Saturday, July 11, 2009

The Keys to Repairing Your Credit and to Start Living Again

By Darrell Price

Bad credit can hurt you in many ways. If you have endured hard financial times and ended up with bad credit, foreclosed on your property or been declined for a loan, the you know that having clean credit means having access to a better life. Now that you are seeking to improve your credit scores, this article should help you get started.

Taking the do-it-yourself approach requires that you learn all the basics to credit repair including reviewing the information currently in your credit history and filing the required forms and letters to correct any errors. The three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and Trans Union are the major credit bureaus for credit reporting in the United States.

Request your credit history from the big three and review it for inaccuracies. The main credit bureaus should to charge consumers a small fee to obtain this information, but a new law enacted by the FTC gives all consumers the right to get their report free every twelve months. This is where the process starts.

You can get a free copy of your credit report if you are receiving public assistance, have been unemployed and plan to look for a job within three months or if you have recently been denied for a loan. It is your consumer right.

The Internet is a great place to get credit help. It is probably one of the best places to start. There are websites whole heartedly devoted to the subject of credit repair containing a plethora of information, sample forms and sections explaining the process of repairing your credit.

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) website is also a great place to start. They will tell you what to look for, alert you to any new scams aimed at consumers and provide you with samples forms and letters too. These letters are what you will need to dispute information on your credit report such as information that is not verified, blatant errors, inaccuracies and information that should have already been removed.

The library can also be an excellent source of information pertaining to credit repair. A good library should contain reference materials such as books and guides written by experts in the credit industry. You will these resources most helpful.

Most books written on the subject of credit repair will claim to be comprehensive. Remember, there are no single books that can contain all the information on this diverse and sometimes complex industry. The key is to find resource materials that closely match the particular circumstances in which you face and use that information as a guide only. Whatever you do, it is important to start the process of repairing your credit if the need requires it.

Taking a proactive approach to repairing your credit is the first step to getting back into the graces of the lending institutions. Having clean credit is important if you want to get a loan for a mortgage, vacation or just to finance a new car. It is what all banks and lending institutions use to determine credit worthiness.

Interestingly, many employers are now looking at the credit reports for applicants applying for jobs. Unlike the past, a good credit report can determine how far you go in your career. Employers are now looking at a person's credit history as a part of the employment processespecially for key management positions. Good credit always pays off.

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