Last Update :
Using Legal Credit Repair Options to Raise Your Credit Score
Surprisingly, there are legal avenues available to raise your credit report scores. These techniques are valid and since there are very few things we, as Americans, can accomplish without an acceptable credit score, these techniques are often a must. Whether we're seeking to obtain suitable housing or dependable transportation, we need to be in good standing with the credit reporting agencies. If you are one of the millions of Americans that has bad or bruised credit, engaging the following methods of legal credit repair can help get you to where you want to be.
1. Get a copy of your free credit report from any of the three major credit reporting agencies. Once you've received your credit reports, dispute any negative information you find. There are dispute forms available for download on their sites or in any of their local offices. Send these forms to the agencies via certified mail and always maintain detailed records. At this point, it becomes the responsibility of the agency to verify the negative items with the creditor that placed it. If that can't be done, they must remove it from your report. This must be completed in a reasonable timeframe - usually thirty to forty five days. Statistics show roughly 45% of items will not be verified, and therefore must be removed.
2. Pay off or at least pay down your credit cards. Your credit score is based on two considerations. The first is the timeliness with which your make your payments. The second is how much of the available credit extended to you is being used. When you keep your charges at 30% or lower than the high limits, it shows restraint and responsibility. This is an excellent way to increase your credit scores.
3. Some of your older credit cards that have gone unused should now be put to use. The older an account is and the longer it is kept in good standing reflects aging on an account and improves your credit report score. Use those old cards from time to time to keep quality and varied reporting to the bureaus. Be sure to pay the balances in full each month.
You must use what you have to get what you need. Legal credit repair is your right and you should certainly take advantage of it!