What Everyone With Bad Credit Should know About Credit Repair Services

If you're one of the millions of people in america with bad or damaged credit, don't despair. There are several things you can do to improve your credit. If you're looking for information about how to repair your credit and credit repair services, you've come to the right place. In this article we'll discuss the definition of bad credit and the benefits of using credit repair services. By the end of this article you should be able to start repairing your credit today, whether you choose to do so on your own, or hire a professional service to assist you.

What is Considered Bad Credit?

Most lenders define bad credit as any credit score lower than 620. After the subprime mortgage fiasco, some lenders are even raising credit repair that bar to 640. In addition to your payment patterns and amount of outstanding debt, your time on the job and your time living at your current address make up a portion of your creditworthiness. People who stay at the same employer and residence longer are considered more creditworthy than those who change jobs or move frequently.

If you are interested in improving your credit, it's in your best interest to know what your credit score is, even if you are afraid to find out! Order a copy of your credit report and make sure you get reports from all three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. Some lenders use the top score and some use a blended score so it is important to know what is on each report. Once you know where you stand you can begin the process of repairing your credit.

Benefits of Credit Repair Services

Credit repair services can help in a number of ways. Many of them offer packages that include obtaining your credit report, looking for inaccuracies and contacting the reporting agencies on your behalf. The primary benefit of credit repair services is that they save you time and effort. Most of what a credit repair service can do, you can do for yourself. But just like many services, the benefit is in convenience and saving time. It's akin to repairing your own car; it is technically possible for you to do it yourself, but if you lack knowledge and experience in repairing cars, you could probably save a lot of time and frustration by paying someone else to do it for you.

There are credit repair service companies that do not offer a true value because they use ineffective and/or outdated tactics. Some of the large and well-known companies are guilty of this. Make sure you investigate the credit repair service that you're considering and find out exactly what they offer. Get all of their claims in writing and find out what their refund policy is. Do not pay any fees up front (with the exception of a one-time set-up fee), and when in doubt, walk away.

Conclusion

Credit problems can be difficult to deal with, but help is available. The first step is determining your credit score and looking at the contents of your credit reports. Then decide if you want to take on the task of disputing negative listings yourself, or if you want to bring in a professional credit repair service to help. Credit repair services can save you time and effort although they can't really do anything for you that you couldn't do for yourself. When shopping for a credit repair service, make sure you investigate them thoroughly to protect yourself from any scams. With the information in this article you should be better informed about the best way to repair your credit.