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Every day we see credit-repair companies scam consumers out of hundreds
and sometimes thousands of dollars with false promises of quickly
turning bad credit into good credit. 
- David R. Wolff, Vice President, Consumer Relations, Trans Union
Cleaning up your credit report can seem like an insurmountable task,
but take heart, and don't be tempted to enlist the help of so-called
credit-repair companies. Tackling your credit report doesn't take
a rocket science degree, although it can be an arduous task that
takes some patience.
Read: "What Are Credit Reports Anyway?" to learn more
about what's included in your credit report.
To begin with, credit bureaus make mistakes. If you believe that there's
a mistake or inaccuracy on your credit report, before you roll up
your sleeves, you need to get a copy of your report from all three
credit bureaus, i.e., Experian,
Equifax and Trans Union, to see if the erroneous information is
reflected on all three bureaus.
Highlight any suspicious information contained in your reports, and send three
separate letters requesting an investigation to each respective
bureau. Each credit bureau has 30 days to investigate disputes regarding
possible mistakes, and then they must submit their results to you
in writing. Be sure to include the following:
Full company name of the disputed item (from your credit report)
Account number of the disputed item (from your credit report)
Reason for your dispute, i.e., you have paid the account, it's not
your account, etc.
If a mistake is found they will correct it and issue you a revised
credit report for free. If a credit bureau's findings are substantiated,
and there are legitimate challenges to your report, there are several
things that can help improve your credit:
- Pay your bills on time
- Refrain from applying for additional credit
- Close unused accounts
- Seek non-profit credit counseling
- Be patient. It can take awhile to establish an optimal credit history
- The good news is, with some hard work, discipline and patience; your
creditworthiness can be greatly improved, or completely rebuilt
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