How to Get Credit Reporting Agencies to Help You


The process of clearing credit can be laborious and frustrating. Understanding your rights empowers you and saves you time and effort. By employing the following tips, you can enlist the help of credit reporting agencies (CRAs) as you work to improve your credit rating.

A negative credit report hinders your quest for financing a house. You will have to do a lot of tedious work to clear up any mistakes in your credit report, but remember that CRAs are required by law to protect your rights. They must remove undocumented information on your report.

Once you receive your reports, you will be given a phone number to discuss your report with a real person. Your gentle manners and pleasant conversations with the credit bureau employees will motivate them to help you more than angry words. Remember, these people are just doing their job and they get yelled at day after day by frustrated consumers.

Double-D Line of Attack

Dispute Discrepancies and Document

Complete the dispute form provided with your credit report and write a letter for all discrepancies to both the creditor and the credit bureaus listing the item. Identify each error by their corresponding account number and state why it's wrong. Include a photocopy of your credit report with the errors circled with your dispute form and letters. Send copies of your supporting documents. Keep your letters in your computer in case you need to write again.

Document, document, document

Keep copies and records of all the dispute forms, letters, and supporting documents that you send. In extreme cases this proof is used by attorneys for settlement or in court.

Credit bureaus must investigate disputes within 30 days of receiving your complaints. Any item that is not verified as accurate by a creditor is supposed to be removed. However, the supposed creditors do not have to provide any supporting documentation. All they have to do is state that the account is reported accurately.

For this reason, after receiving your updated credit reports, check to see what actions were taken. If you still have erroneous information listed on your credit report, you need to start the entire process over again. At this point, take stronger action both with the original creditor and with the credit reporting agencies.

Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher - All Rights Reserved.

Jeanette Fisher, author of "Credit Help! Get the Credit You Need to Buy Real Estate," helps people buy their dream home or finance multiple investment properties. Jeanette teaches real estate investing and Design Psychology. For help with your credit or answers to your questions, visit the Real Estate Help Credit Center at http://www.recredithelp.com Subscribe to Credit Help! Tips. Send a blank email to CreditTips at reCreditHelp.com Get the credit you need to buy one house or twenty!



RELATED LINKS

Accept Credit Card Payment Online

Accept credit card payment online and increase sales by 400% or more.... Find out how ...

 

Advanta Credit Cards

Apply for an Advanta credit card with 0% APR, rewards and cash back.

 

American Express Credit Card Application

Apply online for a new AMEX rewards credit card. See special offers.

 

Best Airline Miles Credit Card

Earn Frequent Airline Miles for Every Dollar Spent with No Annual Fee.

 

Best Cash Back Credit Card

Earn Up to 5% Cash Back on Every Day Purchases. Apply for Yours Today.

 

Best Reward Credit Card

Compare & Apply for the Best Reward Credit Cards with Up to 5% Cash Back Rewards and more.

 

Business Credit Card Online Application

Compare Business Credit Cards from All Major Banks. Apply Online Now

 

Chase Credit Card Application

Find Credit Card Applications from Chase & Apply Online in Seconds.

 

Citi Credit Card Application

Citibank offers credit cards that have 0% APR balance transfer options, Rewards, Cash Back, and much more

 

Credit Card Application For Bad Credit

Great card for bad credit just got better. 8.9% APR, instant decision.

 

Credit Card Balance Transfer Deal

Great Rates: Balance Transfers and Purchases. Capital One Credit Card

 

Debit Cards

Control Your Spending with a debit card. Guaranteed Approval.

 

Discover Credit Card Offer

Discover Credit Card Offers with 0% for 12 months, no fees & cash back.

 

Gas Credit Card Application

Save money at the gas pump with a new gas credit card. Apply now.

Fast Easy Payday Loan

Get the fast cash you need with an easy payday loan. Compare and apply

 

Hotel Rewards Credit Card

Earn Free Stays with a Hotel Rewards Credit Card. Apply Online Now.

 

HSBC Credit Card Application

Get 0% Intro APR, No Annual Fee, Great Service, Benefits. Apply Now.

 

Low Interest Credit Card List

Compare & Apply for Credit Cards w/ 0% Intro APR for Up to 15 Months

 

Master Card Application

Apply for MasterCard Credit Cards with 0% APR, Cash Back & No Fees.

 

No Annual Fee Credit Card

0% APR with No Annual Fee. Compare No Fee Credit Cards & Apply Online.

 

Online Car Loan Application

Loans and Refinancing for New and Used Cars. Online Approval.

 

Online Debt Consolidation Services

Consolidate your debts today - ease the strain of monthly bills.

 

Online Foreign Currency Trading

FOREX is a serious game. Play it with the pros. Start with just $50. The best trading platform available today. Start Trading and see why.

 

Online Mortgage Application

Apply online for a mortgage for your home. It's fast and easy. Great Rates!

 

Online Visa Credit Card Application

Compare & Apply for Visa Credit Cards with 0% APR and No Annual Fee.

 

Prepaid Credit Card

Get a Prepaid Credit Card with Free Direct Deposit. No Credit Check.

