One of the best places to obtain credit help is to consult with a credit repair law firm, especially if your problems are severe. If you have only minor credit problems, you can probably solve your debt situation yourself. However, when it comes to large amounts or numerous accounts, it’s best to consult a professional, especially if you have a lot to risk – such as a business or home. Should you be considering bankruptcy, be sure to make sure that your attorney can also help you with that.
If you have recently been turned down for credit or even plan to make a major purchase in the near future, the first thing to do is to order a credit report. Because not all banks or other lenders report to the same bureaus, it is best to order a report from each one of the three major credit repositories – Experian (formally TRW), TransUnion, and Equifax. Should you find inaccurate or false information in one or all three of these reports, each one of these repositories have websites to guide you through repairing your credit and help you to file a dispute.If you spot a problem account, such as a credit card on your report, it’s best to stop using it until you have cleared up the problem with the lender. In most cases, a credit repair law firm will advise you to keep making payments, unless the lender has instructed you with other instructions. Try to keep on top of the problem with your lender and by all means, make copies of all correspondences sent from your lender. Your credit repair lawyer will need to keep that in your file. One thing to keep in mind is that your legal representative is probably overwhelmed with cases such as yours, and it’s best to get used to speaking with his or her assistant. You may also want to keep in touch by email with this person, since it is likely that you may not always be able to catch her on the phone either. Being a considerate client will do wonders for your relationship with your legal counsel, and when you really need to speak to him or her, they will be more obliged to take a little extra time with you. But use your judgment. You also must get your own updates in writing from the credit repair law firm, in order to assure you that they are likewise working on your case in a timely manner.
Most lenders, these days, do not have the time to call back all of their customers who need help and that’s where a credit repair law firm can be helpful. They know how to get answers and negotiate with lenders, far better than most consumers. Because bank customer centers are located all over the world, never take it for granted that you will receive the same service representative each time you call. It is always a good idea to keep a conversation log, and include details such as the name of the person to whom you spoke, their phone number – if possible, the date, and details of your conversation. Ask them how long they think their investigation may take, and write that down too. With all this information, you will be on top of repairing your own credit. Again, not making payments, or making late payments will not help repair your credit any sooner or better.
Written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS
