Top Ten Credit Repair Tips

Starting Your Credit Repair Project

Credit Repair is not hard. Take the time to plan your effort and the results will be fantastic. Here is a list of our favorite credit repair tips. Try them together, or pick the ones that look good to you. Good luck, you are on your way!

Reduce Your Balances

The balances on your credit cards can cause a swing of 150 points. If you are utilizing over 60 percent of the limit on a card you are losing points; if you approach the limit your credit scores will plummet. If you really want to boost your scores reduce your balances to below 20 percent of the limit; i.e. if you have a $1,000 limit get the balance under $200 and watch your scores take off.

Increase Your Card Limits

There are two sides to the balance-to-limit ratio. If you don’t have the wherewithal to get your balances under 20 percent of the limit, try to have the limit increased; the result will be the same. The credit markets are pretty tight these days, but it’s worth a phone call to the credit card company. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Open Secured Cards to Rebuild Credit

Secured credit cards are one of the best credit repair tools available. If your credit is poor and you cannot get approved for a regular credit card, apply for a secured card. Keep the balance-to-limit ratio in mind and maintain your balances under 20 percent of the limit for the best credit repair results. This is especially important with new cards which are weighed extra heavily by the credit scoring model.

Get a Couple of Authorized User Accounts

For a quick credit repair boost call a family member and have them add you to one of their credit cards as an authorized user. Fair Isaac Corp recently modified their software to block the benefit of brokered authorized user accounts, so don’t bother trying to purchase these accounts online, but legitimate family member authorized user accounts will continue to provide a major credit repair benefit.

Rehabilitate Student Loans

If you are in default of a student loan now is the time to make it right. There is no cause for fear, student loan lenders are required to provide affordable payment options to accommodate your needs. Before you call your lender call the Student Loan Ombudsman Office at (877) 557-2575, they are on your side and will explain your rights. Rehabilitation can even purge the old default status from your account; a nice credit repair bonus.

Validate Collection Letters

If you get a collection letter in the mail don’t throw it away; you will be wasting a great credit repair opportunity. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act you have only 30 days to force the collector to validate the debt. If they cannot provide proof they have the legal right to collect along with an objective accounting from the original creditor they must cease all collection efforts and not report to the credit bureaus.

Give Yourself the Benefit of the Doubt

When it comes to credit repair give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Examine your credit reports carefully, but don’t assume the derogatory information is accurate just because it is being reported. If there is a shadow of a doubt dispute it. Many independent studies have verified that credit reports are likely to contain multiple errors. Put your credit repair rights to work and clean up your reports.

Challenge Collections

Among the worst credit report offenders are collectors. Collectors regularly buy and sell collection accounts. Collectors who no longer own a debt are supposed to withdraw the account from your credit report entirely. Unfortunately, there is no incentive for them to comply with the law, so they almost always let the expired accounts linger. Dispute expired collections and they will be removed from your report.

Underreported Limits

Examine your reports for underreported credit card limits. Recall that your credit score is affected by your balance-to-limit ratios. It is not uncommon for credit cards companies to report your limit as less than it is, or even as equal to your current balance. Just make a copy of a recent credit card statement and attach it to your dispute letter for quick credit repair results.

Call a Credit Repair Professional

If you are too busy to manage the credit repair task yourself, call a professional. A credit repair professional will examine your credit reports and insure that every possible strategy is utilized to correct errors and improve your scores. Either way, it’s your credit; make sure it is as good as it can be.

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

The Gift of Credit Repair

Credit Repair Just For You

The holidays are a time of giving, and a time for reflection. If you have credit issues credit repair might be the perfect gift to give yourself. But how should you get started? You can manage your own credit repair project, or you can hire a reputable credit repair service to do the work for you. Both options are reasonable, but which is right for you?

Starting Credit Repair on Your Own

Managing your own credit repair project can be very rewarding, but it will take some time and effort. Every single do-it-yourself advocate in the credit repair field will tell you the same thing; don’t do anything until you have done your homework. You may do more damage than good. So pick up a good credit repair book and settle in for a nice mid-winter’s read. Proper preparation will avert problems and insure credit repair success.

Get a New Frame of Mind

If you are going to manage your own credit repair project, it is essential that you embrace a whole new frame of mind about your credit report. In a nutshell, don’t believe your eyes. That’s right; it’s time for you to give yourself the benefit of the doubt. One of the worst mistakes you can make is to ignore derogatory items on your credit report simply because they look familiar. The vast majority of errors on credit reports are generated by real events and will look familiar, but should not be reported as a matter of law. As you take the time to educate yourself about credit repair you will understand how common these terrible errors are, and what you need to do to correct them.

Get Organized

Another great tip for anyone about to start the credit repair process is to get organized. You will need to dispute your issues with all three credit bureaus individually, so it is essential to treat each bureau as a separate project. Set up three files, one for each bureau and plan on keeping meticulous records of all correspondence. Examine each report individually and you will notice some surprising differences that you must incorporate into your credit repair efforts. You may be surprised to see that the bureaus often report different account numbers for the same accounts, and even different variations of creditor names. For the best results customize each bureau dispute to match the info they report.

Don’t Give Up

A final word of wisdom for your do-it-yourself credit repair project, don’t give up. If the item you disputed is verified you should re-dispute it. You have the legal right to demand that the credit bureau request proper research by the creditor. If you re-dispute an item raise your voice! As your studies continue you will learn all about your legal rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Most good books on credit repair will point out that the credit bureaus won’t do much for you voluntarily. You must become your own advocate. Prepare to stand your ground.

Brush up On Collection Laws

Another tip of value is to familiarize yourself with your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Most decent credit repair books will include a section on dealing with collectors. If you ever had an account charged-off, or currently have any active collections make sure to read carefully. If you know your rights you can deal with collectors from a position of power, and that can make a world of difference in your credit repair project.

Or Hire a Credit Repair Service

If all of this is too much, if you have enough on your mind already, just hire a credit repair service. Just take the time to check them out, look at their Better Business Bureau rating, consider their years in business, and most important give them a call. I suggest you make a list of questions and have a chat. Hire someone you feel comfortable with and let them guide you through the maze to credit repair success. You can do it! Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Eliminate Collections with Credit Repair

Say Goodbye to Collectors

Credit repair is not hard. Take the time to learn your legal rights and you will see how easy it can be. Have you ever been bothered by a collector? Are there collections on your credit report? Let’s take a look at some powerful credit repair tools that can help you get collectors out of your life and off of your credit report. For real and forever.

Educate Yourself

The collection industry thrives on consumer ignorance. The less you know, the more money collectors make. A little credit repair education can save you thousands of dollars and free you from the fear of dealing with collectors. If you want to take control you need to know two things: 1) How statutes of limitation really work, and how you can use them to get collectors off of the phone and out of your life, and 2) How reporting period limits are so often violated, and what you can do to protect yourself and clean up your credit report. Let’s do some credit repair!

Credit Repair and Statutes of Limitation

Statutes of limitation (SOL) define the time limit legal action can be taken. In the case of a collection it defines the time limit that a collector can collect through the court system. Once the SOL has expired for a debt the collector cannot sue you or get a judgment. The SOL has nothing whatsoever to do with the reporting period limit for the derogatory information. And in most cases the SOL is significantly shorter than the reporting period limit. SOLs are state and debt type specific and can be easily located on the web. By the way, you need to check both the state in which you entered into the obligation and your current state of residence and apply the longer SOL. Let’s turn this info into credit repair gold.

Using Your Statute of Limitation

There are two credit repair advantages to be gained from understanding the SOL. If a collector contacts you about a debt after the SOL has expired you can tell them to stop bothering you with no fear of repercussion. Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act you can send a Cease Communication Letter and they are not allowed to contact you again. As a point of fact, you can send a Cease Communication Letter prior to the expiration of the SOL, but there is some risk that you would trigger a lawsuit, so do your homework before taking action. In addition, should you decide to negotiate the balance, you will be in the driver’s seat; once the collector understands you know your rights they should be grateful that you are offering them anything!

Credit Repair, Collections, and Your Credit Report

Let’s move on to the next phase of your credit repair assault against collections, understanding credit reporting limits. This is interesting and can pay quick dividends. Collectors regularly buy and sell debt; it’s the way the industry works. Most people are not aware that collectors are supposed to withdraw reporting as soon as they sell a debt. Unfortunately, they rarely do, and the darn collections linger for years dragging down your scores. Fortunately, a little credit repair will do the trick. If you dispute a collection that has been sold to another collector it will be removed.

