Thursday, December 9, 2010

Quick Credit Score Repair

You may have heard about credit repair companies that offer to help you improve your credit rating. But is it worth using one of these services? What can they actually do for you?

Your credit score can have a huge effect on your financial situation. This is the first point to understand when you are considering using the services of credit repair companies. It will affect your ability to be approved for a loan or mortgage, and can make a difference to the interest rates that you are offered.

And it is not only the score itself that is important. What is actually written on your credit report can make a difference too. Anybody thinking about extending you a loan, mortgage or financing for a purchase is likely to read the report. They will consider the different entries on the report, the amounts, and the dates of any negative entries.

It can affect other areas of your life too. Most times when you want to rent a home, the real estate agency will consult your credit report to see if you can be trusted as a tenant. Some employers will even look at your credit report before offering you a job, because they consider that a good credit history shows that you are a trustworthy person.

Negative items are erased from your report after seven years, except in the case of bankruptcy which remains for ten years. So if all of your bad credit history is pretty old, you might just decide to wait. However, for more recent items, or if you are considering getting a mortgage or other large loan, you probably want to act now.

But do you need the services of one of the credit repair companies, or could you dispute all of the negative items on your report by yourself? The answer is yes, you could do it yourself if you know what to do. It certainly is possible to open a dispute and the credit repair agencies will explain what you need to do.

However, there are advantages to hiring a credit repair specialist. The main one is that you are likely to get faster results. The credit repair companies know exactly what to do with regard to disputing items on your credit report.

They can advise you on what papers you need. They should be able to suggest ways to deal with situations where you have lost receipts or similar supporting documents. They can advise on whether it is worth challenging any items that are substantially accurate, and can tell you where you have the best chance of success.

Credit repair companies will help you to dispute any negative items on your credit report. Where they are successful, the items will be removed. If not, you have the opportunity to have a note added to each item giving your explanation or your side of the dispute. Credit repair companies can advise you on what to write here to have the best effect on any other creditor who is looking at your credit report.