I'm just getting started at credit repair and wanted to thank everyone on here for all the great information that they have shared. I learn something new each time I log on. I still have many questions and much to learn but feel that in time I will be able to improve my credit. I know my first step is to obtain a copy of my credit report(s) and I have a couple of questions concerning this. I realize that this is probably very basic for many of you but I hope some of the old pros out there can help me. #1. Is it necessary or advisable for me to obtain reports from all three major agencies or is one preferred over the other? #2. What is the best method for obtaining these? Should I use one of the many credit monitoring companies I see ads for all over the net or should I just send directly to the big three myself? Are these sources for obtaining the reports online without a credit card? #3. Any other advice you may have for a guy just getting started. If anyone can offer any help I would be very grateful. Thanks
You need all 3 because they can be different. I think getting them directly is best. I have not found any of the monitoring services that I thought were worth the money. Others have used some of them and like them, so it's obviously a matter of pesonal opinion. You are entitled to them for free once a year and under other circumstances. That should get you going.
i don't know the answers to all of your questions but here goes. Yes, you should get your reports from all three. that is because each report may vary and you want each report to be accurate. depending on where you live, there may be a report that they pull more, however, for a mortage, they will pull all three reports you should get reports from the cra's, that is the most accurate. You can get free reports if you have been denied credit, If you are unemployed and looking for work. You can view your reports online in most cases. I used credit expert (experian) and i liked it, it has a free 30 day trial and you can view your report daily. I hope this helps. Welcome
Mike, I'll give you my thoughts (1¢). 1. Yes, it's advisable to get a CR from each of the Big 3. They don't have any ties to each other, so you could find different info on each one. 2. Depending on how you want to do it you could order just a copy ($8) of your CR online at each CB. Every time you dispute, you would get an updated copy. You can order a copy with score ($12), same as above. Or you could join a service. If you do a search for "credit monitoring" on straightalk you'll find some thoughts on the different monitoring services. If you want multiple or unlimited (depending on the service) credit reports and notification of changes to your CR by email, then you might want to look into the monitoring services. They range from $8.99 a month to $79 a year. Here are the ones I'm familiar with. EQ - Credit Watch https://www.econsumer.equifax.com/webapp/ConsumerProducts/pgConsumerProducts?^start=& EQ - Privista http://www.privista.com EX - Credit Expert http://www.creditexpert.com TU - WorthKnowing (free, mostly referred to as worthnothing) http://www.worthknowing.com TU - Identity Guard http://www.identityguard.com If you just want a copy of your CR (and/or score) online or snail mailed: http://www.equifax.com http://www.experian.com http://www.transunion.com 3. Again this is just my advice, you'll get more I'm sure. I started by getting rid of all my old (incorrect addresses, they will remove these no problem. Then I started disputing 2 to 3 derogs at a time starting with the worst (collections, chg offs, etc.) Then the rest. You'll find letters here in the "letters forum" if you choose to snail mail them. Most of your disputing can be done online, as long as you don't have a local affiliate servicing you. You'll find that at the above sites as well. Good Luck
As Uniondiva and Bill said, definitely get all three -- Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian (formerly TRW). If you've been denied for credit recently, you're entitled to a free report from the credit reporting agency (sometimes abbreviated "CRA"; sometimes informally called a "credit bureau") that provided the basis for the denial. Here's an interesting one: If you're out of work but plan on looking for work very soon, you're entitled to a free report from each of the three CRAs. But, as Bill said, the best legal stipulation is... Every CRA is required to provide one free report to you per year upon request. Getting them to do it is sometimes like pulling teeth for some people, though. To take advantage of that, they'll want the request in writing. Worst case scenario is that you'll pay $8.50 per report. Here are a few tips: 1) Trans Union just introduced an online credit report service. If you mention that you were denied credit recently, you'll get it for free. Here's the link: http://www.transunion.com/Personal/OrderCreditReport.asp 2) As uniondiva mentioned, Experian maintains an online credit report service that offers unlimited reports for $79.95 per year with a 30-day free trial. Link: http://www.creditexpert.com 3) Equifax offers several packages with immediate online viewing. "CreditWatch" offers 6 Equifax credit files per year at $49.95 and includes a monitoring service which sends email alerts to you all year whenever there's a change in your file. "ScorePower" offers you 1 report with FICO credit score for $12.95 or 4 reports during the year for $38.95. There's no option for a free report even if you were denied credit recently. Link: https://www.econsumer.equifax.com/webapp/ConsumerProducts/pgConsumerProducts?^start=& 4) Privista will provide your Equifax report every week for one year, along with a year's email-alert monitoring service, for $39.95. Even better, they've got a 30-day free trial as well. Link: http://www.privista.com 5) Worthknowing.com will pull your Trans Union report for free. Their so-called score is a screwy statistical nightmare replete with bell curves and correlational plotting, LOL, so ignore that. (Anyway, if you've got relatively bad credit, your WorthKnowing score -- a.k.a. WorthNothing score -- will remain stuck at a 5.) Regardless, the reports themselves are worthwhile, and they're free. You have nothing to lose by taking them up on this offer: http://www.worthknowing.com I'm sure others will provide some tips as well! Welcome to Creditnet, by the way. Doc
LOL, well if I hadn't been typing my response at the same time Pat was, I wouldn't have bothered with the redundancy. Doc
That's the problem with typing a long post, by the time you post it you get duplicates It's all good Doc!!
