Credit Repair: The Whole Story

The Right Way

Credit repair expert Jim Kemish outlines a comprehensive approach that insures success. It turns out that it is really just a first step. Historically credit bureau disputes have been the heart of the credit repair process.

When most people think of credit bureau disputes.

The Real Problem with Disputes

Credit bureau disputes are the essential backbone of every successful credit repair program. And almost without exception it is necessary to start the process with these disputes. But if your efforts are confined only to disputing your issues with the credit bureaus you are virtually guaranteed to be disappointed.

Hitting the Credit Repair Wall

If you send a dispute letter to the credit bureaus you will receive a response back within thirty days or so. You might be excited to see that some of the problem items have been removed. You are also likely to see that some of the items that you have questioned have been verified. This can be frustrating. What is the next step? You might think that a second dispute is in order, and you may be right. Or you may be wrong. Read carefully. Has the credit bureau asked you to address all future inquiries to the original creditor? If so you may discover that additional credit bureau disputes produce no results.

Moving On

Many consumers in search of professional credit repair services will find an ample supply of credit repair companies offering a basic low cost program that consists entirely of credit bureau disputes. What happens to this consumer when the credit bureaus ask you to direct future inquiries to the original creditor? There are two possibilities.

The End of the Road

If you sign up for a credit repair program that only offers credit bureau disputes there is almost zero likelihood that you will end up as a satisfied customer. After the first round of disputes you may get few additional results. Or, if the company that you have chosen does offer additional levels of service you will probably find it necessary to upgrade to a more expensive version of the program in order to get the results that you desire. The truth is that the dispute only version of the program should never have been offered.

An Honest Approach

Remember that I started by saying that credit bureau disputes are the essential backbone of every successful credit repair program. It is so. In fact, it?s absolutely logical to start your dispute process with the credit bureaus. But to stop there would be like putting your socks on and then imagining that you are fully dressed. A truly effective credit repair program will seamlessly move from credit bureau disputes to creditors as a natural part of the process. Collection agencies can be challenged as needed in the same way.

The Educated Consumer

Credit Repair can and will produce fantastic results if done in a competent and comprehensive manner. Would you go to dinner at a restaurant that only cooks the food half way? Would you hire an auto mechanic that takes your engine apart but doesn?t quite put it back together again? Of course not! Make sure that your credit repair company will complete the job that you hired them for.

A Smooth Process

It is our opinion that a credit repair program should be inclusive of every step that is necessary to produce the final desired result. And the credit repair professional should be armed with every tool needed to do the job. We believe that the process should be offered as a unified whole. Our customers hire us for the most important reasons in the world. Their goals are inseparable from the quality of their financial life. We believe that credit should be taken seriously.

Beyond the Dispute

It turns out that the details can make all of the difference in the world. A good credit repair company make sure that they have the universal perspective that will produce the real results that you want. I cannot emphasize this enough!

But it is also equally imperative that these activities occur in the context of a complete understanding of both the credit scoring model and the way creditors view credit in making a decision. A comprehensive dispute process encompassing the credit bureaus, creditors, and even collection agencies is essential for success.

All Rights Reserved. All Content. Kemish. 2007 James W.

Copyright ?

Credit Repair And Defaulted Student Loans

The Cure For Defaulted Student Loans

Credit repair expert Jim Kemish offers some insight and a cure. What to do? And unless you are totally and permanently disabled, there is no way that you can discharge your student loans in a bankruptcy. There is no statute of limitation for collection of defaulted student loans.

The Default Story

Legally, a default occurs the first time you fail to make a payment when it is due. But if you fail to make your student loan payment for 180 days, your loan will enter the ?official? default status and take on a life of its own. This is the point at which the lender will report your student loan as defaulted to the credit bureaus. It is also the point at which a long list of bad things can start to occur. Your tax refund checks can be seized and your wages can be garnished.

What Happened?

Why are student loans so different from all other debts? Well, prior to 1991 the U.S. Department of Education was empowered to collect delinquent student loans for only six years. But in 1991 an amendment to the Higher U.S. Department of Education Act lifted all time limits for collection. And the amendment was retroactive; student loans that were past the statute of limitation for collection prior to the amendment became collectable again. And to further reinforce the longevity of student loan debt, a 1998 change in federal law made it virtually impossible to discharge student loan debt in a bankruptcy.

The Reason for All This

The theory behind making sure that student loan debt can be collected forever is simple; the cost of student loans can be kept low by minimizing the number of borrowers that don?t repay. And since education, and the availability of low cost education loans, is always a political priority, it was not all that difficult to enact these changes.