The Credit Reporting Clock

But there is more to know about reporting period limits and collections. Many people are under the impression that derogatory information can stay on their credit report for seven years from the initial reporting date. This is not accurate and can needlessly depress your credit scores for many years. The reporting period clock starts on date of the original default with the original creditor. Collectors cannot reset the reporting period start date. Collectors have nothing to do with setting reporting periods. Don’t make the mistake of thinking a collection can report for seven years from the date the it showed up! Figure out the original default date, which was the first time you missed a scheduled payment in the sequence that led to the charge-off or collection status, and count forward seven years and 180 days. This is the date it should fall off.

Get Credit Repair Help

There is credit repair help available. If you don’t have the time or inclination to figure all of this out for yourself just hire a reputable credit repair professional. It’s your credit and it’s important. Take the time to do it right and you will get the results you desire. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair and Achieving Financial Security

Credit Repair is About Financial Health

Credit repair, in the final analysis, is about your financial health. You may start a credit repair program with concerns about the accuracy of your credit report, but in the end the real benefit of healthy credit is money in your pocket. Credit repair translates into a lower cost of borrowing, and consequently more room in your budget for saving.

Accelerate the Process

Are you ready to leave your financial stress behind? You can do this. Regardless of the current condition of your credit, a proactive approach can transform your financial life, and sooner than you think. Don’t make the mistake of believing that you are destined to spend years in credit limbo waiting for time to heal the issues of the past. An intelligent approach to credit repair will accelerate the process dramatically.

Two Basic Credit Repair Steps

There are two basic steps involved in the credit repair process. Each is as important as the other and cannot be ignored. When it comes to credit repair this balanced approach is required. Done right the results are dramatic. Are you ready to change your life, clean up your credit reports, boost your credit scores and enjoy all of the benefits that come with great credit? Let’s get started.

Understanding the Errors

The first step in the credit repair process is a methodical clean up of your credit report. Does this sound too obvious? You will be surprised. Most people imagine that if they recognize an item on their credit report it is accurate. This is far from the case. If you really want credit repair success you have to get rid of your preconceptions. An enormous percentage of derogatory information on consumer’s credit reports is reported in error.

Spotting Compliance Issues

In many cases these errors are compliance issues. Compliance issues are, by definition, based on some real event, but should not be on your report as a matter of law. Examples include duplicate accounts, derogatory information reporting beyond the reporting period limit, and collections reported by collectors whom no longer own the debt (having sold it to another collector, or returned it to the original creditor). Credit repair is about the details. And every detail matters. If you are confused you should hire a reputable credit repair service to manage the cleanup process for you.

Credit Restoration Time

The second step in the credit repair process is the rebuilding of your credit. Here also there are important details many people miss. A misstep can mean the difference between success and failure. Your credit score is determined by both the positive and negative information on your credit report. It is not enough to eliminate the erroneous derogatory information on your report. If you don’t rebuild your credit your credit repair efforts will fail. But you must rebuild it in a certain way.

The Key to Your FICO Score

You may think that if you pay your bills on time you will have good credit scores. Sadly, this is not true at all. The FICO scoring model is not designed to grade you on past behavior. Many people are horrified after a lifetime of perfect payments to discover that their credit scores are awful. This can be shocker. The FICO scoring model is a predictive model designed to measure the risk of future default and puts weight on such factors as account balances, the age of accounts, and even the type of accounts you open. Your credit repair efforts will succeed or fail based on your ability to shape your credit according to this predictive model.

Revolving Debt as a Credit Repair Tool

I suggest that you focus initially on your revolving debt. Stay away from store cards and consumer debt, such as furniture store accounts. Build your credit with MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover Cards. If you don’t have any credit and can’t get a regular credit card, get two secured cards as soon as possible, and keep your balances low. A single maxed our credit card can knock one hundred points from your credit score. For comprehensive advice on balancing your credit contact a credit repair professional.

It’s Up To You

Aside from these two essential steps in the credit repair process there may be other credit repair tools that can add significant value to your efforts. Many lenders offer rehabilitation programs that can bring your accounts current and even remove the derogatory history from your report. If you have active legitimate collections, knowledge of your state statute of limitation is essential and can put you in control. Used properly credit repair can transform your credit and change your financial outlook, but you have to take action. It’s up to you. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

In Search of the True Credit Repair Professional

Now is the Time for Credit Repair

The quality of your credit has never been as important as it is today. Lenders have tightened their guidelines and interest rates are now determined by new Risk-Based Pricing models; the lower your credit score, the higher your rate, and every single point can make a difference. People everywhere are turning to credit repair professionals to help them clean up their credit reports and optimize their credit scores.

The Importance of Professional Help

There is a good reason that so many people are reaching out for credit repair help. There was a time when it was enough if you paid your bills on schedule. Those days are over. The advent of the complicated FICO credit scoring model has made a science of credit score optimization, while the complexity of the credit reporting system has made it more difficult than ever to identify and correct errors.

How to Find the True Credit Repair Pro

Credit repair is no longer a simple matter of spotting an error on your credit report and disputing it with the offending credit bureau. A working knowledge of the Fair Credit Reporting Act is a bare minimum requirement, while your credit score is dependent on many subtle factors, most of which have nothing to do with your ability to make your payments on time. It’s a new world and the right help can make all the difference. Here are the essential qualifications to look for in a credit repair professional.

Knowledge of the Laws

A credit repair professional has an intimate knowledge of the laws that govern all of the participants in the credit reporting system. The credit bureaus are bound by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, collectors are governed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and state statutes of limitation will contribute significantly to the negotiability of collections.

Familiarity with Lender Remedies

Truly effective credit repair often must look beyond the credit bureaus and include lender cures and rehabilitation opportunities. Many lenders offer attractive programs that can get you back on track and even eliminate bad marks from your credit report. The credit repair professional will be able to guide you through the process of approaching creditors about these opportunities as appropriate. This multi-dimensional approach will insure that you get the best possible results.

An Understanding of the FICO Scoring Model

There are many variables involved in the process of credit score optimization, and everything matters; payment history, account balances and usage, age of accounts, account types and even the mix of accounts. A credit repair professional has in-depth knowledge of the FICO scoring model and will provide you with everything you need to know to manage the content of your credit report, strike the proper balance, and get the most out of your credit score.

Help With Rebuilding Credit

It is not unusual, after a period of financial stress, to have little or no open credit. Your credit scores are based on both the positive and the negative information on your credit reports. Effective credit repair must address both parts of the equation simultaneously. To focus only on removing erroneous derogatory information from your credit report will leave half of your credit repair potential untapped. A credit repair professional will help you rebuild your credit and manage your new debt for the best possible credit score results.

Putting it All Together

The genuine credit repair professional will address all aspects of your credit to insure that you get the best possible results. Everything necessary will be done to clean up your credit reports, improve your credit scores, rebuild your credit, and make you as lender-ready as you can be. In selecting a credit repair service make sure that their program covers every base. And trust yourself. Pick up the phone and interview your prospective choices before signing up. Write down a list of questions and ask away. Your credit is too important not to take the time to make the right choice. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

FICO Offers Credit Repair Tips

Credit Repair in the News

Credit repair is more important than ever. In a recent interview with MarketWatch, a Wall Street Journal website, the Consumer Operations manager for the MyFICO division of Fair Isaac spoke out about the importance of checking your credit reports. In the words of the article, “There may be some surprises waiting for you.”

A New Credit Repair Landscape

Creditors everywhere have tightened their guidelines. This new credit environment has made credit repair more important than ever before. And to make things even more difficult in these already challenging times, creditors have begun to reduce and close credit cards in order to limit their own risk exposure.

The Limit Reduction Problem

This action is doubly hard for consumers. First, these limit reductions are happening unexpectedly, even to those who have never made a late payment. And second, and even more damaging, is the snowball effect that follows. A major part of your credit score is based on the relationship between your current balance and your credit limit. When a creditor cuts your limit your balance-to-limit ratio increases and your credit score will fall, through no fault of your own.

The Snowball Effect

And the snowball starts rolling. Once the first creditor drops a limit and your scores fall, other creditors are likely to drop your limits as well. And the lower your scores the more prone you will be to this perfect storm of credit repair trouble. What to do?

Good Credit Repair Advice

The Consumer Operations Manager for MyFICO suggests that you do everything in your power to insure that your credit report is as clean as possible and your scores are optimized. And don’t make the mistake of thinking that paying your bills on time (as important as it is) is you need to do. Credit repair knowledge is power. Here is a summary of his credit repair tips, and our extrapolation.

Check Your Credit Reports

Look for changes in your account limits. And while you’re at it, check for errors. Errors come in many shapes. Derogatory information should cease reporting, generally, after seven years. You should know that the seven year reporting period clock starts on the date of the original default with the original creditor. The original default was the first reported late payment in the sequence that led to the charge off or collection status.

