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Credit Rehab 101 in Bend: My One Week Success Story 🙋

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by Joe Mahlow •  Updated on Jul. 27, 2023

Credit Rehab 101 in Bend: My One Week Success Story 🙋
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In my opinion, Credit Repair is a highly effective process that can be used to help people improve their credit scores. It involves making use of consumer protection laws to dispute the accuracy and validity of debt liabilities. My experience has shown me that even simple errors can cause significant problems for consumers if not corrected. Credit Repair is a process that includes utilizing mail, phone, and fax to dispute an account with a data furnisher or Credit Reporting Agency. To be successful, one should have an understanding of the credit reporting laws.

Table of Contents

What is the most effective way to repair credit?For whom is credit repair intended?What is the importance of Credit Repair?What types of problems can Credit Repair address?

What is the most effective way to repair credit?

The most effective way to repair credit involves a combination of proactive measures and responsible financial habits. Start by obtaining copies of your credit reports from the major credit bureaus and carefully review them for any errors or discrepancies. If you find any inaccuracies, promptly dispute them with the credit bureaus and provide supporting documentation. Next, focus on addressing any outstanding debts by creating a realistic payment plan or negotiating settlements with creditors. Paying off high-interest debts or those in collections can significantly improve your credit score. It is crucial to make all future payments on time to establish a positive payment history. Additionally, work on reducing credit card balances and keeping your credit utilization ratio low, ideally below 30% of your available credit. Building a diverse credit mix by having a mix of credit types, such as credit cards, loans, or a mortgage, can also be beneficial. Avoid opening new credit accounts unless necessary, as it can temporarily lower your credit score. Practice responsible financial habits, including budgeting, saving, and avoiding excessive debt. Over time, with consistent effort and responsible financial management, you can effectively repair your credit and improve your overall financial well-being.

Send out dispute letters on your own

Doing credit repair on your own is not for everyone. It requires time and patience, as it can take 3-5 months on average and up to 1-3 hours of your time minimal each month. It is important to understand the credit reporting regulations that are in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA). This will help you to approach each negative account on your credit report correctly and come up with the best approach on how to dispute the accounts.It is recommended you never use dispute template letters like the ones you can find online but instead use them to help you structure your letter. You want your dispute letter to be unique and not something that has been sent to the credit bureaus before. When disputing, it's important that your 1st Dispute letter go out to the (3) major credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and Transunion, and wait on their response before you send a dispute out to the data furnisher like the original creditor or a collection agency. The Credit Reporting agencies and data furnishers are required to respond to your disputes within 30 business days, or they must remove the account or reporting error from your credit report immediately.Always send your dispute letters by certified mail so you have a provable time stamp that you can use in case you ever need to file a complaint or a lawsuit, and keep records of everything you do within the process.

Use an online Dispute tool or Software

Using an online dispute tool or submitting an online dispute with the three major credit reporting agencies is not recommended. When you dispute online in general, you actually sign off your rights to redispute any item on your credit report for an entire year. Since most credit disputes aren’t resolved until after 2-4 rounds of disputes, if you do not like the outcome of your first dispute, then you will not be able to rechallenge or redispute for an entire year.Online disputes provide generic and basic issues, and they don’t allow you to dispute using any specific consumer protection law, which means your chances of getting good results are typically limited. Therefore, I would avoid ever doing any online dispute if you truly looking to get the best results from your credit disputes.

Hiring a credit repair company

Hiring a credit repair company can be worth it if you find a really established company with a proven track record. You typically will get to “sit back and relax,” meaning your involvement in the process is usually not necessary so you can focus on things in your life that are more important. A lot of credit repair companies will provide a credit consultation so they can provide you with information on exactly what is affecting your credit score, along with things that you can do to improve it quickly.It is important to make sure you do your due diligence before selecting the right credit repair company for you. Ask very thorough questions and also see if they provide a money-back guarantee. Do not fall victim to someone taking your money, and you never have any recourse.Look, the amazing thing you have as an American is the power to choose and make decisions. Write down all your concerns when it comes to fixing your credit and pick a solution that fits you best. Never settle, and always do your due diligence and research.

For whom is credit repair intended?

Anyone who has any kind of negative item on their credit report should consider credit repair, as it is their legal right to dispute any item on their credit report. Even if the account is legally their responsibility, there could still be an error on their credit report. In my 10 years working with over 22,000 clients, I have encountered many who lived with an account on their credit report that was invalid or inaccurate and paid high-interest rates, believing that credit repair was only for accounts that weren't theirs.A free credit consultation is offered by many companies, and it can at least look over the credit report to identify if there are errors or discrepancies. I learned this fact the hard way when I was younger, and it has altered my view on credit. A credit score has little to do with being approved for a loan - it's your credibility that counts. The score determines the interest rate tier. It might sound strange, but most lenders don't want to see high and recent credit inquiries, as it could mean they have already been approved for the same loan by another company.Therefore, the takeaway is to check the credit report online at least every quarter and dispute any derogatory remarks.

What is the importance of Credit Repair?

Seeing just a small portion of the credit reports I have gone through has made me realize how important credit repair is. Not only is it important to be able to take out a loan in the future, it also helps you stop bad habits before they cause long-term financial damage. Whenever I advise clients on credit repair, I always tell them that it is just one of many tools they can use to address credit issues. It can help you remove negative items from your credit report and possibly increase your credit score, as well as eliminate any liability from a debt that doesn't belong to you. Although it is a very useful tool, it is not the only way to fix credit problems.Having bad credit can prevent you from getting a job, insurance, a loan for a home or car, and getting approved for a credit card or renters insurance. It also keeps you from saving money and growing your wealth. That is why it is so important to start repairing your credit as early as you can. Doing so can give you a better chance of retiring early and setting your future generations up for success.

What types of problems can Credit Repair address?

Credit Repair can help you improve or fix any negative or inaccurate information that is being reported on your credit report. It is important to review your credit report to identify any errors and inaccuracies. You can typically do this by obtaining a copy of your credit report and using a highlighter to note which items require attention. Personal information, negative accounts, payment history, public records, and credit inquiries are all types of items that can be disputed and corrected. Making sure your personal information is correct, disputing negative accounts and payment histories, and disputing public records and credit inquiries will ensure your credit report is accurate and up-to-date.

To conclude

Having a good credit score can be one of the most important tools to build wealth. Unfortunately, a lot of people are held back from building wealth due to their bad credit scores. I believe that in order to change this, we need to be proactive and knowledgeable about credit. If you need help with understanding how to repair your credit score, leave me a comment below, and I'll be happy to guide you through the process. If you're looking for a reliable credit repair company, check out my business, ASAP Credit Repair. We are a nationwide family-owned and operated business that offers a money-back guarantee on almost every service we offer. We even provide a free consultation and evaluation, so if you just need some advice, give us a call. To learn more, visit us at <a href="https://asapcreditrepairusa.shortcm.li/9a4hSz"></a>.

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