The Ultimate Collectors

There is simply no way to escape the U.S. Department of Education and their army of private collection agencies that collect on their behalf. In addition, Sallie Mae, the nation?s largest student loan lender, has been purchasing collection agencies to track you down. So, what if they find you and you say you have no money? Well, the U.S. Department of Education now has the right to garnish wages, grab your tax refunds, and even seize your Social Security Checks (you read that right!), all without a court order. And, although Sallie Mae does not wield the same powers, they have started to turn over hard cases to the U.S. Department of Education to get the job done. Anyone attempting credit repair must realize that student loans must be dealt with head on, and the sooner the better.

Credit Repair Options

There are two great solutions that are designed to solve all of your student loan problems. Both of these options can stop all collection activity, lower your interest rate and payment, and reinstate your right to borrow more money for school (in case you want to go back to school). There are no qualification requirements and you are not punished for having bad credit. Everyone gets the same low interest rate. These two options are consolidation and rehabilitation. Both are a good fit with any credit repair process.

Student Loan Consolidation

Just contact the lender or collector and tell them that you would like to consolidate your defaulted loans. You will be required to make three monthly payments on time. Once you have done this you will qualify for consolidation. If you are attempting credit repair you should note that after consolidation your credit report will be updated to show the consolidated status, but the default notation will remain, like most derogatory information, for seven years. If you are in a rough patch the consolidation program allows for up to three years forbearance. Ask your lender for details. My focus has been on defaulted student loans, but it may be handy to note that you do not need to be in default to enjoy the benefits of consolidation.

Rehabilitation

As always, contact your lender to discuss the details. Borrowers are allowed to rehabilitate a defaulted student loan one time only. If you are attempting credit repair you should note that your payment history, including any late payments that you made, will remain, but your credit score will benefit from the removal of the default.

Once done, it is like it never happened. and is sold to a new lender, and the default is wiped off of your credit. Once you have completed this process your loan is considered ?seasoned? To rehabilitate your loan you need to make nine to twelve consecutive on-time payments (depending on which type of student loan you have). This is a slightly longer process, but has the extra benefit of removing the default status notation from your credit report.

All Rights Reserved. All Content. Kemish.

2007 James W. Copyright ?

Credit Repair And The American Dream

What Are Your Dreams?

Credit repair expert Jim Kemish explains how to make your dream of home ownership come true. It?s part of the American Dream. Everyone wants to own a home. The quality of your credit will determine the affordability of your monthly mortgage payment.

A Great Investment

Home ownership has always been considered an integral part of the American Dream. Over the last fifty years those that were able to realize this dream have experienced a great financial benefit. Home ownership, in fact, has contributed more to the wealth of the individual than any other investment. But there is another side to home ownership; it is also the most significant financial obligation that most people will ever undertake. If managed properly home ownership can be a source of great pleasure. If mismanaged, the results can be devastating.

Better Rate More Choice

I have helped people repair and restore their credit reports since 1989. The most common concern amongst our customers has always been the impact that their credit report will have on the mortgage application process. The relationship between your credit and your mortgage is simple; the better your credit, the lower your interest rate and the more choice you will have among mortgage programs.

The Potential of Credit Repair

If you have had credit issues in the past it is essential to your financial life that you have a very clear understanding of how credit repair can help get you back on solid financial ground again. To understand the potential of credit repair there is a myth that needs to be dispelled. This myth is that you are the only one who can repair your own credit. This is a line that was originally promulgated by the credit bureaus and is now parroted by others.

Can You Do it Yourself?

The motivation of the credit bureaus to sell the do-it-yourself campaign was obvious to those of us in the credit repair business. The credit bureaus are well aware of the fact that the vast majority of individuals that undertake the effort to repair their own credit do not have the time or tenacity to understand the system. And without a proper understanding most people will quit out of frustration, or give up believing that they have done everything that can be done. Either way, the credit bureaus will save time and money.

The Role of the Credit Repair Professional

All professions provide the benefit of a mastery of their own field. Although it is certainly true that you could repair your own credit, it is equally true that you could make your own clothes or repair your own car. The economy thrives on the diversity of expertise that is offered in the marketplace. Those that do not have the time or energy to do the extensive research needed to do a job properly can hire someone else to do the work for them. A credit repair professional offers the benefit of his experience in dealing with the three credit bureaus, creditors, and collection agencies. He should also have an in depth understanding of everything that can have an impact on your credit score.

Improving Your Credit Scores

Would you like to purchase a home or refinance to a lower interest rate? The mortgage that you are able to obtain will be entirely dependant on the content of your credit report. As a credit repair professional I speak to people daily who have been told that they either cannot qualify for a mortgage due to their credit, or only qualify for a very expensive sub-prime mortgage. In our examination of their credit reports we often discover that there are a significant number of errors that are depressing their credit scores dramatically.

