[wolfe37]

I was about to hire a credit repair company to fix my credit report. I then said let me just see if there are opinions on which one to use. Boy am I glad I did. I have bad credit issues that date back to about to 94 or right abound there. My credit recently has been on time and more than minimum payment. The bad stuff greatly outweighs the good. How can I get these things off my report if they are well over 7 yrs. old. Everytime I contact credit reporting agencies they give me the run around and since I don't know the laws and such I give up. Now I am trying to get a mortgage and can't because of old problems. Can somebody please direct me as to where to start.

[Qtip]

The starting point would be to get all three of your credit reports from each individual credit reporting agency. Do not settle for a trimerge report as they are not completely accurate.


After getting your reports, you have to study each and every negative tradeline and see if there are any erroneous information. If you find erroneous information, you would want to send a dispute letter to each CRA that has the erroneous info; disputing such information.

You should be able to clean your file, but it will take some patience and organization. You want to create paper trail, so make sure that moving forward you send all the letters to CRA's via Certified Return Receipt Requested.

As you are going along feel free to post and ask questions.

[Hedwig]

If it's been seven years or more since an account went delinquent and was never brought current, dispute it with the CRA as obsolete. It should come off, unless it's a judgment.

[wolfe37]

Thanks everyone. I will probably be asking more questions as I go. Actually here's one now, is there a form letter or just in my own words to dispute items. And is there a certain department or place I send letters to each agency? Thanks again

[Pale Rider]

How to Dispute Credit Report Errors

Date
Your Name
Your Address, City, State, Zip Code

Name of Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. I have circled the items I dispute on the attached copy of the report I received.

This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be removed (or request another specific change) to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please reinvestigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing.)