Repair your credit and keep it clean is a major task for life.

Repair your credit report by correcting mistakes and negotiating.

Tell the consumer reporting company, in writing, what information you think is inaccurate. Include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position.

The major credit bureaus are:

Equifax, 800- 685-1111, www.equifax.com;
Experian, 800-682-7654, www.experian.com;
TransUnion, 800-916-8800, www.transunion.com

To repair your credit contact all three, as the information each has may vary. With all these information in your hand you create some priority for problems discovered: collections, past due, late pays.

In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify each item in your report you dispute, state the facts and explain why you dispute the information, and request that it be removed or corrected. You may want to enclose a copy of your report with the items in question circled.

You can add an explanation to your report. If there is a good reason why you were not able to pay bills on time (job loss, sudden illness, etc.) or you refused to pay for something because of a legitimate dispute, give the credit bureau a short statement to include in your file.

Dispute Letter Example

From:Your Name

Your AddressYour City, State, Zip Code

To:Complaint DepartmentName of Company

AddressCity, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute also are encircled on the attached copy of the report I received.

This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please investigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)


Contact all creditors that report “past due” payments and request a good faith adjustment that removes the late payment reported on your account. Be persistent and remind them that you have been a good customer that would deeply appreciate their help.

Since most creditors receive calls at a call center, if the person you speak with refuses to make a courtesy adjustment on your account, call back and try again with someone else, or ask for a supervisor.

Persistence and politeness pays off in this negotiations.

How to pay off debt when the money are tight

1. Pay first the "past due' balances that are not in collection status;

2. pay collection agencies that agree to remove all references of your accounts to credit bureaus;

3. pay off your credit cards that are open and revolving;

4. pay or settle the remaining collections or "past due"that are unpaid but the creditor refuses to delete with payment. It still makes sense to settle or pay these because a possibility of a more negative reporting.

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