Collectors cannot reset the clock with subsequent reporting. And while we are on the subject of collectors, you should know that if a collector no longer owns the debt, he is supposed to remove the account entirely from your credit report. When in doubt, challenge the item with the credit bureaus or hire a credit repair professional to manage the process for you.

Don’t Get Close to Your Credit Card Limits

A significant percentage of your credit score is based on your balance-to-limit ratio. Reduce your balances as much as possible. Less than 20% of your limit is the optimal balance. Many people are blindsided by precipitous drops in the scores when they max out a card, even when they have never been late on a payment.

Keep Accounts Active

Use your cards to keep them alive. Dormant cards are in danger of being closed by creditors and unless you have plenty of open accounts this could cause a drop in your scores and send you in search of credit repair solutions.

Pay Your Bills on Time

This seems like a no-brainer, but it is so important. Make sure you understand the impact your purchases will have on your budget. Try not to let yourself get spread too thin. A single late payment can have a big effect on your scores, and may even trigger adverse action, such as limit reduction, by your creditors.

Don’t Apply for New Credit Cards

We have warned against store cards for years, and MyFICO agrees. Store cards can be credit repair suicide as they often present a triple threat. First, you will have an inquiry. Second, you will have a new account which will weigh down your credit scores for several months. And last, and worst, is the fact that most store cards offer a credit limit only marginally over the amount of your purchase. Put these together and you get credit repair trouble.

Call for Credit Repair Help

If you are confused by all of the components of credit report and score management, or don’t have the time to handle the task on your own, don’t give up. Call a credit repair professional for help. A credit repair professional will manage the process for you and insure that everything possible is done to optimize your credit. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Seven Quick Credit Repair Solutions

Credit Repair Hyper Drive

Credit repair can take time, or not. There are many situations where you can get amazing results very quickly. Your credit scores can have a profound impact on your life, and every point counts. Here are seven potent power-packed credit repair solutions you can put to use right away. Are you ready? Let’s go!

Get Your Revolving Balances Down

Fair Isaac Corp, the mastermind behind the credit scores used by virtually all lenders, has been tinkering with the formula they use to calculate your scores. The recent additional emphasis they have put on revolving balances has taken many people by surprise. Are you listening? A maxed out card can now cost you as much as 150 points. Ouch!

Well, there is some good credit repair news here too; pay your darn balances down and watch your score rocket upward. Want to know how far to pay your cards down? Under forty percent is good, under twenty percent is the best. If money is tight you might even consider borrowing from friends and family to make this happen. If you need your scores for a mortgage or car loan you may be living with that interest rate for many years to come.

Challenge Iffy Collections

Do you have collections? Are you ready for a little credit repair magic? Collectors are very different from creditors. Collectors buy and sell collection accounts. When a collector purchases an account they can report it to the credit bureaus. When they sell an account they are supposed to remove the collection from your credit entirely. Unfortunately, there is no incentive for them to cease reporting, so you need to challenge these items. If the collector no longer owns the account you will see it vanish from your credit report. It’s credit repair magic.

Negotiate for Deletion

There is a silver lining to the recession that we are currently struggling through. Collectors are as hungry as everyone else. If a collector contacts you for payment on a legitimate debt you may discover they are willing to negotiate. Your balance is not the only thing that you can negotiate. Collectors have the ability to withdraw the entire account from your credit report. It might be a relief to get an old debt paid off, but when it comes to credit repair it is better to have no collection account on your report than a paid collection.

Boost Your Credit Limits

The credit crunch has caused credit card issuers to tighten their guidelines. Little credit blemishes may now trigger over-the-top responses from credit card companies. American Express has been on a campaign to reduce credit limits on card holders for almost any reason. So this tactic may not work, but it’s worth a try as there are still a few friendly creditors out there. Call your credit card company and ask them to increase your limit. The result will be the same as if you had paid your balance down. For the cost of a phone call you might increase your scores, and maybe a lot!

Call Mom and Become an Authorized User

Another little twist that Fair Isaac Corp added to their latest version of their credit score formula is to block the benefit of purchased authorized user accounts. Until recently you could purchase authorized user status from gray-market brokers and watch your score jump right up. Fair Isaac caught on and put an end to this iffy credit repair practice. However, their filters are still allowing the full benefit for legitimate authorized users. So call Mom and have her add you to one of her perfect credit cards for a nice credit repair boost.

Avoid Store Cards

Store cards, and more generally, consumer credit (such as furniture store accounts) are useless for building your credit, and are likely to put a big dent in your scores. So if you are shopping and are offered a new account in exchange for a discount, think twice. Saving money is a beautiful thing! But if you need your credit scores in the immediate future for any major purchase avoid these accounts like the plague. How bad is it? You are likely to lose one hundred points. It’s credit repair suicide.

Call Credit Repair Pro

If you really want to put some muscle behind your credit repair effort, call a credit repair professional. They will proof read your credit reports, identify everything that should be done and insure that you are not missing anything. When it comes to credit repair every little bit counts. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair and the Holiday Season

Here Come the Holidays

It’s that time of year again, and as the holiday’s approach we may find ourselves running up our credit card balances. A credit repair expert offers some seasonal advice about keeping your credit scores healthy during the holiday season.

Credit Repair and Holiday Spending

Credit repair is all about restoring and improving your credit. The holiday season makes financial demands on us that can send our credit scores into a tailspin if we are not careful. From Thanksgiving through New Year Day many of us find ourselves spending money faster than any other time of the year, which can create a potential credit repair challenge.

Credit Repair Facts

Parties, family dinners, gifts, travel, and even home decoration quickly add up. By the time our January credit card bill arrives we can rack up an impressive and daunting balance. In the world of credit repair, knowledge is power, so let’s take a look at the facts and see if there is a way to mitigate the collateral damage.

Revolving Debt is Not Always Bad

There is really nothing wrong with revolving debt. Credit cards can be handy, and on occasion they can be a lifesaver. Life is full of unexpected surprises. The car may need repairs, the refrigerator might break down; the list of possible surprises is endless. If you don’t have reserves, or just want to manage your cash flow, credit cards can be a convenient resource.

When Every Point Counts

The problem with revolving debt arises when it impacts your credit score in a moment that you need it for a major purchase. Many people turn to credit repair in these situations for urgent help. If you are getting a mortgage you should be aware that every point on your credit score can affect your interest rate. Automobile financing is also credit score sensitive.

Credit Repair and the Right Score

If you are going to benchmark your scores for credit repair purposes you need to be aware of the different credit scores available. The credit scores that lenders use when underwriting your loans are called FICO scores. FICO is an acronym of Fair Isaac Corp, the developer of the credit scoring model.

A Caution about Bureau Scores

Credit bureaus do not sell FICO scores directly to consumers. The credit scores that you can purchase from the credit bureaus and their army of internet vendors are not the scores used by lenders and often differ by 100 points or more. These scores can provide useful information, but are of less practical use for your credit repair.

Credit Repair and Revolving Debt

If you want to purchase your genuine FICO scores you need to visit MyFico.com, the website of Fair Isaac Corp. All three scores currently cost approximately $50 combined. The FICO scoring model puts significant emphasis on your revolving debt. The most recent release of the scoring model acknowledges five different levels of card usage: 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 percent.

Balance Up Scores Down

The more of your available limit you use, the more impact it will have on your scores. You should think of a balance between 40 and 60 percent of your total available limit as neutral to your credit scores. If your balance is over 60 percent your score will fall. Over 80 percent, your score may fall up to 50 points depending on the overall strength of your other credit, and if you max out your balance expect to lose over 100 points; this is credit repair trouble.

Balance Down Scores Up

Conversely, the lower your balance, the better your score will be. If your balance is below 40 percent you will get bonus points, and below 20 percent you will be optimizing your score. If you need your credit to be at its absolute best try to reduce your credit card balances below 20 percent of your available limit. This can produce credit repair magic.

Allow Enough Time

Here is some holiday credit repair cheer. If you run up your balances, don’t worry. As soon as you pay down your cards your scores will rebound as if nothing happened. If you do not need your scores anytime soon don’t worry about your balances. Spend as necessary, but beware that when you need your scores it can take 60 days for the credit bureaus to report the new reduced balance, depending on the reporting cycle of the particular card issuer.

