You CAN correct errors on your credit report in 3 easy steps!
Step #1 - Get a Copy of your Credit Report
If you are willing to spend a little time and effort, there is no reason to spend hundreds of dollars paying someone else to correct errors on your credit report.
Start by pulling a current copy of your credit report. You can do this absolutely free once per year at www.annualcreditreport.com.
This site allows you to access your credit report from all three of the major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, & TransUnion)
If you want to see your credit score, you will have to pay a small fee. However, if you are just looking to clean up your credit report, there is really no reason to pay for your score at this time.
Step #2 - Take a Close Look at Each Credit Report
If you have paid off old accounts and they are still showing a balance or if it was charged off and moved to a collection agency, you can dispute the entry and it will be removed.
Most disputes can be addressed online. Each agency will have it's own procedure, but basically you will need to provide them with proof of payment such as:
- A statement from the creditor or collection agency showing the account has been paid.
- A canceled check showing the payment was processed.
- A bank statement showing canceled check or check-by-phone entry to the agency.
Here are the links to dispute errors:
Step #3 - Follow Up!
Correcting or removing errors on your credit report may take 30-60 days. You should receive an email or letter as to the status of your dispute, If you don't, go back online to see what's been done.
If the credit bureaus have not made the correction, make a follow up dispute! If you have provided proof (as above) that this account has been paid or settled-as-agreed, they will eventually correct the error, so don't give up.
You may need to call the agency and speak to a representative if you can't find any updates online.
Experian: 888-397-3742
Equifax: 800-685-1111
TransUnion: 800-916-8800
If you have accounts that you have not paid on in some time, we may be able to negotiate a settlement at 50% or less!
photo by: TrinityCreditServices
