Credit
Repair: Help Yourself First
"Credit
Problems? NO problem ..."
"We can erase your bad
credit100% guaranteed."
"We can remove bankruptcies,
judgments, liens,
and bad loans from your credit file, FOREVER!"
"Create a new credit
identitylegally."
Do yourself a favor and
save some money, too. Dont believe these statements. Newspapers, radio, TV, and the
Internet are filled with ads that offerfor a feeto erase accurate negative
information in your credit file so you can get a credit card, auto loan, home mortgage, or
even a job. The scam artists who run these ads cant deliver. Only time, a deliberate
effort, and a personal debt repayment plan will improve your credit.
The companies that advertise credit repair services appeal
to consumers with poor credit histories. Not only cant they provide you with
a clean credit record, they may be encouraging you to violate federal law. If they ask you
to make false statements on a loan or credit application, misrepresent your Social
Security number, or advise you to get an Employer Identification Number from the Internal
Revenue Service under false pretenses, you will be committing fraud.
The truth is you can help yourself to re-build a
better credit record. Start by contacting your creditors when you realize that you are
unable to make payments. If you need help working out a payment plan and a budget, contact
your local credit counseling service. There are non-profit groups in every state that
offer credit guidance to consumers. These services are available at little or no cost.
Also, check with your employer, credit union, or housing authority for no-cost credit
counseling programs.
In addition, you have specific rights under the Fair
Credit Reporting Act:
- You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report if
youve been denied credit, insurance or employment and request the report within 60
days of notice, or if you can prove that (1) youre unemployed and plan to look for a
job within 60 days, (2) youre on welfare, or (3) your report is inaccurate because
of fraud.
- If your application for credit, insurance, or employment is
denied because of inaccurate or incomplete credit information, the company to which you
applied must give you the name and address of the reporting credit bureau.
- There is no charge to dispute mistakes or outdated
information on your credit record. Ask the credit bureau for a dispute form and submit it
with any supporting documentation.
Other facts you should know:
- Bankruptcy information can be reported for 10 years.
- Information about a lawsuit or judgment against you can be
reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is
longer.
- Information reported because of an application for a job
with a salary of more than $75,000 has no time limit.
- Information reported because of an application for more
than $150,000 worth of credit or life insurance has no time limit.
The FTC works for the consumer to
prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and
avoid them. To file a
complaint or to get free information
on consumer issues, visit
www.ftc.gov or
call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The
FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related
complaints into
Consumer Sentinel, a
secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law
enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
|
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION |
FOR THE CONSUMER |
1-877-FTC-HELP |
www.ftc.gov |
|
March 1998 |