Easy Post Holiday Credit Repair

Have fun during the holidays, and do what you need to do. But be aware that when the season is over, if and when you need your credit scores to be at their best you will want to put your credit repair plan in action and pay those balances down as much as possible. Happy holidays!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair in Todays Economy

Credit Repair, Now is the Time

Credit repair is more important than ever. Creditors have tightened their guidelines, effectively barring millions of Americans from borrowing money. Mortgage lenders, auto finance companies, and credit card issuers have all raised the bar. Borrowers with lower credit scores can expect to be denied, or to pay significantly higher interest rates than borrowers with good credit. If you have credit issues you cannot afford to ignore the potential benefits of credit repair.

Credit Report Errors are Common

To understand the potential of credit repair it is essential to grasp the extent of the inaccuracies built into the credit reporting system. Over three-quarters of all credit reports have errors. The three major credit bureaus would love you to believe that correcting these errors requires nothing more than a click of the button on their websites. This is far from the truth.

The Cost of Credit Reporting Errors

Wouldn’t it be great if credit reports were accurate? After all, your credit score may be the most important number in your life, and will certainly determine the interest rate you pay on your loans. Your interest rate will determine your payment, and a higher payment means a tighter budget. In short, credit reporting errors put a dent in the quality of your life and cannot be ignored.

Look Out For Yourself

A close read of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the legislation that governs the behavior of the credit bureaus reveals a disturbing reality. Although the FCRA requires the credit bureaus to comply with consumer credit repair disputes, it only requires compliance to the extent that corrective measures do not cause financial strain on the credit bureaus. In other words, accuracy is desired, but only in as much as a subjective measure of reasonableness allows.

The Professional Edge

Credit repair could easily become a budget-buster at the credit bureaus. It is in the best interest of the credit bureaus to perpetuate the damaging mythology that credit repair professionals can do nothing more for you than you can do for yourself. Customers of professional credit repair services have long known that credit repair involves far more than disputing obvious errors. A credit repair expert will typically identify twice the number of problems as an untrained consumer. This can mean a major difference in your credit scores.

Professional Credit Repair Qualifications

Professional credit repair involves in-depth knowledge of the FCRA, including reporting period limits, dispute procedures, and the specific obligations of the credit bureaus. A credit repair professional must also have a practical understanding of the FICO credit scoring model, an intimate grasp of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and individual state specific statutes of limitation for different debt types. Knowledge makes all of the difference in the results. And when it comes to your credit you cannot afford to settle for less.

Do it Yourself Credit Repair

If you are going to attempt credit repair on your own it is essential that you are well prepared before you begin the process. You should not take any action at all without a thorough grasp of everything involved. I have seen hundreds of people worsen their situation by jumping into the process without proper preparation. One of my favorite do-it-yourself books on credit repair starts with a firm warning that you should not take any credit repair action until you have read the entire book, cover to cover. The book is 500 pages long.

The Choice is Yours

We support the efforts of many do-it-yourselfers and are happy to answer credit repair questions from the DYI community. We have freely shared our knowledge for almost two decades; it is an important part of our philosophy. In the end the choice between hiring a credit repair professional and managing the process on your own depends on your inclination and schedule. If you have the time and energy the task can be rewarding. Our customers tend to be busy people that would rather focus their energies on other things and leave the credit repair to us.

Take the First Step Today!

If you have credit issues, please don’t delay the credit repair process. Some of the results will come quickly, but others will take time. You want to make sure that your credit scores are as good as they can possibly be when you need them. You do not want to be scrambling for a credit score boost at the last minute. Every point on your score counts, and every day in the credit repair process matters. Take the first step now. You will reach your goal before you know it. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

When Credit Repair Becomes a Necessity

Credit Repair and Our Poor Judgment

Credit repair becomes necessary in three instances. First, and maybe foremost, is the case of simple ignorance; we get in over our heads out of pure stupidity. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been there, and it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. We get a credit card, see something we want and we buy it. Or we decide to purchase a new car, knowing perfectly well what we can afford, and drive away from the dealer in our deluxe new ride, complete with a whopper of a monthly payment. About a month later the payments begin and we realize we are going to have to juggle our budget to make ends meet. This is the beginning of the spiral that wreaks havoc on our credit report and creates the need for credit repair.

Credit Repair and Risk Gone Wrong

The second case that can create the need for credit repair is the case of risk gone wrong. Entrepreneurs are my heroes; nothing ventured nothing gained; from Apple to Microsoft, America was built on the inspiration of those who tried something new. But for every great effort that survives and thrives, many more struggle and fade away, often ruining the credit history of the inspired entrepreneur. These failures may have nothing whatsoever to do with poor judgment on the part of the business person. After all, the best paid plans often meet unforeseen circumstances. There are so many moving parts involved in running a business that even the most experienced veterans may be taken by surprise. Bring on the credit repair.

Environmental Issues and Other Causes

The third case in which credit repair becomes a necessity is when our environment takes us by surprise. Recession strikes, home values fall; we lose our jobs; take pay cuts, or worse. There are many cases where we dodge the worst of the bullets only to find our budgets squeezed by gas prices forcing us into a borderline financial situation. And so the need for credit repair arises even for those who plan, budget, and think ahead. The road of life takes many turns and we can’t always anticipate what things will look like when we get around the next corner. But when our credit has taken a hit, credit repair can help us patch things up again.

Open Your Mind to the Possibility

Credit repair offers a solution to many of the credit issues that can arise in difficult times. But it must be properly understood. Credit repair is not about removing legitimate derogatory information from our credit reports. Credit repair is about making sure that every conceivable remedy for the issues that challenge your credit scores and financial wellbeing is considered. If you have credit problems you owe it to yourself to open your mind to the possibilities. Time can be your friend or your enemy. If you give up and do nothing to meet the challenges time is not your friend. But if you consult a credit repair professional and explore all of your credit repair options you will be on your feet again before you know it.

Credit Repair and Your Life

There are very real issues with the credit reporting system that that create the necessity for credit repair. You may be aware of the derogatory information on your credit report that reflects an unfortunate event in your life, but did you know that that derogatory data is likely to spawn a cascade of erroneous reporting issues that will magnify and exaggerate your credit troubles. These reporting issues must be identified and addressed. And given the importance of credit in your life, the presence of legitimate credit trouble makes it all the more important to examine every single opportunity to improve your credit scores. You work hard for every dollar you earn. Take the time to insure that your credit is an asset in your life. Explore the possibilities of credit repair.

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair and the Secret to Rebuilding Your Credit

Credit Repair Everything Counts

Credit repair is not complicated. Your credit scores reflect the content of your credit report, both the positive as well as the negative. Many people in credit repair programs are so focused on the negative that they neglect the positive. No matter how effective you are at cleaning up derogatory information on your credit report, unless you take the time to build new positive credit your credit repair effort will languish.

Credit Repair Logic

The logic is easy. Your credit scores are intended to reflect the amount of risk a lender will face when lending you money. In the credit repair process you should think of your credit score as an impartial witness of your life, judging your ability and willingness to meet your obligations. The best way to impress this impartial witness is to offer proof of your willingness each and every month.

Revolving Credit Rules

The most powerful way you can offer proof of your credit worthiness and influence your credit repair progress quickly is with the proper use of revolving credit. If you don’t have any open credit cards, now is the time to open them. If your credit is currently too weak to get regular unsecured credit cards, just get secured cards. It’s easy and will do the trick.

Credit Repair and Secured Credit Cards

Secured credit cards are every bit as helpful for your credit repair as regular unsecured cards. It does not matter if the limit on these new cards is miniscule. Your credit scores will get the same benefit from a little secured card as it will from a high limit unsecured card, as long as you manage it in the right way.

Credit Card Management

Credit card management for score optimization is not difficult, but unless you know what to do mistakes are likely, and your credit repair project may even suffer when it could have easily succeeded. Timely payments are essential of course, but the real trick to credit repair success is to understand the relationship between your balance and the limit on the card.

Your Scores Are In Your Hands

The impact of your credit cards on your credit repair will depend almost entirely on your balances. This is always the case, but is even more important during the first year after a card is open. There are five ratios that will trigger score changes; 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 percent usage. Sixty percent usage of a card will have a neutral effect, the two tiers below will increase your scores, and the two tiers above will reduce your scores. Don’t underestimate the impact; maxing out a new card can knock 150 points from your scores.

Credit Repair with the Right Credit

There are a few other important factors to consider when rebuilding credit. Not all credit cards are equal. Store cards are of little value for your credit repair. For undisclosed reasons, the geniuses behind the credit scoring formula have downgraded the benefit that accrues from store cards, and amplified the harm that can result from having them. Likely reasons include the fact that store cards are easier to get, usually have higher interest rates, and consequently may be an indicator of poor judgment on the part of the consumer. Hey, I’m just reporting the news! Do yourself a favor and stick with MasterCard, Visa, Amex, and Discover.

