Bad credit on any one’s report is a bad thing but when that bad credit mark shouldn’t be there, it can be can be a pain to get rid of it.  Thousands of Americans have marks on their reports that shouldn’t be there and that’s why it’s important to get a credit report every year just to be safe to make sure everything looks okay.  If you do find that there are some shady marks on your report, here are some things you can do to successfully fix your bad marks.

Step One- The first step you’re going to want to take is to grab ahold of your credit report from any of the major credit bureaus.  The reason you’ll need this is because you’ll want to send these reports along with your dispute letter as evidence.  Without the evidence, it’s going to be harder to get your marks removed.  The credit report is crucial.  Below are the numbers you can call in order to get your reports –

• TransUnion:  800.916.8800
• Equifax:  888.397.3747
• Experian:  800.685.1111

Step Two – Write down the things you want to dispute.  You can dispute just about anything ranging from a wrong address to the incorrect amount of money owed.  If anything is wrong you can generally dispute it.  Make sure that you know what you want to dispute when you prepare to write your letter to the bureaus.

Step Three – Start writing your letter.  There are plenty of examples you can find online on how you can dispute your claims.  Make sure you send your dispute to all three of the major bureaus named above.  In this dispute, include any type of evidence ranging from your reports to your credit card statements, etc.  The more evidence you have, the more it’ll help.  When you send it off, make sure you alert them that you’re sending it.  They will probably give you a confirmation number.

Step Four- Once you get that confirmation number, make usre that you follow up on your dispute at least once a week.  Make sure you keep following up until you get that bad mark removed.  Sometimes if you don’t do this, they may not get to it.  Don’t be afraid to breathe down their necks because remember, these bad marks are harming your credit future!

Step Five – Once you have successfully reached the end of an agreement, make sure you get it in writing along with a new copy of your credit report showing that it has been removed.  Once you receive this from the company, you should file it safely away just in case it pops up in the future for some known reason.  As I mentioned a few times, the more evidence you have, the better.

In the long haul, bad credit marks that shouldn’t be there should always be disputed.  You’re only hurting yourself if you let them stay there.  The long you wait, the more it’ll hurt you.  These steps above should only take a few minutes of your time and it’ll be worth it.  If you’re simply lazy and don’t feel like following the steps, hire a service that will help you.  Either way you do it, you’ll feel good in the long run knowing that your credit report is squeaky clean.

If you’re currently one of the millions of Americans in debt and you’re looking to boost your fico score, well look no further.  I’ve compiled a few steps that have worked for thousands and it can work for you as well.  All it takes is a little bit of your time and dedication to your credit report and you’ll see an improvement in no time at all.

Fix all corrections on your report – If you haven’t done so already, make sure you head off and get a copy of your credit report.  When you get your credit report, sit down, and browse through it.  If you see anything that looks fishy, make sure you fix this ASAP.  These inaccuracies can hurt your FICO score.  This is something you don’t want!

Negotiate bad credit marks- If there’s some bad credit marks on your report, this is hurting your score.  Try and call up the credit company and see if you can negotiate to get it removed.  Ask nicely and try to work out a deal.  Some companies will work with you and some won’t.  If you can get them to remove it, that’s great!  If not, at least you’ve tried.

Keep paying off debt- This is a no brainer.  If you have debt, don’t stop paying it off, instead pay off at least the minimum.  Credit card companies want to see activity.  Your minimum amount due shouldn’t be that much and if you can keep this up month to month, you will slowly see your score rise.  If you sit there and you don’t pay your bills off, this is only going to hurt you more.  When you’re hurting for cash, try and go out and find a side job like delivering pizzas or mowing lawns, nothing should hold you back!

Keep old accounts opened – Look at all of your credit cards you currently have.  Set aside all of the older cards and keep these accounts open.  Card companies love to see old established credit.  This allows them to see what kind of spending you do.  If you have nothing but new credit, they companies are going to be a little iffy with you and this again will hurt your score.  What I recommend is you cut up your credit card but you just keep the account open.

Repairing your fico score takes a while and it won’t happen overnight but if you apply these techniques to your long run strategy, you will soon see your score rise.  Just remember to pay off your minimum balance, keep you head up, and focus on becoming debt free.

Millions of people in America are in debt and while it’s a hard thing to live through, it’s the not the end of the world.  Millions are debt but many do come out the hole and turn things around.  Could this person be you?  Of course it can be! If you have the self discipline and motivation to get out of that hole, you can truly get out.

