Many consumers realize they have a problem with credit scores when it is too late. Poor ratings cause rejection from lenders, but the implications are not limited to the financial domain. The same information is also used by landlords, insurance companies, and even recruiters. But what if you are viewed as an irresponsible borrower unfairly? In this case, credit repair can help. Here is everything you need to know.
Why It Is Possible
Mistakes in score calculation are quite common. The best credit fixing companies on https://creditrepairpartner.com/ can give your status a boost. The other, less efficient way is trying to raise it by yourself. Both strategies have the same underlying logic: persuade the bureaus to fix the errors, and the score will rise instantly.
The problem is faced by one in five Americans, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Inaccuracies on official borrowing histories range from misspellings to outright false events. Any derogatories affect the score, pushing it down. So, what should you do to have them deleted?
It is not always possible to fix credit score fast. The most complicated cases with multiple mistakes can linger for half a year. Generally, professional services accelerate the process, as experts are accomplished in achieving the best results. Here is how this works.
History and Scores
The two most popular scoring systems in the country are FICO and VantageScore. Both use a similar combination of factors to come up with a total. Generally, prior payments, the size of overall debt, and the age of your credit history are the most important. History of payments is the most influential overall, affecting 35% of FICO.
Efficient repair is based on clever prioritization. Professionals start with the most damaging mistakes to get the necessary boost faster. Note that this is only possible if your records are flawed. When there is nothing to correct, all you can do is become a more responsible borrower. This is known as rebuilding, not repairing credit history. Here is how repair works.
1. Where to Find Reports
It all starts from a thorough analysis of your records. They may be downloaded for free from www.annualcreditreport.com. Due to the pandemic, until April 2022, you can collect your reports from TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax at once every week. Previously, this was only possible once a year.
2. What to Do Next
Once the information has been gathered, it should be scrutinized to find anything disputable. The next step is to collect evidence and prove that the derogatories are false via formal disputes. When bureaus are presented with sufficient information, they delete their mistakes. Every investigation takes up to 30 days and up to 45 days in special cases.
3. Possible Results
If the decision is in your favor, the records will be corrected. You will receive a new copy of your report by mail. Due to the nature of formal disputes, the first results do not appear sooner than in 1.5 months on average. Note that your credit reports are separate documents. You will need to contact all three agencies if all of them have failed to present your history accurately.
Difficulties of DIY Repair
In theory, credit repair is something any citizen can do on their own. Just collect the data, find the flaws, and open formal disputes. It is, however, easier said than done. Many Americans choose professional repair due to its speed and convenience.
Suppose your score is affected by multiple errors, and all three reports are deficient. First, you need to understand which derogatories to address first. Secondly, insufficient evidence will lead to redisputes, prolonging the process substantially. Finally, you need to be well-versed in formal communication to compose effective letters.
Choosing the Best Services
Professionals will do everything on your behalf. Every billing cycle, they will dispute a particular number of inaccuracies according to your service package — for example, 15. Aside from bureaus, they will communicate with lenders to collect evidence and collectors to stop their intrusive efforts.
Service tiers are usually divided into basic, intermediate, and premium. History analysis, evidence collection, and formal disputes are at the core of any package. In addition, you may get identity theft protection, score monitoring tools, automatic alerts, and other extras. On average, the services may cost between $79 and $129.95 monthly.
Doing everything yourself will save you money, but the results depend on your thoroughness and skills. It is much easier to pay for the delegated repair and track the progress through an app or a web portal. There are no fixed contracts — you are charged as long as you need the services. Some companies have a money-back guarantee, which entitles you to a refund if they fail to clean your records.
