Credit Repair Specialist - Beware!
If your credit is dangling between fair and disastrous, you may be desperate for a quick solution to repairing it. Millions of others are in the same situation, and there are plenty of scam artists who are ready to take advantage of that desperation. If you want to repair your credit with the assistance of credit repair specialists, beware.
Not every credit repair specialist wants to help you - many are simply out to make a quick buck. So before you fork out big money to engage the help of a an outsider, keep in mind:
- You have the ability to repair your own credit. The only difference between you and a credit repair specialist is they get paid to repair your credit.
- If the specialist asks for money upfront, run away as fast as you can. If you give money before he actually starts working, you’re facing a good possibility that you’ll never see him again. Never pay a credit repair specialist, if you engage one’s services, until after he’s started working.
- If a credit repair specialist promises he can get negative information wiped off your credit report quickly (it generally takes a minimum of 90 days), again run the other way. He may well be able to get negative information taken off quickly. However, in order to do so, he’s going to use methods that are not ethical or legal. Furthermore, that negative information may be wiped off for a brief period, but it will appear again.
- Even if you’ve paid off outstanding debts, you’ll still find it’s listed on your credit report for seven years. If someone promises he can get such information taken off your credit report, he’s lying. Such information cannot be removed until seven years have passed.
- If you’ve received a telemarketing phone call from a credit repair specialist offering you his services and you accept, you are protected by law. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, the credit repair specialist is forbidden to contact you regarding payment after rendering their services until six months have passed. If you receive demand for payment before the six months are up, report them to the FTC.
Many legal and credit experts recommend not engaging the services of an independent credit repair specialist. You can easily repair your own credit report - for free. At the most, you may have to pay $10 or less for a copy of your credit report. If you do feel better using an outside company, do your homework to avoid being scammed.
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About This Article: Copyright (c) 2005 by Dennis Becker. You may publish this article, in its entirety, on your web site or in your ezine, as long as you include this full signature box including an active hyperlink to our web site. |