We have all seen the ads all over the internet where companies promise you that they can erase your bad credit. Can it be done? Yes, but it does require a little work on your part. By doing it yourself, you can save hundreds of dollars and I will show you how. Before I explain, in detail, how this can be done, let me first tell you that you can dispute all derogatory items on your credit, regardless if you actually owe the money or not. I will show you ways how you can beat the credit bureaus at their own game. Believe me, it can be done. Is it simple? For some, it just might be, but for others, it may take a little longer. Regardless, I will explain how you can clean your credit up yourself and save a lot of money in the process.

First and foremost, the credit bureaus are governed by the Federal Trade Commission. Within their policies and procedures are ways that you can use those against the credit bureaus. These policies and procedures are set forth to protect us, the consumer. With them, I will show you just how easy it is to start getting your own credit files cleaned up and raising your credit scores in the process. The beauty of all this is that you pay nothing to obtain the knowledge. I have been helping people clean their credit up for years, and take great pride knowing I never once charged a single dime. I don't care if it is a bankruptcy, civil judgement, repo, late payments, charge-offs, or collections, they all can be deleted from your credit files.

I will also explain how you can deal with a collection company to get them off of your backs, and to put a final stop on their harassment. I will even give you a sample letter to send to each of the credit bureaus, as well provide you a letter that will cease and desist pesky collectors. Believe me folks, if you follow my step by step process, I promise you that you will see a significant change in your credit reports, as well as your credit scores. If you are looking to purchase a new home, or a new car, if you'll follow my easy to follow guide, then you will save thousands of dollars, and this, I guarantee!

Step One: The first thing you will need to do is to obtain all three credit reports. You can visit www.annualcreditreport.com, www.truecredit.com, www.transunion.com, www.equifax.com. There are plenty of other sources you can obtain your 3 in 1 from, but you DO NOT need to pay for a credit analysis or your credit scores. That will be a total and complete waste of your hard earned money. If this is your first time obtaining your credit reports, it is absolutely free at www.annualcreditreport.com. Under Federal law, you are allowed to receive one FREE credit report from all three bureaus once per year.

Step Two: After receiving your 3 in 1 credit reports, make 1 copy of each. Keep the original for your own records. Speaking of records, some of us are well organized while some of us are not so organized. Obtain 3 folders, writing each of the bureaus (Equifax, Transunion, & Experian) on the front of their own perspective folder. This will assist you in keeping track of all documentation. Get accustomed to placing the oldest copy at the back, so that as the documents come in, keep placing the newest in front of the prior document.

Step Three: On a clean sheet of paper, begin listing all the derogatory claims on your credit files. Begin with one report, then move on to the next until you have listed all the derogatory marks against you. Once you have done that, then you are now ready to begin typing your first dispute letter. Here is an example of your initial letter:

From: Your full name

Your address: XXXX

To: Credit Bureau's name

Credit Bureau's address

Date: For your records, you will want to use the same date for all 3. This will allow you to keep proper records of each transaction. 

To whom it may concern:

Upon receipt of my 3 in 1 credit report, I have noticed numerous errors that I want to bring to your attention to be rectified immediately. It is my understanding that you are responsible for ensuring that my credit files are true and accurate in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission. Implementing those same rights protected unto me by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I now request that upon completion of your investigation, and any findings you proclaim to be validated, I request that you send me the person's name to whom you verified the information with, their contact address, and their direct phone number. If you cannot provide this information, then under those policies and procedures set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, each alleged item must be deleted. It is also my understanding that you have 30 days from the date in which you signed for this letter of dispute to complete your investigation.  

Below is a list of derogatory claims listed on my credit report that demands immediate deletion:

Account name:

Account #

Status:

Balance:

***This section is used for you to explain why the account should be deleted. Example: Not mine, never late, I called this company, but was unable to obtain information regarding their alleged claim.*** (Even if it is a valid account, you must write something, but please don't say it is a valid claim. That in and of itself will defeat the purpose of disputing it.)

***Keep following this format until you have posted all derogatory claims***

Under those laws in which you are governed by, you have 30 days to complete your investigation. Any findings you declare valid, under those same laws set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, I want you to include that person's name to whom you spoke with in order to validate said claim, their contact address, and their direct phone number. If you fail to provide this information, then said disputed item must be deleted in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation,

Print your full name

Sign your full name

***In order for the credit bureaus to investigate your disputes, you must provide them with a copy of your drivers license, or state identification, a copy of your social security card, and one copy of at least two utilities bills. This must be done for each bureau and each time you send them a dispute letter***

Step four: Now that you have your letters to be sent off to each credit bureau, you will want to send them via certified mail. By doing so, this will allow you to be the recipient of their signed form that they have received your letter. The date in which they signed, their 30 day time period has now begun.

