| The best way to fix bad credit is to be pro-active | | | | sending debt validation letters, negotiating with |
| by removing negative accounts report and adding | | | | creditors and many other ways. |
| positive accounts to your credit report. Both of | | | | When you make a dispute with the credit |
| these processes can take some time. The time | | | | bureaus, the burden of proof is on them. All you |
| to start fixing your bad credit is now, not on the | | | | need to say is something along the lines of |
| day you are ready to apply for a loan. Depending | | | | "Please provide documentation that the following |
| on how bad your credit is, it can take as little as 1 | | | | accounts belong on my credit report; otherwise |
| or 2 months to fix and as much as 12 months to | | | | please delete this damaging data immediately." It is |
| fix. | | | | then up to the credit bureaus to contact the |
| First, you want to know exactly where you | | | | creditors to verify that all of the information they |
| stand. You will need to pull your credit reports and | | | | are reporting about you is correct. Fortunately for |
| know your credit scores. You can get a copy of | | | | you, most creditors keep horrible records and can |
| your credit reports for free once every year, but | | | | not verify that the accounts even belong to you. |
| it will cost you a little bit to know your scores | | | | In this case, by law, the accounts must be |
| (unless a banker or mortgage broker is willing to | | | | deleted immediately. |
| give you a copy for your credit report for free | | | | Disputing is one of the best ways to get accounts |
| after applying for a loan.) I suggest getting your | | | | removed from your credit report but, there are |
| scores directly from | | | | so many other ways to fix your credit. You |
| Once you know where you stand, you will need | | | | should also be trying to add positive accounts. I |
| to analyze your credit reports and find out what's | | | | would suggest applying for a few secured credit |
| helping and what's hurting your scores. It may | | | | cards or visiting your local credit union or bank |
| take awhile, but it's worth learning how to read a | | | | and asking them if they have a credit card with a |
| credit report. Once you figure out what's hurting | | | | low limit that can help you rebuild your credit. |
| your credit, you will need to make a plan of | | | | There are also many other ways to build credit. |
| attack to get those accounts removed from your | | | | Make sure to always ask if what you apply for |
| credit report as fast as possible. You can do that | | | | will appear on your credit reports. You want to |
| by disputing accounts with the credit bureaus, | | | | get credit for paying your bills on time. |