Many people who have credit issues are misinformed about credit repair companies.  Many consumers feel that these companies are all scams. Like in any other industry, there are those that are not honest. However, there are reputable companies like Integrated Credit Specialists that seek to educate consumers.

Credit restoration can be a lengthy process and requires a lot of work.  Just like you can do your own taxes, you can repair your own credit. However, due to knowledge and time involved most people choose to use a professional.

If you decide to use a credit repair company, watch out for the following:

• The company wants you to pay for credit repair services before they provide any services. Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies cannot require you to pay until they have completed the services they have promised.
• The company doesn’t tell you your rights and what you can do for yourself for free.
• The company advises you to dispute all of the negative information in your credit report, regardless of its accuracy or timeliness. You can be prosecuted criminally for disputing information that’s accurately and timely reported.
• The company makes claims such as: “We can erase bad credit”, “Remove negative credit! Guaranteed!“

In conclusion, credit repair companies cannot do anything for you that you cannot do yourself. But, if you do not have the time, knowledge, or patience to work on your own credit, you should hire a professional.

For more information about the Credit Repair Organizations Act  click here.

Tags: credit, Credit Scoring

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