I posted the following as a response on another thread but thought perhaps it should have a thread of it's own. Let me know what you think, if it's a good idea and someone will help me with corrections etc so I get an accurate document, I'll be happy to do it. I'm new to credit repair as well and must admit that I am still somewhat confused with the sequence of events as they should occur. I do have an idea that might help new people like myself and illni. I can construct a Flow Chart of the procedure as I understand it and then post it on the net. Then perhaps LKH, Breeze, Marie, and some of the other old pros here could look at it, e-mail corrections etc which I make and then re-post. Seeing the steps laid out with the flow of events as they 'ideally' should occur would be very helpful. It would also help all the experts on here as well, instead of answering the same questions for every new person that comes along they could simply refer them to the url for the flow chart. Let me know what you think.
Sounds like a great idea. I am not good at credit repair, so I won't be able to help, but I think that can be a great service to a lot of visitors of this site. www.creditsense.com
I think so, especially if a few of the experienced people on here would lend some of their knowledge.
My only concern with a public flow chart like that is it will take the place of the board. I definately don't like the prospect of that. BUT I am all for ease of disputing.
Well, Mike, respectfully, I'll vote against the idea. Any real flowchart would have to take into consideration the literally hundreds of permutations that occur right from the start and down to the finish. Just to list a few examples: 1) By "credit repair" does the individual mean cleaning up tradelines on CRA files, getting out of debt, negotiating with creditors for more favorable terms, etc., or some combination of the above? It seems like every individual here presents a unique case that a flowchart wouldn't quite fit. 2) Does the individual have only isolated late-pay notations, or fully-paid but very late tradelines, or collection accounts, or judgments, or bankruptcy 7 or 13 (or, again, some combination)? Each of these might and usually does require a slightly different point of entry -- not to mention a divergent fund of knowledge and experience. 3) Are the debts student loans, credit cards, mortgages, car payments, installment loans, etc.? Different laws and standards of practice govern each of these. Did somebody say "simple flowchart"? 4) What are the individual's goals? Is the person a 40 year old who's going for a mortage in 10 months? Is she (or he) just out of college and wanting to just get some good prime credit cards and a nice car in the next year or two? The goals and envisioned timeline will almost certainly help to define what methods will be employed as well as how aggressive the person must be in order to achieve those goals. 5) Is the individual willing to go to court? Or are there a few confounding variables in the mix that might preclude such willingness (like fear of court, or possibly even a prior legal history of the type that might make one dodge ones local courtrooms at any cost, etc.)? Whether or not the individual is ultimately willing to litigate will almost certainly help to define a number of tactics and even methods (record detail, etc.) along the way. So... Mike... I'm sorry, but in my opinion a flowchart that attempts to provide a simple visual representation may well serve to mislead someone and even harm them rather than to illuminate the process. Now I feel like a party-pooper, but since you asked, and since your excellent question aroused a few hopefully informed opinions here, I thought I would go ahead and answer. Doc
You may be right Doc, there are many variables I realize. I was thinking in terms of a general sequence chart, a genertic overview of sorts. Do you see any way that one could be created that would not overwhelm a new person yet still contain enough data to be useful? Having worked in the engineering field I have found that a graphic representation is an effective method to communicate and educate.
Erica, I don't think such a chart could take place of this board and the exchange of information that goes on here. It might though, help provide a frame of reference, or orientation for new people like myself.
Yes, I have, read through it all and found much useful information there. Though some of it seems to conflict with what many people in the forum are in actual practice doing. I suppose that a lot of the confusion that I and other new people experience is due to the fact that this is a somewhat complex subject with respect to the volume of information you need to intake. I know that I sometimes tend to try to absorb too much information too quick without taking time to really think it through as well as I should. Another observation that I have made since I discovered CeditNet. This is one of the most useful and enjoyable forums I have found after being online for around 6 years. I think that it is a perfect example of one of the prime intentions of the internet, a free exchange of ideas.
I myself would LOVE a flowchart or something similar. It might be helpful to mention I am Quality Assurance Tester and need a certain 'detailed instructions'. I can't figure out where to go after the validation letters are forwarded to the collection agencies. I keep sitting here to trying to figure out my strategy before I begin, because I don't want to blow things once I have started. Thanks
I think a FAQ section would be good. The flowchart, I don't know....There are just so many variables. The one thing that wasn't clear to me was get a val. letter into the ca first before starting to dispute with the CRAs. I was doing the simultaneous thing. Now, the CAs have not even signed for some of the val letters that I sent so they are verifying with the CRAs. Maybe a very generalize sequence of steps you can take. I personally don't like flowchart, they have to really spell it out to me for it to be effective. Anything added should be under the members-only section, in my opinion.
