What You Need to Know About Credit Card Debt Repair

Many people call in asking us about credit card debt repair.There are many companies who call themselves "credit repair" companies.  They claim to be able to remove negative items from you credit report in order to improve your credit score. 

It is a big mistake in thinking that any company has the ability to remove a negative item on a credit report without adequate proof of erroneous information. Any item that is removed with fraudulent proof will most likely be placed back on the report.  This could produce a legal issue, so be careful.

The real question is, "Can I do this myself?"  The answer is YES!

You can contest and correct legitimate errors on your credit report by contacting the three major credit reporting bureaus yourself.  You can use the forms provided on their websites or you can write a simple letter stating the item that you are disputing. Make sure to include proof that your dispute request is legitimate such as:

• A statement from the credit company showing payment
• A letter from the credit company showing settlement
• A canceled check showing payment was received and proccessed

Mistakes on your credit report can significantly reduce your credit score, so make sure to review your credit report and dispute any errors as soon as you find them.  Here is the contact information for each of the three bureaus.

*You may be required to submit an additional form to TransUnion.  This form can be found at http://bit.ly/ctNrKE

Do you want to raise your credit score? Of course, we all do, but most of us simply don't know where to start.  Every situation is different and there is not one magic solution.  However, If you follow these 3 top credit score tips, you will be suprised at how quickly you can significantly increase your credit score. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Tip #1: Pay your credit card and other debt payments on time every month! Late payments have the greatest negative effect on your credit score.  You absolutley must get organized and create a bill paying system that works for you. Try setting reminder alarms in your phone or computer for a few days before each bill is due.  Or you may want to write each bill's due date down on a big calendar that you see every day.  Whatever system you chose, get yourself organized and pay them on time EVERY month. No Exceptions!

Tip #2: Review your credit report at least once per year and correct any erros you find. There are three major credit reporting agencies. (TransUnion, Experian, & Equifax) You can get a free credit report each year atwww.annualcreditreport.com.  Once you have these reports, review them carefully for any mistakes such as collection items, incorrect credit limits, and late payments. These incorrect items lower your credit score. Getting them corrected doesn't take much time or effort and will start to raise your credit score immediately.

Tip #3: Don't close unused credit accounts. Few people realize that closing credit accounts will actually lower your credit score.  The length of your credit history makes up about a third of your credit score.  By keeping old accounts open, you credit history goes back further and thus helps your credit score.  Some credit accounts will automatically close if they go unused for long periods of time.  It is a good idea to use those old zero balance accounts from time to time as long as you pay them off immediately.

Following these three simple steps will help you to increase your credit score quickly and without too much effort or time on your part.  Good Luck!