What Can You Do about Credit Report Errors
You have two choices when it comes to credit report errors.
The first is handling it yourself, the second hiring a third party such as a
credit repair lawyer to handle your case for you. Both options can be successful
how ever using a credit repair specialist can yield quicker results.
The Credit Repair Process
You should already have copies of your credit report from the three credit
bureaus. If you don't then this is the first step whether you're doing this on
your own or with a professional. It's important that you're looking at current
data because your credit report can change month-to-month.
If you're using a credit repair law firm or other professional credit repair
service you'll want to send them copies of all three reports. This allows them
to review your reports with you and help draft a plan on what items you're going
to dispute and which ones you aren't. This is the step where using a third party
is very valuable.
Credit repair specialist work with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the
bureaus every day. They know what they can and cannot challenge successfully,
and also which items will make the biggest impact on your credit score. When you
try to handle credit report errors on your own you can waste time trying to
dispute the wrong items to make a big difference in your score.
Once you've decided which items you're going to dispute you start contacting
the credit bureaus. If you're using a credit repair lawyer they will likely
start this process for you drafting letters on your behalf etc.
Credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate your claim and if they don't
receive proof from the creditor that the item is correct it will most likely be
removed. It takes about 60 days from drafting your letter to receiving a fresh
copy of your credit report to review the results.
If you're handling your credit repair case on your own be sure to keep copies
of everything you do, and send all letter registered mail so you have delivery
confirmation.
Once you've received the outcome from your first dispute you can
wash-rinse-repeat. Start the process all over again with another item. If you're
using a credit repair law firm to handle your credit report errors then you'll
most likely have a plan for which item is next.
Most of us have busy lives already, and for what ever reason we've realized
we need to improve our credit score we likely have a sense of urgency to get it
done. This can be difficult to do on our own. It's not hard work, it just takes
organization, how ever it can take longer to achieve the results we want when
handling credit report errors on your own.
Hiring a credit repair lawyer takes the pressure off of you, and allows you
to continue your regular day-to-day activities and the firm will take care of
everything else. I suggest you at least speak with a credit repair law firm
about your case before starting out on your own.
Lexington Law provides a toll-free number where you can contact them to
discuss your situation and how they can help you solve it.
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