Archive for May, 2010

Step by Step Credit Repair Guide

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

bacan frustrate your efforts at getting a credit. Hence ensure you keep your credit report clean. If there are any errors in the report, undertakecredit repair to clear out any errors. This can be tiring and frustrating, but highly rewarding. Though law recognizes and protects your rights, it is your duty to remove any anomalies in your report. Here we offer you ten tips to achieve this goal, without having to resort to approaching any external agencies for help.

1) Ask for credit reports from the bureaus.
2) Look out for any errors in it.
3) Prepare a Credit Dispute Log recording the details of problems and errors.
4) Contact telephonically the original debtors with whom you are having a dispute. Record the details of the call, especially the name of the person with whom you spoke and a brief overview of the agreements.
5) Send the certified letter to the original debtor.
6) Send letters to collectors, disputing the bill. Also, send the proof of payment to the original lender.
7) Fill out the dispute form available at the credit bureau.
8) Write a letter for each disagreed item separately and send it to the credit bureau by certified mail. Attach the proof to support your claim.
9. The bureau will provide you a reference number. Call up the bureau with this reference number and find out the progress of the matter.
10) Maintain a Credit File containing detailed records of your case.

Credit Counseling Agencies

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

If you are caught in the debt trap, you need the services of credit counseling agencies. These agencies assist people who are burdened by debt. They are staffed by experts who have a thorough knowledge of financial management and will advise and teach you about proper handling of your finances. These agencies get money either from the voluntary contributions or by charging fees to their clients.

These agencies provide financial education and guidance, tailor their counsel to your situation and credit or budget management guidance. Some of these agencies provide reverse mortgage counseling, housing counseling, confidential budget counseling and repayment plans.

Some of the agencies offer free services, but the others ask you to pay a small administrative fee to cover their costs or get paid from the creditors for helping them recover their dues. You can get free services for counseling or financial matters, but repayment matters and reverse mortgage advice are charged.

Ask yourself some questions before deciding to engage the services of a credit counseling agencies. Find out if the agency works for profit or not. Check out the credentials of the counselors and the affiliation of the agency to NFCC (National Foundation for Credit Counseling). Find out the detailed offers, plans and services of the agency and also if you can get a personal session with the counselor to discuss your situation. Read the confidentiality pledge of the agency.

Find out all the details you can about the agency. Check out various agencies before choosing the one that meets all or most of the criteria. Try all the possible solutions to minimize your debt to prevent future financial problems.