Your Credit is Alive

When it comes to credit repair there is no good substitute for new revolving debt. A new auto loan is helpful, but will not have the impact that a credit card will have. Credit cards are emphasized because they are open-ended and alive; each month they report they can reflect something new about your financial life. If you keep your balance low and make your payments on time it will tell the credit scoring model that you are living conservatively and within your means. If you max out a card it is interpreted as a warning of budgetary strain and potential default.

You are Not Alone

Credit repair is not a difficult process, but it requires a bit of know-how and even a dash of finesse. If you take your time to plan the credit repair process you will succeed and see your efforts rewarded beyond your expectations. And always remember that help is available. If you are in doubt pick up the phone and call a credit repair professional. You are not alone!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair Truth Or Dare

Credit Repair and the Great Illusion

Credit repair is a discovery process. The vast majority of consumers in the United States are intimidated by the thought of credit repair. The credit bureaus are viewed in the same light as the Internal Revenue Service; a temperamental and potentially ruthless big brother. Oddly enough, this perception could not be farther from the truth. It turns out that the credit bureaus are quite tame and even reasonable, if you know how to manage them.

Protecting the Myth

Like the Wizard of Oz, the credit bureaus live happily behind the curtain of illusion, benefiting from the aura of power. Let’s dispel the myth a bit to spark your credit repair efforts. The credit bureaus are not government entities, nor do they have any government blessing. They are big business, and exist to make money. And they do a great job of it. They are well managed, well focused, and extremely profitable. And in spite of the fact that they have become indispensible intermediaries and guardians of your precious credit score, any communication from you is an unwanted burden on their bottom-line.

Credit Repair and the Truth

So, what went wrong? If the credit bureaus are doing such a great job of running their operations why are there so many errors in consumer credit files? Why is credit repair even needed? There is no contradiction here. Profitability and competence in no way guarantee an accurate product. In fact, by moderating the effort that goes into quality control the credit bureaus demonstrate their business savvy and bolster their bottom line. Does this seem outrageous? After all, your financial life depends on your credit scores. Shouldn’t the credit bureaus be held to the highest level of accuracy when it comes to such important data? Yes and no.

Legislation Cuts Both Ways

Because of the importance of the product they offer, the credit bureaus have been on the business end of countless lawsuits. In fact, a day does not go by when a non-compliance lawsuit is not filed against one of the three major credit bureaus. The importance of credit repair and the groundswell of consumer concern have not escaped the notice of federal lawmakers. The law that governs the credit reporting industry and provides legal leverage used by professional credit repair services is called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). There is much in the way of consumer protection built into the FCRA, but there is just as much protection for the credit bureaus.

Credit Repair to the Rescue

The law simply demands of the credit bureaus that reasonable steps be taken to maintain quality. And here is the essential point for all of those interested in credit repair to be aware of; reasonable steps may be determined by the credit bureaus based on the costs associated with implementation. In other words, if it costs too much to fix, it’s going to stay broken. But, not to worry, you are not without a remedy. Credit repair to the rescue.

Credit Repair and the Bureaucracy

As frustrating as it may be to discover that there such a margin of error allowed in an industry that has so much power over your life, there are ways you can make sure that your credit report shines. All the credit repair tools you need are built into the same tome of law, the FCRA. Many people think of the FCRA as the consumer protection law that was designed to force the credit bureaus to provide more accurate data. It’s not so.

Looking More Closely

A close reading will reveal the fact that the overriding focus of the consumer protection built into the FCRA provides consumers with basic legal rights to rectify credit reporting errors. This is a radical difference from forcing the bureaus to be accurate. The true message of the FCRA is, look out for you, because no one else will.

How Bad is it?

If the FCRA puts so much of the burden of accuracy on the consumer, it means, by inference, that in the absence of consumer participation credit reports are likely contain errors and require credit repair. And that is exactly what has occurred. Fully seventy-five percent of consumer credit reports contain errors. Fifty percent contain errors significant enough to cause those afflicted to pay premium interest rates and even get denied for loan requests.

The Law is Your Sword

Credit repair, as a result, is as an essential process in your life as a regular physical examination or tuning up your car. Credit repair is far more than a credit rejuvenation for those with past credit issues, it is a necessity for everyone. If you don’t have the time to manage the credit repair process on your own, hire a professional. It’s important, it’s your credit, take care of it. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair Quick Start Guide

Credit Repair and Your Payments

You have decided to repair your credit. You need to make sure that all of your payments are made on time from now on. Make sure your finances are organized and that there is enough room in your budget for the occasional unexpected expense. Credit repair requires effort and you don’t want to slip backwards. Credit repair can transform your life; make the right effort and you will be richly rewarded.

Review Your Credit Reports

Get copies of all three of your credit reports. You can get them online at AnnualCreditReport.com for free one time each 12 months. This website is government mandated and is the only place where you can get your reports for free. All of the other websites that advertise free credit reports require you to join a monthly service; there is value in these monthly services, but make sure you know what you are buying. Once you have your reports it’s time to start your credit repair project.

Correct Your Account Limits

Credit repair can be daunting. I suggest you take one manageable step at a time. Begin by proofreading the credit limits on your revolving accounts. A significant part of your credit scores are based on the ratio of your current revolving balances to your credit limits. Many credit card issuers underreport these limits and inadvertently harm your credit scores. Put your credit repair plan into action. If you discover any underreported limits communicate the issue to the creditor and provide a copy of a credit card statement to the credit bureaus.

Eliminate Extraneous Accounts

Examine your reports for extraneous accounts. These can include closed and paid accounts that are reporting as open with balances. You should also look for duplicate accounts. Take your time. Credit repair requires a little patience. A duplicate account with no derogatory information may blend into the background, but can have a negative impact on your credit scores. Duplicate accounts are common occurrences and can be easily rectified with a bit of credit repair. The credit bureaus rather than the creditors most often cause these errors, so a letter to the offending bureau ought to do the trick.

Challenge Collections

The collection industry may be the largest single contributor to credit reporting errors and well worth your credit repair attention. The FTC has made it clear in their elucidation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act that when a collector sells debt to another collector or returns it to the original creditor they should withdraw their reporting of the item. Unfortunately, there is no incentive for compliance and so these erroneous collection accounts continue to report, often for years. Generally speaking, you would be well advised to challenge collections as part of your credit repair project; an easy credit repair task.

Use Debt Validation

If you get a collection letter in the mail open it right away and prepare to respond. For a thirty-day period following receipt of a collection letter you are in the legal drivers seat. Don’t miss this credit repair opportunity. If a stranger knocked on your door and asked for money would you hand it over? I hope not. Don’t give a penny to a collector without validating the debt. You have the right to demand proof from a collector that they have the legal right to collect, and an objective accounting of the amount claimed due; do this within thirty days, and do it in writing.

Know Your Statutes of Limitation

Debts are not collectable forever. If you are embarking on a credit repair effort this is one of the truly important facts to know. Statues of limitation vary based on state and debt type. This information can easily be found on the Internet. Once the statute of limitation has expired a collector can no longer sue you for the debt, and hence cannot get a judgment. Read this credit repair fact carefully. If a debt is beyond the statute of limitation a collector has absolutely no way to enforce collection. This gives you two wonderful credit repair options. You can send them a cease communication letter and you will never hear from them again, or you can contact them to negotiate payment. Once they know you understand your rights they should be happy to settle.

Save for the Future

With all of the effort you are putting into your credit repair project you will want to insure that nothing comes along to send you back to square one. The best credit repair insurance in the world is a healthy saving account. If unexpected expenses arise, and they will, you will not bust your budget if you have some money set aside. Saving also offers some amazing fringe benefits that transcend the obvious, like self-confidence and peace of mind, which can’t be measured, but are definitely priceless. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair and Self Empowerment

Credit Repair and the FTC Smoke Screen

The FTC did not set out to do you wrong. Without a doubt, they are well intentioned and have your well being at heart. Unfortunately, the heavy-handed FTC campaign against the bad apples in the credit repair business has tainted the rest of the barrel and has unintentionally imposed a terrible cost on consumers.

The Credit Repair Conundrum

Credit repair is in a similar class with taxes and healthcare. All of these are of great importance and are somewhat shrouded in mystery. The more important an issue is, the more likely it is to evoke fear. There are few things as important to your financial wellbeing as your credit, and few things as complex. Millions of people ought to be seeking credit repair help, but when they encounter the FTC warnings at the outset of their efforts it is often enough to stop them in their tracks. The social cost of this delusion is enormous.

Credit Repair Good Guys

It is true that there are bad guys in the credit repair business. The last time I looked this was true of every industry without exception. As of the time of this writing the bad guys in the credit repair business are fewer than ever, and a significant number of credit repair good guys have emerged. These white knight companies deliver essential and valuable services in a professional manner to the great benefit of their customers.

