I hope everyone had a great holiday season!  This year we plan on providing more information and help others achieve better scores on your own!  YOU can do it! Like I’ve mentioned time and time again, it takes some time and patience and writing them dispute letters, contacting creditors, etc. – but, as you know – it WILL be worth it.

It seems as though you almost need an above 700 FICO Score for any type of loan nowadays and even those with perfect credit will find themselves in some obstacle and fighting to get a loan.  It truly is a battlefield out there.   That is the world we live in right now.

First thing you should do is order your credit reports from all 3 bureaus (fico is most accurate). Study them, look for the areas that are wrong and/or outdated and start disputing.  I will start posting example letters in a different section soon.

WAIT. Wait 30-45 days to hear back from bureaus.  Some may be removed, some may not.  You’ll need to dispute again.

It is a process, but after a few months or more, you should see some improvements.

Continue to pay your bills on time as well, you don’t want any new “negatives” on your report.  I’m guilty of that and now my credit is down again.  Though one credit card has been impossible to deal with – more later on this.

At any rate, I’m here if you have any questions, comments, etc.  I’d love to start a forum soon so that is easier for others to offer advice, support, etc. and so I can contribute more often as well.  Like I said, many plans in the works and I hope to implement some soon!

Best Wishes to Better Credit,

Jen

Black Friday is coming up and are you short of funds to holiday shop this year?  I can assure you – you’re not alone!  

Be sure you spend wisely or look at making inexpensive gifts this year or making agreements with others to spend less, draw names or focus on the children. 

Do you like to scrapbook or digital scrap? ( I like digital scrapping) – get some of your friends or family members photos and start scrapping.  You could find an inexpensive album at a dollar store and fill them with photos.   What is your hobby?  Think of things that are useful to give in a little work than something that costs money which may be of more value to someone.  Love to bake?  Bake away and put them in nice baskets or containers and you got a tasty homemade gift that any family can enjoy! 

Those are just ideas if you don’t have extra money and don’t want to go out and either spend your credit or obtain even more credit debt.  It is always recommended to not spend your limit on your cards, so keep that in mind. 

But, we all have those that go overboard and you want to give something in return. A web-site I had found is http://www.whogavemecredit.com.  It can give you a good idea on where you MAY be able to obtain credit.  It is never guaranteed of course, based on your scores, etc. but a few I can also recommend checking on is Wal-mart, JC Penney, Home Depot and Lowe’s.  The first few I know I had personally had a lower score when I had received.  The others you may need 640 o above, but it may be worth a try.   I don’t recommend a Pay Day loan.  Many don’t really give you much anyhow and you will definitely pay and probably regret it!

Remember to be responsible and don’t inquire too much at every store to find options and in the process lower your score. 

I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  Thanks for visiting and Spend Wisely – always think wisely when applying and spending your credit and Be Careful Out There!  

Blessings, 

Jen

Here’s an article I found for your viewing! Good luck!

A Credit Repair Attitude Adjustment

By: Jim Kemish

Credit Repair is Not Hard

Credit repair can be shockingly effective. And it is not difficult. In fact the biggest barrier people face is not in the technical detail of credit repair, it is in their attitude. A small attitude adjustment can make the difference between mediocre results and a life changing outcome. You must approach your credit repair project with an attitude that combines a skeptical view of the accuracy of credit reporting with faith in your own ability to prevail against the corporate machinery of the credit bureaus.

The Shocking Truth

More than three quarters of all credit reports contain errors. This may not make much of an impression, but combined with the following fact you may start to perceive the importance of credit repair in a new light. Errors are not only tolerated by regulators, they are overtly accepted. A close reading of the Fair Credit Reporting Act will reveal that Congress values the viability and the ongoing profitability of the credit bureaus over the absolute accuracy of the reporting system.

The Scope of the Problem

This means that the credit bureaus will only go so far in their quest to eliminate the errors that appear on the credit reports of over one hundred and fifty million Americans. In other words, you must look out for yourself. Credit repair is the answer. Without active intervention on your part the mistakes on your reports are most likely to linger for years, and depending on the severity of the error, this may cost you both money and opportunity.

The Necessity for Credit Repair

Once your attitude about the power, and even necessity, of credit repair in your own life is aligned with reality it is time to confront your credit reports. Let your new perspective light your way. As you examine your reports you should expect to find mistakes. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. If something does not ring true you should make plans to dispute it. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Every error may be causing you harm.

It is Your Money!

Do not overlook anything, regardless of size or age. Credit repair should be employed liberally. Most lenders utilize some form of score based pricing when determining what interest rate you will pay on any loan you apply for. Even a small difference in your score can make a difference in the cost of the money you borrow. To ignore even a small innocuous looking item today may translate onto an increase in the monthly payments you will make tomorrow. A little attention to detail in your credit repair effort will pay dividends for years to come.

Success is Yours

Lastly, it is essential that you embark on your credit repair project with self-confidence. You can do it! The importance of a can-do attitude will become clear as the process continues. You will find that the credit bureaus are stubborn and cantankerous in their handling of your disputes. You cannot let this stop you. Be resolute in your determination and you will prevail. Expect resistance and do not take it personally. The credit bureaus do not get paid to read your credit repair letters, much less to act on them. But stick with it and you will find that you have more control over your credit life than you ever thought possible.

