.jpg)
.jpeg)
Credit Repair and Bankruptcy
Credit repair is the process of correcting the information shown on your credit report in order to increase your credit score, so you can qualify for mortgages, car loans, and credit cards, etc. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act the credit reporting agencies are required under federal law to report your credit information accurately. Some common problems that may appear on your credit report are as follows: Outdated Information: Debts that creditors settled or had written off should no longer appear on your credit report after 7 years. In addition, debts that were not written off or settled in which the collection statute of limitations has run should drop off your credit report after 7 years as well. Furthermore, credit reporting agencies are prohibited from reporting a bankruptcy after 10 years. Inaccuracies: One of the most common credit report problems is inaccurate information appearing on an individual's credit report. After reviewing your credit report if you do not recognize a credit card or debt there may be a possibility of fraud or a credit reporting agency's error in listing someone else's debt on your report. In addition, creditors should mark a judgment that was paid off or settled as having a zero balance. After Bankruptcy Credit Review: We recommend that individuals review their credit report 60 days after the Court grants their bankruptcy discharge. Creditors must list all of an individual's qualifying unsecured debt as having a zero balance.
If these balances are not marked as zero then you should take proactive steps in order to protect your discharge.
Disputed Debt: In some cases an individual may not agree with the dollar amount shown as owed to a creditor on his or her credit report. One reason for this may include the creditor failing to apply the debtor's payments toward a debt. You can dispute problems of this nature. How to Order your Credit Report: Credit bureaus are required to provide you with a low cost credit report, and in some cases a free credit report. The 3 major credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and Transunion. Beware of Credit Repair Scams: Some companies advertising on the internet or elsewhere may use fraudulent tactics to repair your credit. For example, a credit repair company may file a dispute for every item on your credit report, even though many items may be valid. Furthermore, a fraudulent repair company might assign you a different social security number without your knowledge. If you identified a problem or multiple problems on your credit report and you would like us to review it and help you make corrections please contact us at (610) 247-1249.