The Prevalence of Errors

There are several reasons credit repair is an essential service in today’s world. The product produced by the credit bureaus is enormously influential. You might not think of credit reports as products, but that is exactly what they are, no different really from automobiles or computers. They are assembled, passed through a quality control process, and sold. Unfortunately, like many other products there are flaws.

The Crazy Cost of Errors

The flaws in the credit reporting system can be as dangerous as a manufacturing flaw in an automobile. Your life can depend on the quality of the product you buy and your credit report is no exception. About seventy percent of all credit reports contain errors. Credit report errors can lead to higher interest rates and loan denial; these are life-changing consequences.

Credit Repair Reality

Congress spent years debating the fearful impact of the credit bureaus on our lives. The legislation they hammered out is called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In a way this is a consumer protection law, but it is equally intended to protect the three national credit reporting agencies we refer to as the credit bureaus. It is true that congress was heavily lobbied by the credit reporting industry during the creation of the FCRA, but I can’t cry conspiracy. There are economic realities involved with running any big business and these must be respected.

Look Out For Yourself

Congress had little choice but to attempt to balance the need for credit-reporting accuracy with the economic restrains of quality control. The end result is simple. Credit reports are as accurate as they are going to get, and consumers’ better look out for themselves. The creation of AnnualCreditReport.com, the site where you can get your credit reports once a year for free, is a stipulation of the FCRA and an attempt by congress to provide us with an opportunity to manage our own credit repair efforts.

Overcoming Inertia

You just need to get off your butt. Inertia is natural when we are faced with any confusing task, but like jumping into the water it’s not so bad once you get into it. Get your credit reports. Start your credit repair project. There are numerous ways to do this. Not withstanding the deceptive advertising of dozens of websites that offer so-called free credit reports, AnnualCreditReport.com is the only site you can get your reports for free.

On the Other Hand

This is not to say that it is the best site to get your reports for free. On the contrary, in spite of my approval of the creation of the site, it’s really pretty difficult to maneuver. Personally, I’d spend a few bucks and get a simple tri-merged report. If you look carefully through the TrueCredit.com site (A TransUnion site) you can get a great tri-merged report without joining their monthly program, for $14.95.

Hire a Credit Repair Pro

Many people find the prospect of digging into the credit repair project just too much to handle. If you are busy and have enough going on in your life without taking the time to figure all of this out, just get on line and find one of the credit repair good guys. There is plenty of credit repair help available if you need it. Either way, it’s your credit, so please take care of it!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair in a Hurry

Credit Repair and your Credit Reports

Credit repair is all about knowledge, and your credit reports are the key. There are three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, and they each provide their reports in a different format. In addition, there are many tri-merged reports available which blend the information from all three credit bureaus in a different format. The tri-merged reports are designed to be user friendly and may be your best bet for credit repair.

The Real Score

There is another credit repair resource that gets less notice, but is arguably the most important. This resource is MyFico.com the website for Fair Isaac Corporation the creator and owner of the Fico credit score. The credit bureaus sell their own scores, marketing them with no visible disclosure that they are not the scores that lenders use. These bogus scores are deceptive and bear little resemblance to the genuine scores available at MyFico.com.

The Right Credit Repair Set Up

So, if you want to benchmark your scores, get the scores that count. Ah, but there is a twist. Although you should get your scores from Fair Isaac, their credit reports are the least useful for credit repair. So, I’m sorry to say, but if you really want to do it right buy your scores from Fair Isaac and a good tri-merged report for credit repair information purposes.

Proof Reading for Credit Repair

Once you have your credit reports it’s time to put on your reading glasses and get down to the business of squinting through all of the data that the credit bureaus attribute, often wrongly, to your life. I suggest that you clear your desk or kitchen table, get a pad of paper and a highlighter and make a note of everything you see that is even vaguely questionable. Here are some of the most significant things to look for.

Pushing it to the Limit

Credit card issuers often under report your high credit limits. This seems innocent enough; most people don’t think to look for this innocuous little tidbit, but it has the potential to knock 100 points off your score. Gasp. Check it out. The FICO scoring model places great weight on the relationship between your balance and your limit. If the credit card issuer erroneously underreports your limit your score may be artificially depressed.

Gone but not Gone

Another problem often overlooked are accounts that have been closed and paid but continue to report as open with balances. This is very common and can overstate your current debt load. It is not unusual to spot two or three of these accounts, ranging from mortgages to little store cards. You can easily eliminate these obsolete accounts for a nice little credit repair boost.

Ditching the Dupes

Duplicate accounts are as common as dandelions in the spring, and like old closed accounts that report as open, these bothersome little pests can put a dent in your scores. These accounts appear for a variety of reasons usually stemming from creditors reporting methods and occasional account number changes. Look carefully for these redundant accounts and remove them.

Collections are Iffy

Collections are the most questionable accounts on your credit report. Collectors buy, sell, and even trade debt regularly. Collectors that do not own a collection account, per FTC Fair Credit Reporting Act Staff Opinion Letters, must cease reporting that account. Unfortunately there are no incentives for them to do so, and hence these old erroneous collections can linger forever. Challenge them as part of your credit repair effort.

The Student Loan Solution

If you have student loans that have slipped into default it is time to make peace with your lender. Student loans are different from every other debt. There is no statute of limitation for collection of student loans and hence there is no hope of waiting until they go away. In fact, the situation will get worse with every day you delay. The good news is that you have awesome legal rights when it comes to your student loans including easy rehabilitation and consolidation programs. Call the Student Loan Ombudsman at (877) 557-2575. They are on your side.

Credit Repair Lifeline

Is this too much to handle? If you are too busy to manage your own credit repair project, hire a credit repair professional. This is far too important to ignore. You can’t afford to delay your credit repair project. Every single point on your credit score has an impact on your life, so take care of your credit and your credit will take care of you. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair and Your New Life

Credit Repair and the Power to Change

Today is a good day to make a fresh start. There are a million ways to freshen up your life, organize your finances, and start getting your credit into shape. It doesn’t matter what your credit looks like at the moment. If you start your credit repair effort today you will reach your goals before you know it. All you need to do is put one foot in front of the next. Let’s get started. It’s a new day.

Putting Everything in its Place

Take a moment to evaluate your situation. An organized life is the foundation of credit repair success. Get a nice clean pad of paper and a pen and list all of your obligations. If you are ready for a fresh start you need to leave the unmanageable financial stress behind you. What does your list of monthly obligations look like? Do you need everything on the list? What can you do without? Think about reducing your monthly expenses. Credit repair and budgetary balance go hand in hand.

Getting Organized

Cutting back on your expenses can be difficult. For many people it can be an emotional challenge. But if you are really sick and tired of straining to make ends meet you will find a way. There is great strength in facing the reality of your own life and living within your means. It’s time to think outside of the box. You might be surprised to discover how well things will work out.

Some Cool Life Changing Tips

Your biggest expenses are probably your rent and your car payment. How much rent do you pay? Have you checked out other apartments or houses in your area? The market has changed a lot in the last year. There are lots of great properties available these days at bargain prices. You may save a bundle and get a great new place. How about your car? Take a ride to the local dealer and ask what they can do to trade you into a lower payment. You might be surprised what a good auto finance person can do. You could save some real money and still be rolling in style.

Credit Repair Clean Up Time

Once you are comfortable with your monthly payments it’s time to clean up your credit reports. Credit repair rule number one, give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Don’t make the mistake of believing that because you see it in writing that it is true. Credit reports are notoriously inaccurate. If you see derogatory information on your credit report that is even remotely questionable you should challenge it. If you have doubts about the credit repair process call a credit repair professional.

Building New Credit for Your Future

Your credit scores are based on the positive and the negative. A good dose of credit repair can go a long way towards getting rid of derogatory information. But without positive credit you won’t reach your credit score goals. If you don’t have open accounts you should open at least two new credit cards. If you have trouble getting approved at the moment, open a couple of secured cards. You won’t be denied and they are great credit repair and score building tools.

Making Your Credit Work for You

Once your credit repair program is underway, the old negative information is falling off, and you have your new credit cards open, it’s time to work the system to insure that your credit scores are going the right direction, up. It’s easy. Here is the key. Keep those new cards active every month and keep the balances below twenty percent of the limit. Read that again, if you have a $500 limit, keep the balance under $100, that’s twenty percent of your limit. Watch the magic happen.