Step five: Just sit back and wait for your credit reports to arrive at your mailbox. When each of the three bureau reports start coming in, you will see their findings of your initial dispute letter. The results vary with the initial letter. Some folks have seen as many as 8 deletions their first attempt, while others had zero. Regardless of your results, don't get too happy or too depressed. With their official credit reports now in your possession, the party just got started!

Step six: Once you have received their official credit reports, make at least two copies of each. Now, with the copy you will be sending back to the perspective credit bureau, use a yellow highlighter and high-lite all the accounts that are derogatory. Do the same to the other copy for your records.  

Step seven: Using the same basic format as your initial letter, but now we will include the following:

Following the date, you will now add their: File Number/Confirmation Number (This number will usually be at the top right hand corner of their credit reports.

Step eight: The format for the second dispute letter is a bit different. Here is an example for you to follow:

To whom it may concern:

On (date in which they signed for your initial dispute letter) you signed for my certified letter disputing derogatory claims on my credit report. Thank you for your timely investigation, however, you failed to provide me with the person's name you spoke with who validated this claim, nor did you provide me with their address, nor their direct phone number. (They never provide this information) You are now in violation of the Federal Trade Commissions laws in which you are governed by. Attached to this letter, is the first letter I sent you and you can clearly see that I asked for this information two separate times within the same letter. 

At this time, I will document those alleged claims which are derogatory and it is my understanding that you now have 15 days to complete your investigation. If these items are not deleted immediately, I will seek civil restitution as well as report your violations to the Federal Trade Commission, and (your state) Attorney General's Office.

Account name:

Account number:

Status:

Balance:

(Your dispute)

Follow this format until you have posted all derogatory accounts.

Attached to this document is a copy of my first letter, a copy of your official credit report with those derogatory claims highlighted, a copy of my drivers license, a copy of my social security card, and a copy of (Whatever utility bills you have).

Thank you in advance for your cooperation,

Print your full name

Sign your full name

***Include all items to be mailed via certified letters***

Mailing addresses for the Credit Bureaus

Equifax

P.O. Box 740241

Atlanta, GA., 30374

(1-800-685-1111)

Experian

P.O. Box 2002

Allen, TX., 75013

(1-888-397-3742)

Transunion

P.O. Box 1000

Chester, PA., 19022

(1-800-888-4213)

***Repeat this process until your credit is clean and your credit scores are high. Everyone is different and the results are always different. Believe me, every derogatory claim can be deleted from your files. Regardless if the claim is accurate, you are going to beat the bureaus at their own game. They are notorious for making a lot of mistakes, and with those mistakes, they now become your advantage*** 

I strongly encourage everyone to visit the Federal Trade Commissions website. There, you can actually copy those laws that the bureaus will be in violation of. Also, please visit FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT for more helpful information. Use those laws to clean your credit. It only takes a few minutes of your time, and that will be time well spent. Hundreds, if not thousands of dollars can be your total savings.

COLLECTIONS & HARASSING COLLECTORS

Rule #1 - NEVER negotiate or even talk with them concerning an alleged debt.

Rule #2 - These folks are bottom feeders and collection companies purchase bad debts for pennies on the dollar.

Rule #3 - Please visit TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (Governed by the Federal Communication Commission) This can be an end all to ANY debt collector harassing you over the phone. Here is a simple little thing you can say to a debt collector: This is an inconvenient time for me. Only call me (give a time and a day that you know you will not be home, but leave your answering machine on. Then, simply hang up!

It is illegal for them to publicly announce on an answering machine any details about the alleged debt.) As a general rule, most of these people who call you from a debt collection agency are total morons and have no clue about the laws in which they are governed by. Under the TCPA, it is a $500.00 fine per each infraction.

 Also, you can visit the FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT (Governed by the Federal Trade Commission) Any violation that you are a victim of, please go to www.ftc.com. You can post a complaint with them, and they do not play!

If you have received a letter from a collection company, then do the following:

Make a copy of their letter. On that copy, with a permanent black marker, in big letters write:

FRAUD

CEASE AND DESIST ALL FORMS OF COLLECTION ACTIVITIES

Once you have done that, then sit down at your computer and write the following:

To whom it may concern:

You sent me a letter in error and I have no knowledge of an account, or an agreement with you or your agency. If you have any documentation, be it in writing or verbal, please feel free to provide me with said information. Since you cannot do so, at this time, under those laws protected unto me, I hereby declare you to CEASE AND DESIST ALL FORMS OF COLLECTION ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING REPORTING YOUR ALLEGED CLAIM TO THE CREDIT BUREAUS!

Any further violations will result in me reporting you to the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau, and (your state) Attorney General's Office. If you ignore this lawful command, then I may seek civil restitution as well.

Have a good day,

Sign your name

***Send this letter via certified mail and make sure you keep copies of your letter, just in case you do want to seek a civil action***

You CAN clean up your credit files and you CAN stop debt collectors dead in their tracks. Why would you want to pay a company your hard earned money to clean up your credit with your new found knowledge of doing it yourself?