Credit Repair: A Real Possibility?

Advice, information, and caution from MMI's consumer credit counselors about the real possibility of repairing damaged credit. For further information on credit repair, contact MMI's consumer credit counselors at: 1-888-845-5669.

A severe financial situation can affect almost anyone. For people who find themselves trapped in that situation, a negative credit report is often the outcome. Unfortunately, the effects of a poor credit rating are evident in almost every area of life. The inability to get a job, buy a car or a home are all reasons why people dream about perfect credit. The growing numbers of credit repair agencies prove that many people cannot pass up the opportunity to try and change their credit rating.

Credit repair agencies offer the assurance of a better life with an improved credit rating. The Federal Trade Commission recently issued a statement saying that credit repair agencies that advertise these pledges in an effort to get money from consumers are committing fraud. Think twice before you pay someone to try to remove the negative information from your report. The truth of the matter is that no person or company can legally remove accurate items from your report for a fee.

The good news is that a 1996 law passed by Congress titled the Credit Repair Organization Act has helped to clean up the industry. The law is enforced by the FTC and by state attorneys general. Under the statute, consumers are entitled to a written contract describing the terms and conditions of the agreement including guarantees of performance. It also gives consumers three days to change their mind and cancel any agreement they sign with a credit repair organization.

If you want to try to work with a credit repair company, please check them out with your local Better Business Bureau. Always a good rule of thumb: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Consumers should also be aware that applying for a new Social Security Number to run from past credit mistakes is not a realistic solution. The government has strict rules regarding this matter.

Fortunately, if there are genuine mistakes or outdated items in your report, you can fix them yourself. Notify the credit bureau of the problem and provide as much information about the error as possible. The bureau must, at not cost to you, investigate the disputed information. The bureau then will correct any mistakes or delete information that cannot be verified.

You also have an option to include with your credit report, a written statement of up to 100 words. In your own words, explain any negative information in your report.