Credit Repair and Building Wealth

So, you’ve gotten your expenses down, your bills are all being paid on time, and your credit repair is paying off. Now it’s time to take the next step. It’s time to start saving. You’ve been writing checks and paying your creditors every month. Open a saving account and start paying yourself for a change. Set aside something just for you and start building wealth. This is the most empowering thing you can do. Savings gives you power and strikes the death blow against financial stress.

It’s a Great Day

Make today a great day. There is nothing better than putting your feet on the right path. Can you feel the relief just thinking about it? Organize your life, evaluate your obligations, streamline your expenses, and put your credit repair plan in to action. Your life will change right before your eyes. You can do it! Good luck!

Credit Repair Quick and Easy Tune Up

Your Credit Score Matters

One little number determines the interest rate you pay on every loan you take. And your interest rate determines your payment, thereby impacting your budget and the quality of your life. This is important. Every point of your credit score matters. So pay attention. Credit repair can pay dividends that last for years to come.

Don’t be Silly

Too many people ignore their credit. This is a big mistake. Small precautionary measures can make major differences in your credit scores, just as silly oversights can plunge your scores into negative territory just when you need them the most. It does not matter if your credit is good or bad. Little changes in your behavior prior to applying for a loan can make life-changing differences in your life for many years to come. It makes perfect sense. A once of credit repair prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Look at your Credit Reports

Knowledge is power. And in the case of credit repair, knowledge is money. Before you apply for a loan take the time to see what a lender will see. The credit reporting system is seriously deficient. Quality control is sacrificed to cost saving at the credit bureaus daily. Congress recognized this unfortunate fact and mandated free access to your three credit reports once every twelve months so that you could catch and correct inevitable errors. Get it? You must be vigilant.

How to Get Your Credit Scores

Lenders base their lending decisions on credit scores. But not just any scores. The credit bureaus sell a special credit score to lenders called the FICO score. The credit bureaus however, do not sell these important scores to consumers. If you purchase credit scores from the credit bureaus you will be buying their own proprietary scores that have no resemblance to FICO scores. Ouch! But have no fear. Go to the website of Fair Isaac Corporation, the inventor of the FICO score model where you can purchase all three FICO scores for fifty dollars total. Not cheap, but it is an investment in your own life.

The Credit Repair Deep Freeze

If you are getting a loan in the near future now is the time to limit your credit activity. New accounts will hurt your scores, at least temporarily, and inquiries won’t help either. Try to remain alert. Many people make the error of buying new furniture before closing on their new mortgage, and financing the whole package. This could cost you fifty points on your score. And watch out for store card point-of-purchase offers. When a clerk asks if you want to save money by opening a new account, just say no. It’s great to save money, but if you need your credit scores it’s best to lay low for the moment.

Get Your Balances Under Control Now

Credit cards have a major impact on your credit scores. All of your accounts matter, but those little pieces of plastic in your wallet can swing your credit score dramatically in either direction, so take heed. If you make the mistake of applying for a loan at the unfortunate moment that a credit card is maxed out your scores may suffer a penalty of over one hundred points. That’s right! So now is the time to get those balances down. The optimal balance for credit repair purposes is under 20% of the limit.

Credit Repair and Rapid Rescore

If you have made mortgage application and been told that your scores are too low, there is still hope. Mortgage brokers have access to an amazing credit repair tool called Rapid Rescore. You cannot do this yourself. This process was developed exclusively for mortgage originators to allow potential homebuyers a chance to prop up their scores at the critical moment. To the best of my knowledge no other industry offers this awesome opportunity. Here’s how it works.

Rapid Rescore Credit Repair Magic

If, after making mortgage application, you realize that you should have paid down your credit card balances, there is still time. Just contact your credit card company and tell them that you want to pay down your balance in the quickest possible way. They will instruct you accordingly. Once the payment has been processed, contact the credit card company and ask for a balance confirmation letter. Give this balance letter to your mortgage broker to do a Rapid Rescore. Within about three days your scores will be recalculated based on the new lower balances. Credit repair magic!

Calling a Credit Repair Professional

If in doubt, call a credit repair expert. There are a wide variety of ways to bolster your credit scores. Hiring a credit repair professional will insure that every possible option is considered and pursued in a proper and effective manner. When every point counts make sure you take the right steps and you will come out ahead!

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair and the End of Authorized User Accounts

Common Practice

It is a common practice for parents to give a child a credit card. It’s good for emergencies and handy for everything from summer camp to college life. It is also common for one spouse to make the other spouse an additional card member.

A Little Software Bug

None of these practices are even slightly questionable. Additional card member accounts didn’t attract the attention of lenders or Fair Isaac Corporation, the creator of the credit-scoring model used by lenders when they make credit decisions, until they noticed an interesting bug in the credit-scoring model which was to spawn a questionable little sub-business in the credit repair industry.

A Cool Credit Repair Trick

It seems that as soon as the new account appeared on the credit report of the beneficiary their credit score would jump. In other words they were inheriting the credit history of the card from the donor. In the case where the donor had excellent credit the beneficiary discovered their own credit score jumping significantly, often over one hundred points, a cool little credit repair trick, but not what Fair Isaac really had in mind.

Word Spread Quickly

Well, the word quickly spread. And as always happens, creative entrepreneurs thought up a way to package this small credit repair miracle and sell it to absolutely anyone who had the money and desire to give their credit score a quick, albeit undeserved boost. And it is this undeserved issue that became the real problem.

FICO in our Life

In 1989 Fair Isaac Corporation first made their FICO credit scores available to lenders. And in 1995 the mortgage lending giants, Fannie-Mae and Freddie-Mac made FICO scores a part of their mortgage underwriting consideration. Since that time lenders have become virtually dependant on Fair Isaac’s scoring model, and the credit repair services began to focus on these powerful little numbers.

Score Distortion

The reliability of these important numbers is essential to good decisions. If something were to threaten the validity of the FICO score undeserving borrowers would be able to obtain loans they did not deserve. Lenders making these loans would be in jeopardy of increasing default rates and potentially disastrous losses.

Credit Repair, or is it?

So you can image the concern that lenders felt as they discovered that pseudo credit repair companies were popping up on the Internet selling these accounts to anyone with the money to pay. In response, Fair Isaac went to work to modify their computer model to block the benefit of these accounts, and to end to the distortion being caused by credit repair card sellers. And so they rewrote the model and introduced it as FICO ’07. But there was a problem.

The Credit Repair Battle Continues

As much as lenders wanted to eliminate the score distortion caused by authorized user accounts, they were unable to implement FICO ’07. It seems that there is a paragraph in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) that states that, “when lenders assess a spouse's credit risk they are required by law to consider the credit history of accounts which both spouses are permitted to use.”

Back to the Drawing Board

This little directive stopped FICO ’07 in its tracks and sent Fair Isaac back to the drawing board. For those of us in the credit repair business, we were amused to see the fanfare amongst the brokers of these authorized user cards that trumpeted FICO ’07 as “illegal”, and of course continued to sell their questionable credit repair product to the public. Their celebration, however, was short lived.

Credit Repair Card Brokers Say Goodbye

On July 31, 2008, Fair Isaac announced their final solution. They have managed to create a way to block questionable authorized user accounts from inheriting the score benefit of the donor without blocking those of spouses and family members. So finally the death blow was dealt against the shadowy credit repair businesses selling their quick fixes.

Those Amazing Brainiacs

The exact language of the press release reads, “We have developed technology that will reduce any impact on the FICO 08 score from intentional tampering, while allowing the scores of spouses and other genuine authorized users to benefit from their shared credit experience.” How this works, I can’t say, but my hat is off to the brainiacs at Fair Isaac.

Credit Repair the Right Way

Intentional distortion of the validity of credit scores was good for no one. Intelligent credit repair never requires questionable practices. There have always been many legal and powerful ways to boost your credit score, quickly and effectively. A well-planned approach to credit repair has always produced real and lasting results that endure and truly reflect your own credit worthiness. Do it right, and do it for real.

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

A Small Credit Repair Miracle

A Little Bit of Credit Repair

It’s amazing how much of a difference a little bit of credit repair can make. Here is a true story about a life changing credit transformation. Do you have credit issues? Please don’t ignore your credit. A little bit of credit repair can go a long way.

John and Susan declared bankruptcy in January of 2004 and were discharged four months later in April. They were under the impression that there was nothing that could be done to repair their credit following the bankruptcy. They both felt as if they were holding their breath and waiting for the years to pass. In January of 2008 they decided to apply for an FHA mortgage.

They were not really surprised when they were turned down. The mortgage broker told them that their credit scores were in the 400s, but that he thought they should explore the possibility of credit repair. John contacted a reputable credit repair company for a consultation and was surprised to hear that there are many things that can be done after a bankruptcy to clean up one’s credit report.