Thanks everyone. I am grateful for all the information and open to any more info or advice anyone has. Thanks again
Pat In your post you mentioned "local affiliate". Do you mean local credit agencies? I have several questions concerning these as well. How are they associated with the big three? Do they supply them with information or receive info from them, or both? Do local lenders usually check with them or with the major agencies? Also, do they have info the big three do not have and can I receive reports from the local offices on information they have collected on me? Would I need to deal with each local agency that has info concerning me? Sorry, I know that this is a lot of questions but like I said I am new and this is the only place I feel that I can get real open and honest answers. Thanks Mike
Mike, The local affiliates are affiliates of the Credit Bureau (Equifax, Experian and TU). They could also be collection agencies. I'm not sure how the association exists, either a business partnership or they are owned by the Bureau. They both receive and send information from/to the parent bureau. For instance if you dispute with the local affiliate (which you have to if there is one that services your area) they will update the parent. And the affiliate gets your credit file from the parent. I assume that they maintain their own database and replicate somehow (my guess). I don't know where the Local lenders check your CR. But it shouldn't matter. Your credit profile at the affiliate and parent should be the same. So you only have to deal with 3 places, one for each bureau, whether it be the local affiliate or parent. When you try to dispute online with Equifax, they will either allow the dispute or tell you to use your local, based on your zip code. Go to this link and enter your zip (You don't have to start the investigation, but you can find out if you have an EQ affiliate) https://www.econsumer.equifax.com/webapp/ConsumerProducts/pgInvestigation I get the following when I do it: We apologize that we are unable to process your dispute request. Zip code 44077 is managed by CBC CREDIT SERVICES. To complete your dispute, you may call 4402343601. I can dispute directly with EX and TU, but EQ has a local affiliate CBC which I have to send my disputes to via snail mail. No problem on the questions I hope I'm able to help. If not there are plenty of people here that will, or will correct me if I'm wrong.
Doc, Can you tell a Dummy where,on budhibbs.com, to find the "letters" you referred to on another board ?%$%^&*(*&^^ !! TIA, KNDT
kehoy2k, I believe Bkev appropriated those letters from Bud Hibbs's copyrighted (but freely downloadable) book. You should first download the free book by clicking here: http://209.238.134.250/American Credit System by Bud Hibbs.doc The resultant download is a 500k Microsoft Word document that runs more than 250 pages. The sample letters begin on page 198. I would simply repost the letters for you here were it not for Bud Hibbs's request that "No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical retrieval systems without permission from the publisher/author." Keep in mind that his book is terrific and well worth the download time! Doc
I thought I would give this a try: 1) I strongly recommend that you get a copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus directly in the beginning. I do not recommend online reports for repair. Having my original report from the credit bureau directly was a big help in the spring when Experian had reaged an old account on me and put it back on my report. I had my original report (from them) with the original dates. I mailed the report from one year ago to them and they deleted it without much hassle. 2) After you get your reports you should take a highlighter and mark each item that is derogatory. It may take a while to learn to read a credit report. 3) After you have highlighted the negative items, start sending out dispute letters to the credit bureaus to see if you can get the negatives thru the 30 verification process. 4) There are many samples of dispute letters on this site and other websites like it. Good Luck!
Local Affiliates May I add to the great info already posted by Pat: There is a local affiliate of EQ where I live. They are the CRA used by most creditors in my area. They are the most difficult to work with, and the most important to my credit. There is another CRA that is hardly used by anyone where I live, and they are the easiest to deal with! When you are ready to apply for credit, you might want to check here first :http://www.millcbs.com/ to look for companies that will pull your best report. Hope this helps!
Is the Bud Hibbs Book download site password protected? I am prompted for a userid and password whenever I attempt to access the site. Thanks Matt
When I click on that link it just opens the document. Do you have word on your computer? Sounds like you are having to access a network server.
