it more difficult to obtain insurance, and with bad credit you will usually pay higher premiums.
There are several options avaiable for fixing your credit report ; however, we recommend that you speak to some experts before you decide on which course of action to take. Some of the better credit repair agencies are law firms who specialize in credit and credit repair.
New laws allow you to obtain at least one copy of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies once per year for free. Start there first. The three credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and Transunion. Get copies of your credit reports from each agency, and go over them with a fine-toothed comp for mistakes.
Make a list of any mistakes you find and send that list to credit bureaus. You are also looking for any fraud related activities. You'll find the instructions for doing this listed on each credit report. If there are any negatives items listed on the report whether you are liable or not, dispute them as well. If the creditor does not respond within 30 days, these negatives listings can be removed.
There are credit repair companies that will do this for you. Some credit repair services offer “No Risk” money back guarantees if negatives are not removed. You may only have to pay if negative items are removed.
There are also services available to monitor your credit and your identity. They notify you when any changes occur in your credit record and provide you free credit reports. In addition, services to protect your identity can prevent identity theft , the fastest growing crime in the US.
It is well worth your time to investigate and guard your credit. This could save you a lot of headaches in the future. "
LifeLock Identity Theft Prevention - Save 10%

Tags: bad credit report repair, identity theft prevention, improve credit score

Government Mandated Free Credit Report - How to View Your Annual Free Credit Report Online - Who to Call for Your Free Credit Report

Free annual credit report government mandate. Ordering your credit report is the first step towards credit repair, and now you can view your credit report online - free.
Government Mandated Free Credit Report - How to View Your Annual Free Credit Report Online - Who to Call for Your Free Credit Report"Government Mandates Free Credit Reports for All Consumers
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that U.S. consumers be entitled to a free credit report each year. The government’s goal is to make sure that consumers stay informed, fight identity theft, and get fair treatment.
In the past, not everybody was entitled to a free credit report. Instead, consumers had to pay or qualify based on certain activity within the credit report. Some states required that residents periodically be entitled to a free credit report, but it is now nationwide.
How do I Get my Free Credit Report?
The nation’s credit reporting agencies have teamed up and built a website that you should use to get your free credit report. The site is https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp. You can also call them at 877-322-8228 and request your free credit report.
Contacting the Credit Agencies Directly
You can also call the major credit agencies directly and ask about a free credit report. However, the FCRA-mandated “Annual Free Credit Reports” are only available through the website and phone number above. In other words, you might have to pay if you contact a credit agency directly.
I cannot overemphasize that the only way to get your annual free credit report is by using the organization above. If you go any other route, you may have to pay or subscribe to a private service.
What Information do I Need for a Free Credit Report?
You’ll need to be prepared with your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. You’ll also need any prior addresses from the past few years. Finally, you’ll be asked to disclose something that only you know (like the amount of a given payment, for example) as a security measure.
When Can I See my Free Credit Report?
In order to manage the process, availability is only available to certain regions at certain times. As of September 1st, 2005, the entire nation has access to a free credit report.
If your region is up and running, you can see your free credit report instantly online (at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp). If you use the toll-free number, it may be 15 days or so until you receive the report. "

Obtaining your credit report is the first step to credit repair. Don't hesitate, order your credit report now to determine if there are errors, or fraudulent items listed.

Tags: free annual credit report government mandated