John signed up for the credit repair program and provided their account representative with a copy of the bankruptcy discharge and the schedule of items included. The credit repair professional gave them some advice about rebuilding their credit and provided several links to secured credit card issuers.

He informed them that these new cards, as small as they are, have tremendous power to rebuild their credit scores as long as they are managed properly. He advised them that the FICO credit scoring model, in use by the majority of lenders, recognizes five levels of card usage - specifically 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 percent. He suggested that they open two new cards each and maintain the balances below 20 percent of the credit limit.

The credit repair company went to work on the post-bankruptcy clean up while John and Susan opened their new secured credit cards making sure to keep the balances in the range that the credit repair professional had suggested. About 45 days later they received updated credit reports in the mail from each of the three credit bureaus. They were surprised to see the number of items that had been corrected.

They contacted the credit repair company to review the results and after going over all of the details were thrilled to hear that the post bankruptcy clean up was completed. No longer were there past due amounts showing on the accounts that had been included in the bankruptcy, nor were any accounts listed in a collection status. In fact, their credit report looked so clean that they could hardly recognize it.

The credit repair representative explained to them that unlike other derogatory information that ought to be disputed in a paced manner to avoid being rejected by the credit bureaus, bankruptcy issues should be addressed all at once. So, much to John and Susan’s surprise, they found that that had already successfully completed their credit repair program.

The credit repair representative spent some time coaching them about debt management and the ongoing handling of the new credit cards. John and Susan could hardly believe their ears when the credit repair representative suggested that they consider reapplying for the mortgage in another five months, just enough time for the new secured credit cards to produce a positive impact on their credit scores.

And, so it was that in the first week of July 2008, only six months after contact the credit repair company that John and Susan returned to the mortgage broker and asked to reapply for an FHA mortgage. The mortgage broker was surprised to see them and even suggested that it was a bit soon for their credit scores to have improved much from the 400s that they had been in January. But when he ran the credit he was amazed at what he saw.

John and Susan’s credit scores were in the mid 600s, a full 200 points above where they had been only 6 months prior. The mortgage broker was thrilled to complete the application. The next day the mortgage broker called Susan at work and told her the great news; she and John had been approved for their mortgage and qualified for the lowest available FHA interest rate.

Last week John and Susan moved into their new home. It’s a beautiful three bedroom, two bath ranch on half an acre just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. John has already purchased a new grill and a lawn mower. A couple of days ago Susan surprised John by bringing home a new member of the family, a two year old Golden Retriever from the local pound. Yesterday they got on two phone lines in their new home and called their credit repair representative to thank him for his guidance and to share all of their life changing news.

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair Professional Tips

Pay Your Bills on Time

Credit repair means timely payments. Does this go without saying? If you want to repair your credit and improve your credit scores you cannot afford new late payments on your credit report. New late payments will have a major impact on your scores, as much as 100 points. The initial impact of a late payment will fade over time, so get those late payments behind you forever.

Open New Accounts

If you don’t have any open and active accounts on your credit report you cannot expect your credit repair effort to succeed. Credit scores are based on two broad categories of data, the good and the bad. Removing the bad stuff will get you halfway to your goal, but in the world of credit halfway doesn’t count for much. You need to build the good as well. It’s time to open new accounts, and credit cards are the perfect credit repair tool.

Try Secured Credit Cards

If you are trying to build new credit but can’t get approved for a credit card, try a secured card. It’s easy! Secured credit cards require a small saving account which will usually secure the entire credit line on your new card. Most secure cards require a minimum deposit of two to three hundred dollars. Don’t be embarrassed by the small amount, these little cards carry big credit repair power.

Manage Your Revolving Balances

The key to optimizing your credit scores with credit cards – aside from making your payments on time - is prudent balance management. The lower the better, but there are specific targets you should know. The current credit scoring model in use by lenders recognizes 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 percent usage. 20 and 40 are good, 60 is neutral, while 80 and 100 percent usage will reduce your scores, and if you want credit repair success, don’t even think of going over the limit.

Credit Repair and Authorized User Cards

Authorized user accounts have been the subject of much debate. Some credit repair companies, operating in a gray area of the law, have sold authorized card status for years to people who wanted a quick credit score boost. On July 31, 2008 Fair Isaac announced a software fix which blocks the benefit of these brokered accounts while leaving intact the benefit of legitimate spouse and family member cards. So if you have a relative with awesome credit that wants to help your credit repair project, have them add you as an authorized user and watch your score pop.

Credit Repair and Your Student Loans

If you have student loan problems you should pick up the phone right now (really, right now) and explore the many options that are available to get you back on track. Student loans are unique amongst all forms of debt; they have no statute of limitation for collection. The longer you ignore them the worse it gets. As tough as it sounds, there are many great resolutions available. The Student Loan Ombudsman Office has been set up to help you understand your rights. Call them at (877) 557-2575.

Clean Up Your Reports

Don’t believe everything you read, especially if it is on your credit report. Credit reports are typically loaded with errors, many of which can devastate your credit scores. Order all three of your reports, one from each bureau and plan to spend an hour proof reading each one. Credit repair can be the best time you ever invested. Check every detail including the neutral looking information like credit limits and reporting dates. Once you have identified the errors dispute them with the credit bureaus.

Need Help? Hire a Credit Repair Pro

If you are not comfortable reading your credit reports, or if you don’t have the time, hire a pro. A credit repair professional will insure that the job is done right. They will check statute of limitation dates and reporting period limits, identify compliance issues that may otherwise be hard to spot, write the dispute letters for you, manage re-disputes, and counsel you to insure the optimal outcome. Credit repair is important, take action today.

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Credit Repair: Big News about Authorized User Accounts

Breaking News!

Fair Isaac Corp. has announced a modification of their software which will block the credit score benefits of authorized user accounts. A nationally recognized credit repair expert discusses the news and the impact it may have on your life.

Questionable Credit Repair Practices

A small sub-set of the credit repair industry has been operating in a gray area of the law by selling authorized user accounts to consumers. Many credit repair customers have been willing to pay significant amounts of money for these accounts, and the credit score benefit that comes with them. According to the Fair Isaac July 31, 2008 press release, those days are officially over.

A Brief History

The FICO credit scoring model considers, among other things, the payment history of your credit cards as an indicator of your credit worthiness. Until now, FICO also applied the payment history of authorized user accounts in their calculation of the score of the authorized user - an interesting point as these accounts reflect the credit worthiness of the primary card holder, rather than the authorized user.

The Birth of Credit Repair Card Sales

A number of credit repair companies picked up on this loophole and began to sell authorized card memberships to people wanting a quick score boost. Soon lenders caught on and decided to fight back; justifiably so, as these accounts artificially skewed the credit scores of borrowers, making good credit decisions unreliable.

The End is in Sight

Fair Isaac Corp. has now taken steps to preserve the integrity of the FICO score by eliminating the score benefit of authorized user accounts sold by so-called credit repair companies that chose to operate in this questionable market. If you have considered buying authorized user accounts from one of these credit repair operations to get a quick bump in your credit score, forget it.

The End of the Credit Repair Gray Market

The new, updated, FICO 08 release includes a fancy sorting algorithm which reportedly will allow legitimate authorized card holders, such as spouses, to continue to receive the score benefit, while effectively blocking cards that were sold in the credit repair gray market. Spouses are clearly safe, and based on the language of the July 31, 2008 press release, so, we believe, are child accounts.

How Does the Magic Work?

If I had to guess, I’d say that Fair Isaac tests for a relationship between the primary card holder and the member user. I’d also guess that they are testing for the number of member users per primary account. In other words, primary accounts that have more than one or two authorized users will be blocked for sure. This in itself would eliminate the majority of the gray market accounts because most of these accounts were sold multiple times.

Make Your Credit Repair Plans

Fair Isaac’s new approach to the authorized user account problem is very even-handed and should provide comfort to spouse and child card holders, as they should be able to continue to enjoy the score benefit of their accounts. But if you are making a credit repair effort and have purchased authorized user cards and are counting on them to maintain your score, it’s time to make other plans.

Finding the Right Solution

Ethical credit repair is also the most effective. Truly successful credit repair is about a genuine reshaping of your credit. You might have been able to artificially increase your credit score by purchasing an authorized card membership, but this was never an effective long term solution.

Credit Repair Done Right

If you are in a credit repair program and want to improve your credit scores, there is an effective and reliable way to do so. Build your own credit! If your credit scores are below the level that will allow you to get unsecured credit cards, get secured cards. Secured cards are cost effective, the accounts are yours, and before long you will be enjoying improved credit scores. That’s the right approach to credit repair.

Copyright © 2008 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.