Copyright © 2009 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Jim Kemish is the president and founder of Sky Blue Credit Repair, a leading credit repair service. Sky Blue Credit has been dedicated to providing intelligent customized credit solutions since 1989.

Sorry for my lack of posts!  I intend to start keeping up with this web-site because it is important to me, as well as to others!  Anyway, we all know that the BETTER and HIGHER your credit score is… the BETTER your interest rate will be.  How can you start FALLING into those better rates and improve your score?

1. Pay your bills on time.  Common sense and I understand it can be hard to do as well, but if you can’t – call the creditor and ask for more time.  You DO NOT want a late on your report AT ALL!

2. Start or continuing disputing the wrong information on your reports.  Some will drop off (if you’re lucky) and some dispute again. Repeat. Repeat.  I can’t always understand the reporting agencies and I swear they don’t take the time to verify like they should or there wouldn’t be errors to begin with!

3. Pay down your credit card debt as much as you can! It is an old tactic I remember lenders using, yet I know it still works.  Pay off the debt you owe and you will look like you can handle your finances and it will increase your score – sometimes right away.  (It’s the quickest way I know of.)

4. Be careful with this one, but you may want to try and extend your credit – BUT don’t use it!  It can help to get an increase in your credit limit IF you don’t utilize it.  This helps your overall debt ratio and it looks as if you’re not using every ounce of credit that is available to you.  

The above are just a few recommendations and with time, you will FALL Into Better Rates!

Best of Luck & Check Back – MORE to follow…

Jen

Here is an example of an inquiry removal dispute letter to the actual creditor. I suggest doing this first before submitting to the credit bureaus. I’ve tried over and over again and most just come back verified – which is wrong, but that is what disputes are for and the laws. The letter below can and should be modified( it isn’t always recommend to use the same exact wordage). But, this is a letter to send to the companies that have pulled your credit without getting proper permission (that you can recall.) I actually had several that were duplicates and some have pulled in the past, but I was NOT notified nor did I grant any sort of permission to have them pull my credit again!? Recently this has been pretty damaging to my credit and my hard work that I have done by paying bills, getting wrong info removed, etc. – it now looks as if I’m applying for credit all over and that is not the case! I figure that if I’m in this position, others may be too… so write them a letter and hopefully some inquires will start to vanish. I will update you on my results as well. I’m guessing it will take several rounds of this to actually see results. And that is the case with ANY dispute – it is NOT easy, but you CAN see results fairly quickly if you follow several procedures.

To better credit! Jen

SAMPLE LETTER:

DATE:

CREDITOR NAME
ADDRESS
ADDRESS

RE: Unauthorized Inquiries in my Credit Report

Legal department,

Recently, I received a copy of my credit report.

The credit report showed a RECENT credit inquiry that I DID NOT authorize. I understand that you shouldn’t be allowed to put an inquiry on my file unless I have authorized it.

Please remove the following inquiries from my report within the 30-day time allowed investigation period as pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681b section 604 ( c ) (3) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act whereby a consumer reporting agency shall not furnish to any person a record of inquiries in connection with a credit or insurance transaction that is not initiated by a consumer.

Please, either provide me with strict proof I authorized any of these inquiries such as signed applications or contracts or recorded telephone calls or delete the inquiries immediately.

If you ignore this letter and do not delete the inquiries or do not provide strict proof of authorizations I will have no other alternative than to have my local Congressman promptly forward a formal complaint to the Federal Trade Commission and Attorney General for further scrutiny of this matter.
Thanking you in advance,

____________________
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS

SS: XXX-XX-XXXX
DOB: XX/XX/XXXX

Jennifer here, and I just got an email

from Chris Brisson. He’s the author of 

“37 Days to Clean Credit”, you know the

book that shows you how Chris raised his

credit score 135 points in 37 days.

Well…

He just got engaged and the pictures he

took from Brazil… are unbelievable.

This… will take your breath away.

Prepare yourself.

http://findcredit.37days.hop.clickbank.net/?hoplink=findcredit&page=6

He’s asked me to pass this along to you

because as a special gift to everyone and

to help pay for the new diamond, he’s

offering a great deal on his book, “37

Days to Clean Credit.”

You can save 45% when you get his entire

course today. 

Chris mentioned he will be ending this

special “I Got Hitched in Rio” sale

until Friday.

If you wait until after Friday, you’ll have 

to pay full price.

So check out his cool photos and grab

yourself a copy. If you need some credit

help, his course will show you the way.

http://findcredit.37days.hop.clickbank.net/?hoplink=findcredit&page=6

Enjoy

Jennifer

P.S. Not sure if you know or not, but Chris

raised his credit score 135 points using the

exact system he wrote about in his book.

http://findcredit.37days.hop.clickbank.net/?hoplink=findcredit&page=6

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend! I’m sooo sorry for the delay in posting on this web-site. I’ve been focusing on another web-site of mine and I’m working on a schedule to keep them all updated! It is NOT an easy task, but it can and will be done! 

