How to Improve or Fix Credit Report FREE

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By Limowreck
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Article Rating: (10 Ratings)

Better Credit Saves Big Money

Looking for ways to improve your credit report or increase your credit score, but have no money to do it? No problem! You can start fixing your credit TODAY without spending a dime!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Internet
Social Security Number

Step 1

GET YOUR FREE CREDIT REPORT

To start fixing your credit score, you'll need a current copy of your credit report. This will let you know what you owe, to which companies, and for how long.

Get your free credit report by visiting freecreditreport.com. You will need a copy of your report from each of the three major reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. Freecreditreport.com will provide all three to you for free.
Step 2

CHECK DATES

Check the dates of your last payment for each negative entry. If the date is unclear, contact the creditor for specific information. They must provide you the last date of YOUR activity on the account.

The date of YOUR last activity on each negative entry will determine whether or not the debt is still a valid listing on your report. Most debts must be removed from your credit report if 7 years have passed from YOUR last payment. Exceptions to this rule include cases where a court order has been issued on behalf of the lender, student loans, bankruptcies, and others.

You must check with your state for their specific statute of limitations. This statute of limitations is the limit of time a negative entry can remain on your credit report.

***NOTE*** If your debt was sold by the original creditor to a collection agency, this does not effect the amount of time the debt is valid on your report. No matter who currently owns your debt, the date of your last account activity is when the clock started ticking. However, if the debt was transferred as part of a consolidation you initiated, it is considered a separate debt with a new date of origin.
Step 3

CHECK ACCURACY

Make sure all the information on your report is accurate. Even if you have paid an overdue debt in full, it may still appear on your credit report as unpaid. Likewise, if you have consolidated a debt, that change may not be reflected in your credit report. See that all the entries in your report are up to date with the latest information.

Also, make sure that the debts listed on your credit report actually belong to you.
Step 4

FIXING ERRORS

You can save thousands of dollars by fixing the errors on your credit report, but you will have to contact the credit reporting agency. If you find out-of-date or incorrect information, contact the credit report agency that shows the erroneous information. On their website, they will list contact information and how to dispute a credit report entry. Follow the instructions they have listed.