Credit has become a huge issue over the past year. Week in and week out, I meet with customers who have a compromised credit file and as the result . . . a lower credit score. Guidelines continue to change requiring a higher score in order to get a preferred interest rate. People with 700 credit scores are being looked as a RISK - WHAT! With the opportunities for first-time home-buyers, the historically low interest rates, and abundant inventory of homes on the market, I wanted to begin a series on the importance of credit and provide valuable information on the mis-conceptions about credit and what can be done to restore a credit file.
It is likely that either you or someone you know has found a mistake on their credit report and more than likely assumed that it was an isolated incident and really cannot be that big of a deal! You may be surpised to learn that up to 79% of all credit reports have an errors.
Let's look at some statistics -
- Twenty-nine percent (29%) of credit reports contain serious errors, false delinquencies, or accounts that did not belong to the consumer.
- Forty-one percent (41%) of credit reports contain demographic information that was misspelled, outdated or incorrect.
- Twenty percent (20%) of credit reports were missing major credit, loan, mortgage or other information to demonstrate the credit worthiness of the consumer.
- Twenty-six percent (26%) of credit reports contain accounts that were closed by the consumer but incorrectly listed as open (or) "closed by credit grantor".
- Altogether, over seventy percent and as many as 79% of credit reports contain errors or mistakes.
Many wonder if it's unethical to attempt to remove valid bad credit issues from a credit report. I say, "Yes, it is," and here's why.
The credit reporting and ranking system has been and continues to be unfair to American consumers. We are forced to participate in something we did not volunteer for and are punished for mistakes whether they are ours or not. We cannot opt out of this system and no consideration is made for circumstances that are beyond our control. However, "credit repair" is a term that has gained a negative reputation, and has been connected with credit fraud and credit schemes. As a result, I'm often put in the position of having to defend my efforts to help others repair their credit.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I will reviel Tips, Mis-Conceptions and Information on Credit and How To Restore Your Credit File.
Here is Credit Repair Myth #1:
When I pay off a past-due account, such as a charge off or a collection account, it will show "paid" and no longer be negative.
It is difficult to fully restore your credit without paying your outstanding debts. However, paying off a debt can actually hurt your credit. Negative items on your credit report are allowed to stay on your credit report for a maximum of seven (7) years, except for bankruptcy that can stay for up to ten (10) years. This 7 or 10 year clock begins ticking at the date of last activity. When paying an outstanding debt, you will change the account status to paid collection, paid charge-off, satisfied judgment, or paid ‘was xxx days late". This is still considered very negative and appears as though you had to be strong-armed by the credit bureau to pay the account. It is almost always prudent to have a professional help so as to not further damage your credit by trying to do the right thing.
Stay Tuned for Part 2 - Getting Negative Items Deleted From A Credit Report - Fact or Fiction?
Gwenn Tanvas is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialists who specializes in Credit Restoration and Government Programs such as FHA, State and Federal VA and USDA Rural Housing Loans. Visit her website for more information, on-line calculators and a secure on-line application. She is able to assist with transaction throughout the state of Wisconsin. Her offices are located in Appleton, Oshkosh and Green Bay and offers the convenience of one-stop shopping. http://www.WisconsinLoanTips.com or http://www.MortgageProsOfWisconsin.com she can also be reached for comment or to answer questions via email at gwennt@centurytel.net
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