If you plan on buying a car or home in the future, you should know that these companies are going to check your credit scores.  If you have a bad credit score, you can kiss your chances of getting a good loan goodbye.  If you have great credit, you’ll get a great rate and the loan for the amount you needed. 

The best way in my opinion is to start rebuilding your credit with secured credit cards.  This type of credit card will most likely get you approved regardless of how your credit is.  Let’s look at how you can rebuild your credit the smart way –

Check your credit report – The first thing you’re going to want to do is check your credit report.  By checking your credit report, you’ll be able to see if there are any marks that don’t look familiar.  If you find something that doesn’t look right, contact the credit agencies immediately and try to get this resolved, so that it’s taken off of your report.

Apply for your card – When you’re applying for your secured card, make sure you glance at all of the options that you have.  Apply for a card that reports to the bureaus and will help your credit score.  You won’t want to get this credit card just to buy stuff.  This is going to hurt you in the long run.

Start using the card – Once you get that card, start using it but make sure you spend what you can afford.  The whole point here is to pay the card off in full.  If you fail to do so, you’ll soon find out that you’re going to be in that debt hole once again.  Once you use the card long enough, you’ll slowly see your credit score start to rise.

When rebuilding your credit, make sure that you note that you’re going to want to use your credit card wisely.  If you don’t think you can, I would avoid them and try to get loans another way, which is going to be hard.  Try your best to discipline yourself.  Set up plans, envelope systems, anything that can help you with your debt troubles.  If you spend wisely, you’ll find yourself out of the debt hole in no time.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before when you’re looking for a job or you might be the companies newest employee, “We’re going to have to check your credit.”  I know.  It just doesn’t make sense.  Why does a company have to check your credit in order for you to get a job.  Does it make you a bad person or does your credit show the future employer how you’re going to work?  While I disagree with these accusations, you need to know your rights are here they are –

An employer needs your permission – If you’re applying for a job and that company wants to run a background check on your or look into your credit history, they will need to get your permission.  If they don’t get your permission and you find that they did make a check, they would be violating the FRCA, which is the Fair Credit Reporting Act

You should be notified – If your bad credit is going to be used against you in your job, an employer will need to notify you.  As mentioned in the last point, if they fail to do so,  they will once again be violating the FRCA.

Bankruptcies won’t hurt you – If you filed bankruptcy in the past, an employer can’t fire you because of this reason.  According to U.S. Code, employers are prohibited from firing someone solely based on their financial past.  If you found yourself being fired for this reason, I would contact an attorney that could assist you with the matter.

Before you apply for a job, it never hurts to fix up your credit report or history.  Just because the employer looks at it, doesn’t mean they are going to hire you.  A lot of the times, the employer may see this and be turned off and in turn, they will lie on why they didn’t hire you.  Just to be safe with the American workforce, I would look into starting to improve your credit score as soon as you can.  Not only will it help you in everyday finances, it will help you with your job.

When someone you know or you’re currently in debt, it’s hard to find the right resources in order to improve one’s credit score.  While there’s only so much information we can comprehend, the true question is if it’s real or just a bunch of non-sense.  I’ve compiled a list of the top three debt fixing books on the market that can help you take the right path to financial freedom.

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

If you haven’t heard of Dave Ramsey now, he’s a legend on the radio known for getting thousands out of debt.  His book has been inspirational for many that have been thousands in debt.  Dave Ramsey’s concept is very simple and easy to follow.  His book comes complete with simple and common sense instructions on how you can get out of the hole in no time and live a stress free life.

Cashflow Quadrant:  Rich Dad’s Guide by Robert T. Kiyosaki

The Rich Dad series is yet another hit among those want to learn more about money whether it be investing, getting out of debt, or teaching your kids to handle money, the rich dad series is a very easy read and it’s straight to the point.  After reading this book, you’ll be motivated to want to cut back on your debt and start making money.  This book is great for those looking to find alternative ways to make money on the side or full time.

How to Get out of Debt by Jerrold Mundis

The How to Get out of Debt guide is a very reasonable book that can be picked up for less than $10.  His focus is that there is hope for those that are in debt.  Just because you have your head down, doesn’t mean you’re done financially.  His book focuses more on a friendly style that shows life stories along with other excerpts.  It’s a must read guide if you’re serious about getting out of debt.

There are literally thousands of books that are online that you help you solve your debt problems.  If none of these three books appeal to you, I’ve included a few links that can help you find what you need.  In your search, be sure to read the reviews to see what others have thought of it and how it impacted their lives.

• Amazon.com – Getting out of Debt Books
• Half.com – Cheap Used Debt Books