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Clean up my credit report
Hello Advicenators: I have a 590 credit rating and am 58 years old. I recently decided to pay off legitimate old debt and clean up my credit report via disputing items as needed. Can I dispute items on my credit report by myself via some website? The agencies out there seem to charge high fees. Thanks, Dzadzy
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Solidadviceforteens is correct for most states. Where I live there is a 2 year limit on the original debt. If a credit collector has not contacted you by registered letter or phone in two years the debt is uncollectable. While this bit of knowledge is not known by many collection agents or those in debt. Those that are aware and some Attorneys who specialize in financial counseling, it does not help with your credit rating which generally stays on your credit report for 7 years. It also does not stop a collection who has purchased the debt and unable to collect it from making a false report to the reporting agencies.
You do not need an attorney or one of those credit restoration agencies to dispute anything on your credit report. In fact you should first try and dispute them on your own. Equifax and two other Credit reporting companies are the main companies to contact about your credit report. At the moment I can only think of Equifax though by contacting them there instructions on how to dispute an item will include how to contact the other agencies. I believe you must contact them each individually though here again that will be made clear on the instructions from any one of them.
While they have programs they offer to help you monitor your credit you do not have to pay for your credit report. They must supply you one for free when asked. They have a contact number for assistance but do not expect them to make changes to your report by phone. They are going to want everything in writing with verifiable documentation. Should they refuse to make an adjustment the must explain in writing to you why and how they made this decision. Once again though you may have to request that in writing.
It is also possible that one or two will make a decision one way and the other another way. If this happens you can re-dispute the unfavorable one(s) asking why they or them came to a different decision. Then if you still have unresolved issue and a credit score below 620 you might want to consult an attorney. Stay away from those Credit Restoration Companies most of them are not worth your money.
Below is the URL for Equifax
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[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
You would be wise to get a lawyer or financial expert that knows exactly what they are doing to assist you in this with disputing as well as cleaning up your record.
I had a prof. once that was a lawyer and asked about credit problems. They told me that collection agencies are allowed to harass you with certain rules about how for 2 years by phone or letter only. Once that has passed they can't unless the creditor sells your file to someone else. They won't. Never tell a collections agency you will pay a debt no matter how old. This allows them to start the 2 year process on you all over again.
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