 

Shopping Reward Credit Card

Shopping Reward Credit Card. Fast Online Credit Card Application ... You have found the best shopping reward credit card site on the Internet!

 

Student Credit Card Application

Pay 0 Interest for 6 Months & Earn Rewards with a Student Credit Card.

 

Travel Rewards Credit Card

Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Apply Now and Start Earning Miles.


MORE RESOURCES:

The Guardian

Fed seeks public comments on proposed credit card reforms
Washington Post
In what feels like never-ending regulatory fiddling with the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, ...
Credit Card Debt Consolidation: 50% of Debt EliminatedBigNews.biz (press release)
CreditCards.com: Weekly Credit Card Rate ReportPR Newswire (press release)
Debt Settlement Company Report Warns of Credit Card Company Fee Schemes ...PR Web (press release)
The Balance Transfers Blog (blog) -Bankrate.com -Money Saving Expert
all 296 news articles »


Globe and Mail

Analyst Actions: Ford Motors to New 52-Wk High on Moody's Credit Upgrade
ONN.tv
(F) has set a new 52-week high at $14.11 in late afternoon trade, after Moody's Investors Services lifted its credit rating on the company on the prospect ...
Ford's credit rating gets boostThe Detroit News
Ford's $65 Billion in Debt Upgraded by Moody'sBloomberg
Moody's Lifts Ford Motor, Finance Arm Ratings On PerformanceWall Street Journal
Reuters -BusinessWeek -Globe and Mail (blog)
all 178 news articles »


Credit Suisse raises BlackRock to outperform
Reuters
(Reuters) - Credit Suisse raised BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) to "outperform" from "neutral" and added it to its US focus list, on higher earnings expectations ...
BlackRock shares rise after upgrade, reportMarketWatch
BlackRock Climbs As Analysts See ValueForbes
BlackRock Rising On Credit Suisse Upgrade To Outperform; Added To Focus List ...RTT News
ONN.tv -FOXBusiness -BusinessWeek
all 38 news articles »


Financial Post

Not just sovereign debt, US junk bonds are also catastrophic
Christian Science Monitor
'An avalanche is brewing in 2012 and beyond if companies don't get out in front of this,' said Kevin Cassidy, a senior credit officer at Moody's. ...
Debt puts US credit rating at risk, agency saysBoston Globe
What Happens if America's Credit Rating Is Downgraded?New York Times (blog)
UK, US at Risk of Losing Highest Credit RatingsThe Chosun Ilbo
CMR -Reuters -The Associated Press
all 514 news articles »


S&P downgrades PepsiCo's corporate credit rating
BusinessWeek
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services downgraded PepsiCo Inc.'s corporate credit rating on Wednesday and lowered other ratings, but said the company's outlook ...
S&P Downgrades PepsiCo's Corporate Credit Rating To A (PEP)FOXBusiness
S&P's Cuts Corporate Credit Rating On PepsiCo To 'A' From 'A+'RTT News
S&P Downgrades PepsiCo's Corporate Credit Rating To A (PEP)Trading Markets (press release)
MarketWatch
all 35 news articles »


eCreditDaily.com

The Home-Buyer Tax Credit Countdowns Begin
Wall Street Journal (blog)
Time is almost up on the federal home-buyer tax credit, the government's gift of up to $8000, crafted to jump-start a stalled housing market ...
First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension – Expiration of $8000 and $6500 ...Subprime Blogger (blog)
April 30th deadline for Home Buyers Tax CreditBoston Globe
Panels approve tax credit revisionsDesMoinesRegister.com
Healthy Financial Habits -HeraldNet -Credit Loan (blog)
all 37 news articles »


Advocat Announces New Revolving Credit Facility
MarketWatch (press release)
The Company entered into an agreement with a bank for a new $15 million revolving credit facility, replacing its current bank revolving credit facility ...
Advocat inks credit lineNashville Post (subscription)
Charter to Extend Senior Secured Credit FacilitiesPR Newswire (press release)
Charter to Extend Debt TermsMultichannel News

all 25 news articles »


Solutia completes $1.15 billion credit
BusinessWeek
Specialty chemicals and products maker Solutia Inc. said Wednesday it has completed a new $1.15 billion secured credit facility that will be used to help ...
Solutia Announces Completion of $1150 Million Senior Secured Credit FacilityPR Newswire (press release)

all 20 news articles »


SLM Sells Debt at Higher Rate Than Students Pay: Credit Markets
BusinessWeek
Elsewhere in credit markets, the Federal Home Loan Bank system, the 12 government-chartered cooperatives owned by US financial companies, plan to sell $3 ...

and more »


Conn's, Inc. Announces Completion of Credit Facility Amendments
MarketWatch (press release)
In addition to the covenant changes, the cost of borrowings under the asset based loan and securitization revolving credit facilities was increased, ...

and more »

Google News

home page | article index | site map
Credit  |  Currency Trading  |  Debt Consolidation  |  Debt Relief  |  Insurance  |  Investment  |  Leasing  |  Loans  |  Mortgage and Refinance  |  Personal Finance  |  Real Estate  |  Stocks and Mutual Funds  |  Taxes

 

© Copyright 2006 - SmarteCredit.Com. All rights reserved