Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair

Many people believe that it is only through an agency that we could possibly have any hope for repairing our own credit. Rest assured that this is not true. It could cost you more time and money to hire an agency than it would to just do it yourself. Before contacting an agency for assistance, follow these simple steps of self credit repair and you may just be surprised at the results.

Repairing your own credit takes time and takes patience. You first need to contact the credit reporting agencies to request your credit report. You are entitled by Federal Law to a free credit report every year, which can be done easily online at www.annualcreditreport.com. There are three main credit-reporting agencies that you will need to contact. If you would prefer to contact them directly, include the following in your written correspondence:

1. Written request for a copy of your credit report (You are entitled to one free credit report a year).
2. Include a copy of your state ID.
3. Send proof of your current address if it is not current on your ID.
4. List your last known addresses for the past 5 years.
5. Include a copy of your social security card.
6. Sign the document

Allow at least 4-6 weeks to receive your credit report(s) by mail. If you request your credit report(s) online, you'll get your them instantly (after providing all the necessary information). If you receive a letter denying you credit, you also have a right to a copy of your credit report within 60 days. Make a copy and enclose it with your written request so you can get your report.

Once you receive your credit reports from all of the agencies, review each report for accuracy and look for any differences. Design a spreadsheet or written log to record any problems. If you find anything on your report that is worth disputing, most agencies allow you to file an official dispute via their website.