Is it good to do credit repair through an agent or try to work it out on your own?

Answer 1

It depends on how much you know about the credit industry. I am an agent. I repair and destroy credit. Attach assets, file law suits, credit counsel...you name it.

A lot of the the times I come accross clients who actually did need my services very much so because of their lack of knowledge in the credit industry. You have to keep something in mind....Credit counselors, collectors, agencies, companies...whatever...they are all filthy people that want to get their hands on people like you. People that dont know. Thats how we made money.

Sometimes when you are not being represented by an agent, opposing counsel, collector, etc...will take advantage of you. There is a process called "feeling you out". These people talk to 200-300 people a day. They know who they can fool and who they can not fool. And there is a name for that too "the less intelligent consumer".

There are legalities you must know during the process of closing out. If you slip up somewhere, you will be in trouble. Example: If you make a settlement and dont get a letter from the collector or agency...they will deny it was a settlement and continue to pursue you for the balance. You need to get proof for everything you do. Additionally, there are ways of you reporting and having things drop off your credit.

Make a note to self: I have to get PROOF for everything you do or attempt to do.

Remember the key work is PROOF. I cant stress that enough.

If you want to do it yourself...go ahead and I will answer any further questions you have and walk you through it for free just because Im being nice cause its Christmas time. If you want an agent to do it for you, I can get it done in no time. You just sit back and give me a few days. In that case, I will charge $100.00 per account and believe me thats being nice too. Normally agents charge you a % fee and its starts at 10% and can go up to 25% contingent upon settlement and based on your account balance.

Oh and by the way, an agent has contract with most creditors and can get you a better rate than you can get yourself. Additionally that guy that threw all that FDCPA ish at ya...the law says that you have a write to dispute your accounts, that is true. But all the collector needs to do is make a copy of your invoice and mail it to you and now your debt has been validated. NOW WHAT? Forget that. The truth is that after they send you a copy of your contract, invoice, statement or whatever..."Burden of Proof" will be on the consumer.

Also, that other guy...who said that you can dispute your account directly to the bureau and if they dont respond in 7 days it will drop off your credit report. Thats true but that is a 1 out of 100 chance. Secondly, even if it did drop off...what are you going to do when it reports again? Its an unpaid account. That is not going to go away.

Lets not forget another thing, even if it does drop off your credit for a temporary time, that is not going to stop agencies from pursuing you and when they do...I wonder if that guy has any bright ideas on how to drop a judgment off your credit report.

Either way, if you need more information go ahead and email me at [e-mail]

Answer 2

You can work it out on your own, here are steps that you have to take:


1. The first thing to do is get a copy of your credit report from each of the three major CRAs: Equifax, http://www.equifax.com; Experian, http://www.experian.com; and TransUnion, http://www.tuc.com or you can go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com .


2 In a written letter, tell the CRA what information you believe to be inaccurate. Include copies (not originals) of documents that support your position. Provide your complete name and address, identify each item in your report you dispute, and request deletion or correction. Be sure to make copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.


3. Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the CRA received.


4. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) mandates that all CRAs reinvestigate the items in question — usually within 30 days — unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all relevant data you provide about the dispute to the credit card company. After the credit card company receives notice of a dispute from the CRA, it must investigate, review all relevant information and report the results to the CRA.


5. If the disputed information is found to be inaccurate, the credit card company must notify all nationwide CRAs so they can correct this information in your file. Disputed information that cannot be verified must be deleted from your file.


6. When the reinvestigation is complete, the CRA must give you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. If an item is changed or removed, the CRA can not put the disputed information back in your file unless the credit card company verifies its accuracy and completeness, and the CRA gives you a written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the credit card company.


7. In addition to the CRA, you should also write to the credit card company about the error. Again, include copies of documents that support your dispute. If you are correct — meaning the information you disputed is found inaccurate — the credit card company can not use it again. Further, at your request, the CRA must send notices of corrections to anyone who received your report in the past six months.


You can also have a credit remediation company do the work for you. There is obviously a cost associated with that. The advantage of using credit remediation company is that they do know the law and they have the proper process in place to get you to the highest credit score possible. The disadvantage is that it does cost money.

I hope these steps helps you.

Answer 3

The credit repair companies basically do the same thing you can do for the cost of a stamp. That is, to ask the collection companies to "validate" the debt. Under the FCRA and FDCPA, no one can put anything on your credit without proving it's yours...so if you request validation they have to get original copies of the debt. With debts being sold over and over again, chances are no one can find the original copy of your debt, and by law they have to remove it from your reports. Do a search on Google for "debt validation" and you will see what I mean.

Answer 4

LOOK HERE - credit repairs can do nothing more than dipute your credit over and over again - which you can do also and for free. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com and get ALL 3 bureaus and follow the directions. I will give you a tip if you pay off your collections first and then dipute them they might not respond and it would be removed from your bureau(s)

Answer 5

You can easily do it on your own. All the agents do is contact the creditors and ask them to settle for less (most only want the original balance that's owed and will waive all the interest.) They are usually also willing to set up a payment plan!

Answer 6

Do it yourself........ read up on the internet, work on a plan with them or work on settling the account. Its going to be a pain but the credit repair thing is a complete and total scam.

Answer 7

It's better to go through an agent. If you do it on your own they will kill you with the interest. These people who do this all the time can get you a deal so you don't have to pay such high interest.

Answer 8

Agents are usually a scam.

Pay your bills, and call your creditors to try and get them to lower interest rates yourself and fees.

Answer 9

There is some useful advice here.

Answer 10

depends on the cost