If you have been denied new credit because of your existing bad credit then you will save time and money by following these three steps. This article will explain:
ú WHY your credit repair rights are legally protected. ú WHERE you should begin to start your credit repair actions. ú HOW your credit repair should be performed for maximum effectiveness. 1. Let’s begin with WHY your credit repair rights are legally protected. To properly understand this point one should further their understanding of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). These Federal rules, regulations and guidelines have to be followed by consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion in order for them to be consumer reporting companies. Specifically for our purposes we will focus on three parts of the (FCRA)
A. Read FCRA Section 611(a)(1)(A) which states: "If the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumer's file at a consumer reporting agency is disputed by the consumer and the consumer notifies the agency directly of such dispute, the agency shall reinvestigate free of charge and record the current status of the disputed information, or delete the item from the file in accordance with paragraph (5), before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute from the consumer."
B. Read the FCRA Section 611(a)(3)(A) which states: "...a consumer reporting agency may terminate a reinvestigation of information disputed by a consumer under that paragraph if the agency reasonably determines that the dispute by the consumer is frivolous or irrelevant, including by reason of a failure by a consumer to provide sufficient information to investigate the disputed information." The law requires that an agency notify you within 5 business days if they determine your dispute to be frivolous or irrelevant. The law does not dare to define what is grounds for making such a determination except for "failure by a consumer to provide sufficient information to investigate the disputed information."
C. Read the FCRA Section 611(a)(5)(A) which states:“Historically, an item that was deleted would occasionally reappear on a consumer's credit file. This occurred when a credit grantor automatically updated a consumer's payment history. Most often this happened with a credit granter with whom the consumer still had payment activity. However, the new FCRA does not allow a deleted item to be added again unless the creditor certifies that the information is correct."
2. This is WHERE you should begin to start your credit repair actions. By taking a more active role in maintaining an improving your credit by getting your free credit report. The FCRA requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to provide you a free credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. You can order three ways:
A. Online at www.annualcreditreport.com
B. On the phone 1-877-322-8228
C. Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. If you have moved in the last two years, you may have to provide your previous address. To maintain the security of your file, each nationwide consumer reporting company may ask you for some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.
3. HOW your credit repair should be performed for maximum effectiveness can be summed up by following these three steps:
A. Always dispute in writing. 1) Allows you to enclose copies of supporting documentation when needed. 2) Provides a physical audit trail if needed.
B. Make sure each dispute has a specific reason and a specific action to be taken. 1) This effectively prevents the agency from not being required to reinvestigate an item for which it deems "frivolous or irrelevant." As stated in FCRA Section 611(a)(3)(A).
C. Always send your disputes return receipt. 1) 611(a)(1)(A) of the FCRA the agency is allowed 30 days to correct the status of the item or, if the item is found to belong to someone else, or, can no longer be verified, then the agency must immediately delete the item from the consumer's record.
Following these three steps will save you time and money as far as restoring your credit is concerned. Time because you will get the maximum effectiveness from each action you perform. And you will save money because effective credit repair actions will ultimately lead to lower interest rate payments.
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