You may have a family member or friend who is trying to fix his credit on his own. That is a smart idea as he can use the same techniques used by credit repair companies without paying any fees. It is important to be accurate when disputing credit report information and to find as many ways to challenge negative items as possible. You may be able to help him fix his credit by assisting with those two important tasks.
Step 1
Help the person review her credit reports so she does not miss any potential reasons for dispute of negative items. She must review all the credit reports from all three agencies to do a thorough credit fixing job. That can feel overwhelming without some help. Have her give you statements and other materials so you can compare items like account numbers, credit limits and balances to the information on the TransUnion, Equifax and Experian reports. Credit InfoCenter explains that any small mistake can be grounds for a dispute. Make a list of the errors you find and compare it to hers to see if she missed anything.
Step 2
Proofread her dispute letters before she sends them to the credit bureaus. The letters will be taken more seriously if they are error-free. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises sending disputes through postal mail rather than using the online forms supplied by the bureaus. Letters can be sent certified with a return receipt requested to prove they were received by the bureaus.
Step 3
Check the envelopes to ensure they contain the proper enclosures before he seals them and mails them out. The FTC recommends sending copies of any information that proves the errors being disputed. This might include canceled checks, statements, contracts or correspondence with a lender. This proof can mean the difference between having an item removed from the credit reports or having it remain, so double check to make sure it is not forgotten.
Tips and Warnings
- The person you are helping with credit repair does not have to write the dispute letters herself. She can adapt them from the various free samples available on the internet from companies like Credit InfoCenter and government agencies like the FTC. You can proofread the letters after she adapts them to her personal situation.
- Do not advise the person to dispute items that do not have real errors. It may be tempting to try to remove as much negative information as possible, but the credit bureaus can refuse to investigate any of the disputes if they find one frivolous point in the letter. They are only obligated to investigate good faith error claims.
Member Comments