FAQ
Is Credit Repair legal?
Yes, it 100% legal. According to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) a consumer has the right to question and ask for an investigation for every negative item on their credit report.
How long does it take to repair a credit file?
The average credit file takes 3 to 6 months to repair.
How many Credit Bureaus are there and why do I have different credit scores?
There are 3 major Credit Bureaus: Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. All three bureaus act independently and all have their own scoring systems.
What kind of information will I find on my credit report?
Your credit report contains your personal information (name address, date of birth, SS#, etc.); it is made up of your entire credit history, both positive and negative, for the last 7 to 10 years.
What affects my score?
Account Mix: If you have too much of one type of debt this will lower your score.
History: Length of credit history, number of credit card accounts, credit card activity, credit card balances, charge off accounts, late payments, collection accounts, public records, number of inquiries.
What type of balances should I maintain?
Your credit card balance should be between 20-50% of your credit card limit. (eg: If your credit card limit is $1000, your balance should stay between$200-$500)
What are the different types of negative accounts?
Late Payments, Charge off Accounts, Collection Accounts, Public Records (Bankruptcies, Judgments, Tax Liens)
How long does negative information stay on my credit report?
- Late Payments: 7 years
- Charge off Accounts: 7 years
- Collection Accounts: 7 years
- Public Records: Judgments: 7 years
- Bankruptcies: 10 years
- Paid Tax Liens: 10-15 years
- Unpaid Tax Liens: Indefinitely
How are negative items removed?
Negative items are removed by requesting the Credit Bureaus to investigate the creditors and verify the negative information they are reporting according to the guideline s in the FCRA.
What if the negative information belongs to me?
The FCRA states that even if negative information belongs to you, if the information contains any inaccuracies, is not being reported and handled according to the guidelines set by the FCRA or cannot be verified in its entirety, then by law it must be removed. Statistics show that inaccuracies occurs more than 70% of the time in a credit file.
Is the removal permanent?
Yes
What happens if negative information is re-inserted?
This rarely happens. There are consumer laws to protect you from negative information being re-inserted to your credit file, but in the event that it does, these same laws are used to have the information removed permanently.
If I pay an outstanding bad debt will it be removed from my credit report?
No. it will now begin to report as a paid debt and will have a reporting life of 7 years.
If I bring my credit card balances to zero will my scores go up?
Temporarily and then they will drop again. Credit scores are partially based on credit activity. If there is no activity it negatively affects your credit score.
How do I start the credit repair process?
Pull a recent copy of your credit report and then have a consultation with one of our credit repair specialists.
What is my obligation as a client?
Pay your bills on time and try not to add any additional negative accounts to your credit file while it is being repaired.
You must follow the individual advice of your credit consultant; remember they have your best interest in mind.
Furnish the necessary documents requested by the Credit Bureaus and return all responses you receive from the bureaus in a timely fashion or your credit repair process will be delayed. The bureaus will not accept responses for re-investigation that are more than 3 months old.