Putting Your Credit to Work for You

Much of the misreported information that appears on credit reports goes unrecognized. Items such as duplicate accounts, understated high credit limits, and misstated account opening dates are often ignored because they are not derogatory per se. These items along with the obvious erroneous derogatory information can all be cleaned up. And the results can make the difference between an affordable mortgage and a stressful monthly payment.

Choose Carefully

And, in making the decision you should remember the potential impact that your credit works just as hard for you. If you do not feel up to the task you should hire someone to get the job done for you. If you have the time and inclination to learn credit repair yourself you should make the effort. The American Dream is achievable and it depends on your credit.

All Rights Reserved. All Content. Kemish. 2007 James W.

Copyright ?

Time For a Credit Repair Tune Up!

Every Point Counts!

A nationally recognized credit repair expert explains how to give your credit score the tune up it needs. Every point makes a difference! Your credit score will determine the interest rate you pay on every dollar you borrow, from your car loan to your mortgage.

Starting your Credit Repair Tune Up: Get Your Reports

A credit repair tune up does not have to be hard. If you break up the project into smaller tasks the whole job will be a breeze. Don?t be intimidated. Take it slow and you will get the job done. Each little step along the way can add points to your credit score and move you closer to your credit repair goals.

Credit Repair Made Simple - One Bureau at a Time

There are three credit bureaus, so you need to tune up three credit reports. Many people starting a credit repair effort are intimidated when they see their reports. The formats are unique and the information reported by each bureau is different. Don?t worry; you don?t have to work on all three reports at the same time. There is no economy of scale. Start with one report, do what needs to be done, and then move on to the next one. Slow and steady wins the race.

High Credit Limits

Begin your credit repair tune up with something easy. I suggest you get a highlighter and mark the high credit limits on your accounts, both installment and revolving. If you find an account with an underreported limit it is costing you points on your scores, possibly significant points. It is easy to correct a limit error, just dispute it with the offending credit bureau and attach a copy of a recent statement showing the correct limit. Your credit repair tune up is off to a good start.

Account Opening Dates

The age of each account has an impact on your credit scores. Credit repair rule number one: an old account is a good account. Highlight your account opening dates. If you find one that underreports an opening date you should contact the creditor and inform them of the error and ask them to report it correctly. You should also ask them for a letter indicating the account opening date and then submit it to the bureaus yourself. You will be surprised with the results?

Credit Repair and Collection Accounts

The sale of debt is so common in the collection industry that you may find a single collectable account reported many times on your credit report. Collectors that no longer own a debt are not allowed to report it to the credit bureaus. And yet there is no incentive for collectors to cease reporting when they sell the debt to another collector. If you see the same account being collected by more than one collector, dispute all but the most recent. They will be removed. Your credit repair tune up is really getting into gear.

Negotiating Uncollectable Collections

Collections may be collected through the courts for a limited amount of time determined by state law. These time limits are called statutes of limitation (SOL) and are usually surprisingly short. If a debt cannot be collected through the courts it cannot be enforced. Please note that the SOL is not the same as the reporting period limit for your credit report. So, you may want to negotiate these ?uncollectable? collections as part of your credit repair effort. The collector will love to hear from you, and you might even get them to remove the account from your credit in exchange for payment instead of just reporting it as paid. Give it a try!

Paying Down Your Balances

If you have the ability to pay down revolving balances, go ahead and do it. The FICO scoring model puts a lot of emphasis on the ratio between your balance and your high credit limit - and the lower the better. Are you looking for quick credit repair results? Pay your balances down below 20% of the high credit limit. If your balances have been lingering near the limit wait until you see what lower balances can do for your scores!

Trimming Down Accounts

You need to have open accounts in good standing to have a good credit score. But you can also have too many accounts. Successful credit repair involves achieving the right balance of accounts, so go ahead and close a few. But it is important to pick the right ones to close. MasterCard and Visa cards are the most valuable for your credit scores. Store cards have little value and should be the first to go. When you pick the accounts to close, please remember that old accounts are good accounts.

Credit Repair and New Accounts

You scores will thank you! Get some credit cards and prove that you are a good risk. Your scores are a measure of your ability to pay and manage your debt.

Remember, no credit, no credit scores. It?s easy and you won?t get denied. Secured credit cards are the perfect credit repair tool. If your credit scores are too low to get approved for regular unsecured credit cards, get two secured cards.

Two is a good number! If you do not have any open MasterCard of Visa accounts it?s time to open a couple.

All Rights Reserved. All Content. Kemish. 2007 James W.

Copyright ?