| Beware of Bogus Credit Repair Companies! So-called "credit repair" companies claim they can remove negative information from credit reports. Advertising as "Credit Advisors," "Credit Rating Correction Services" or "Credit Consultants," they trumpet variations on this message: "Turned down because of bad credit? We can help!" Many of these companies charge hundreds if not thousands of dollars for the promise to "clean up" bad credit reports. But the truth is, these companies can only do what you could do yourself--at no charge. Nobody can remove negative information that is accurate from your credit report. No company has a "secret" ability to remove all negative information. But this doesn't stop their claims. This deceptive quote is from a credit repair company brochure: "Charged-off accounts, collection accounts, judgments, tax liens, repossessions, and even bankruptcies can be removed from your credit records in less than one year (five to seven month average)." One tactic is to bombard credit reporting agencies with requests to verify information. If a credit reporting agency cannot verify an entry within 60 days, it will remove the information from the report. But if the information is later verified to be accurate, it will go back in the report. Before you even consider signing a contract with a company that promises to repair your credit, remember these facts:
Beware guaranteed credit offers! Credit repair and other companies often claim they "guarantee" to get you a credit card, regardless of your credit history. In fact, these companies do not always honor their guarantee. Sometimes, they'll just take your money and run--you will not get any credit, regardless of what they promised. If they get you a card at all it often will be a "secured" bank credit card, with high up-front "application" fees, that requires you to deposit and keep several hundred dollars in a savings account, or a card that only allows you to buy items in a catalogue from a business that you probably never heard of. (You can apply for a secured credit card by yourself. For a free list of banks that do not charge application fees for secured cards, see the information from Consumer Action in the "For More Information" section below.) Credit repair companies often advertise on television, in newspapers and even on matchbooks. Sometimes they require consumers to dial a "900" telephone number to get more information. Calls to 900 numbers can cost $2 or $3 a minute, so listening to a few minutes of information about the cards can be expensive. Some companies try to get people a credit card by having them apply using financial information of other people with good credit histories. It is a criminal act to apply for credit under someone else's name--do not do business with one of these companies. Law enforcement agencies have shut down many credit repair outfits, but it is hard to stop a fraudulent credit repair outfit unless people complain about it. Therefore, be careful about responding to credit repair ads and be sure to complain to the agencies listed below if you think a credit repair company took advantage of you. Bad Credit Credit Cards |
REESTABLISH YOUR CREDIT If you have bad credit problems, you have probably had a difficult time obtaining a charge card or unsecured credit cards. One of the best ways to build or rebuild credit is to obtain credit. This may sound like a contradiction, but there are lenders who will grant credit to high risk consumers. Once you have the credit card, your proper use is reported to the credit bureaus. Just try to keep your balance below 50% of the available credit limit. Checkout our list of unsecured credit cards for those with bad credit, and unsecured Visa credit card offers...some with instant approval, including internet catalog cards (so you can shop online), merchant credit cards, and credit for college students. Begin the credit repair process by using guranteed prepaid credit cards (no employment verification or checking account required, low income ok) or low credit limit unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit. Most secured credit cards featured have guaranteed approval, once you mail in your prepayment deposit. |
| Save time and effort when planning major expenditures.This comprehensive credit report contains credit information you need from all three of the major credit reporting agencies combined in a single report. |
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