Posted on: 07th May, 2011 08:37 am
I just used fixmybadcreditreports.com - has any one else used them. They were very nice and i've heard very good things, just looking for some more insight
Hi Guest,
Well... I don't have a personal experience to share about them. But then it's really good to know that you had a good experience working with them.
Well... I don't have a personal experience to share about them. But then it's really good to know that you had a good experience working with them.
I run into this often. Not to say they're not helpful in the least bit but "the least bit" may be the case.
MOST credit repair companies are just like this. They charge a sign up fee and a monthly rate. On average people are enrolled in these programs before seeing real progress for 12-18 months. They dispute only with the credit bureaus not the creditors as well. They dispute on your behalf by sending out the letters for you.
The credit bureaus have an automated system called e-OSCAR to process disputes and ensure "accurate" reporting. Here's the thing, that system does not get rid of inaccuracies. Also the bureaus are not required to respond to or recognize disputes from any third party. So as the reason every dispute letter is hand opened and scanned is to determine whether or not these disputes are legitimately from the end consumer (you) or from a third party company.
So this one prefabricated letter most of these companies send out generates minimal success. The idea they have behind it is no matter the response you get they'll keep sending them until they get fed up and delete the item. This is something you could easily do for yourself.
Is credit repair valuable? Absolutely it is. There are specific consumer laws protecting you for a reason.
You might be asking, "what classifies effective credit repair?" The answer is complex in it's simplicity if that makes any sense.
First off the letters must come from yourself. Your postal code. Your wet signature. Secondly, the process only STARTS with the reply from the first letter where most companies stop. From there it enters into detailed letters being sent back and forth and also disputing with the creditors themselves simultaneously. We've actually generated thousands of letters each for specific types of items, this process took years of practice, research, studying the laws the protect you, and inside information.
All in all if they're breaking the law, they have to pay for it. First you have to know which laws they're breaking and how to benefit from how they're hurting you. You have to bring it to their attention in the proper manner. If you're not a pro on credit and don't know how to navigate this system then it's probably best to get professional help. That's where it's worth it.
Also who wants to be in the process of credit repair for a year and a half? It should take 3-4 months max according to the time limits the bureaus and the creditors are given to reply to each letter.
The questions you should ask when looking for a credit repair company that is going to bring you some real success:
Are they willing to share their process with you or is it a big secret?
Will you see the letters they send out before they're sent out?
Have they had clean audits with the FTC?
Are they a member of NARCRA? (National Association of Responsible Credit Repair Agencies)
Are they a member of the ECRA? (Ethical Credit Repair Alliance)
Do they share things you can do to help your credit on your own for free in consultation?
Do they offer anything to help you restore positive credit?
Just a few to start with.
Some things to think about:
If they are making a guarantee, they are breaking the law. No credit repair agency can guarantee results.
Just because they seem cheap doesn't mean it will end up being that way. In the long run you might end up spending a lot of money. If they produce minimal results, it will end up costing you even more.
If they're very expensive it doesn't mean they're doing any more than the cheapo company. They're probably just better salesmen.
Look for a fair price, a transparent process, and positive proof of success like being featured in Forbes Magazine for the past three years. You'll save yourself a lot of trouble and headache.
MOST credit repair companies are just like this. They charge a sign up fee and a monthly rate. On average people are enrolled in these programs before seeing real progress for 12-18 months. They dispute only with the credit bureaus not the creditors as well. They dispute on your behalf by sending out the letters for you.
The credit bureaus have an automated system called e-OSCAR to process disputes and ensure "accurate" reporting. Here's the thing, that system does not get rid of inaccuracies. Also the bureaus are not required to respond to or recognize disputes from any third party. So as the reason every dispute letter is hand opened and scanned is to determine whether or not these disputes are legitimately from the end consumer (you) or from a third party company.
So this one prefabricated letter most of these companies send out generates minimal success. The idea they have behind it is no matter the response you get they'll keep sending them until they get fed up and delete the item. This is something you could easily do for yourself.
Is credit repair valuable? Absolutely it is. There are specific consumer laws protecting you for a reason.
You might be asking, "what classifies effective credit repair?" The answer is complex in it's simplicity if that makes any sense.
First off the letters must come from yourself. Your postal code. Your wet signature. Secondly, the process only STARTS with the reply from the first letter where most companies stop. From there it enters into detailed letters being sent back and forth and also disputing with the creditors themselves simultaneously. We've actually generated thousands of letters each for specific types of items, this process took years of practice, research, studying the laws the protect you, and inside information.
All in all if they're breaking the law, they have to pay for it. First you have to know which laws they're breaking and how to benefit from how they're hurting you. You have to bring it to their attention in the proper manner. If you're not a pro on credit and don't know how to navigate this system then it's probably best to get professional help. That's where it's worth it.
Also who wants to be in the process of credit repair for a year and a half? It should take 3-4 months max according to the time limits the bureaus and the creditors are given to reply to each letter.
The questions you should ask when looking for a credit repair company that is going to bring you some real success:
Are they willing to share their process with you or is it a big secret?
Will you see the letters they send out before they're sent out?
Have they had clean audits with the FTC?
Are they a member of NARCRA? (National Association of Responsible Credit Repair Agencies)
Are they a member of the ECRA? (Ethical Credit Repair Alliance)
Do they share things you can do to help your credit on your own for free in consultation?
Do they offer anything to help you restore positive credit?
Just a few to start with.
Some things to think about:
If they are making a guarantee, they are breaking the law. No credit repair agency can guarantee results.
Just because they seem cheap doesn't mean it will end up being that way. In the long run you might end up spending a lot of money. If they produce minimal results, it will end up costing you even more.
If they're very expensive it doesn't mean they're doing any more than the cheapo company. They're probably just better salesmen.
Look for a fair price, a transparent process, and positive proof of success like being featured in Forbes Magazine for the past three years. You'll save yourself a lot of trouble and headache.