Collection agencies:  I write on this topic, because I see and hear about it and search for answers on this topic quite often.  

What if a creditor assigns a debt to a collection agency?  

Answer: Work with the original creditor!!!!

Credit agencies are near impossible to deal with and get removed from your credit report. They are not on your side and they are just looking to make money off of you.  Period.  Try and resolve any issues you have on past bills with the original creditor and that will be a good start to help avoid or later dispute and remove negative reporting at a later time. <p>

Soon I will be reporting more resources, etc. for obtaining credit, etc. Honestly, I’m checking out the product, customer services, etc. on a few BEFORE I refer adn promote to make sure all is good to the best of my knowledge… so stay tuned!

Have a great day! Jen

I’ve been working on our own personal credit reports more seriously for the past 3 months. And I got one of our scores to increase (our Fico mid score) by 49 points in 3 months! Yes, this is TRUE.  And one was a 17 point difference – though the other scores are actually a lot better than that!  So, it CAN be done!  I feel like I could and will do better as well!  The good news is that it can be done yourself, though like I said in other posts, if you don’t have the time or patience or know precisely what to do, it is a good idea to seek help from one of the reputable firms we have listed on this web-site. 

I will soon also post letters that have worked for myself or have in time – most are very standard dispute letters, sometimes I did dispute on-line and I have also hand written letters as well.   There isn’t any exact way you should do things, onl suggestions and getting ideas from others on what was effective.  

My suggestion in making this happen for you is to DISPUTE AWAY!  Reports are always inaccurate and that is what causes the credit score drop or lower scores. You need to review every part of the report and mark the inaccurate areas, try and find relevant proof that it is wrong ( not necessary, but will help speed things along ) 

So…

• ORDER all of your reports or get a copy from a loan officer. Make sure it is FICO scoring especially if you’re goal is for more credit in near future. 
• REVIEW it all carefully, make your notes on what you feel is inaccurate. 
• WRITE dispute letters and send to credit bureaus.  You may also write letters to original creditors too and see if they will remove. 
• WAIT patiently (really, it’s the hardest part!!) for response from bureaus, usually within 30 days. 
• REVIEW again.
• REPEAT process. 

It is easy in many ways, but it takes time, it’s like disputing with a toddler and it seems like you’re not getting anywhere!  They won’t agree with what you say or they’ll claim to verify when you know they didn’t or it should of been deleted, etc. This process continues and will probably continue endlessly.  Your JOB is to make sure that it is correct. It is your personal file afterall and the bureaus don’t care what is on it or not or what your scoring is like. 

Remember that is does take time and effort, but it is worth it!!! 

Happy Disputing,

Jen

I own several web-sites/blogs and I’m on a mission to get them all updated with a fresh new look and setting a schedule to keep them all current! I realize how important this is and yet it can be difficult when managing several on different topics and themes. 

Anyway, I like the design and I may change it again, but I’m starting to have most of my web-sites run through WordPress so I can easily manage and update things.

Remember…Having credit gives you more opportunities to pursue other interests, businesses, investments, etc. and that is why it is so important to have good to excellent credit.  Especially right now in the world, it can be difficult to find lenders to loan money at all!

So, I hope you like the new layout (if I have any frequent visitors yet:)) and hope you visit often!

Peace & Freedom,

Jen

3 – 2- 1, So, this is a continuation of my own attempts of removing a b/k.

Action One – I sent a letter to all 3 Credit Bureaus (letter in past post)

Well, I got other responses from the bk dispute and from TransUnion I basically got letter saying investigation is now complete – listed below – verified – no change.

And as far as verifying, they sent separate letter stating that Verification Documents not Available. (aaah, I was looking for this statement!! but then read below, I think it ruins it saying what documents needed from YOUR b/k file ) We store info in our records as it is supplied to us by creditors… blah, blah, blah contact your creditors directly.

THEN.. hold on, gets better – (actually I’m surprised this happened so fast)but I got a returned letter from the self addressed stamped env. from the b/k court. It states… The US B/k Court has no affiliation with the major credit bureaus that govern your credit report. You should contact the credit bureaus for info on removing items from your credit report and what specific documents are needed from your b/k file. The Clerk’s office can assist you in obtaining copies of your b/k records. Any question, call……

So, I don’t know – I did a complete 180! hey? Not that I expected much more, but I was hoping!!

It is VERY difficult to get a b/k removed. I think it does help greatly to take these steps FIRST…

1. Get your old address removed during the time the b/k took place.

2. Dispute the bad and inaccurate information that was including in the b/k and get as much or better yet “all” that bad stuff removed first.

Some do get it removed, so I encourage to keep trying (as I will) but, I’m not anticipating a quick victory! Or seek the help of the agencies that I have listed in this web-site if you don’t have the time or patience to learn and create letters, etc. and proceed with the process and it really is a LONG process, I can tell you that much! That is why firms charge – but there are some good, reputable firms out there that can help.

Just remember, pay down as much debt as you can to help increase your scores and credit worthiness!

So, TAKE ACTION! The sooner the better! Everyone needs a good credit score these days, it is important to have!

Happy Credit Repairing,

Jen