We focus our business on helping folks buy houses in NC. Because of that, we talk to folks every day who need help fixing certain items on their credit report. Often times, that means they will need to write letters of dispute – and send it to the credit bureaus, asking that it get fixed.
When you are disputing items on your credit report, always send the letters Certified with Receipt Requested. Create a file, keep your copy of the Certification Certificates from the US Postal Service – and then mark your calendar, so you will know when you should receive confirmation back. If you have not gotten your receipt back from the Postal Service within 10 days – I would call the Agency, and confirm that they received it.
If you are going to send letters of dispute to the credit bureaus, there’s a process that works better than others. First, check past addresses on your credit report, and aliases. If there are erroneous addresses, for instance, you lived 3 months in college during the summer in an apartment with a friend – but that wasn’t your permanent address at the time, dispute it – and get that address off your report.
Your permanent address, probably your parents house, should be on your credit report, any other addresses reported at the time should be taken off. It’s the addresses that you report to the IRS, and the one that appears on your Driver’s license that should be on your reports. Make a copy of your Driver’s License, and your Social Security Card (showing what your real name should be), and get those MISCELLANEOUS names and addresses removed from your credit file.
After you do that – dispute any individual line items that appear to be incorrect. You will have a better opportunity to get items off your report – that STAY off of your report – if you go through this process. Just because you have an item that is disputed, and comes off – doesn’t mean that 3 months later – the Bank gets their information (evidence) together and puts it back on your file. Happens all the time.
If you are disputing items, you should definitely send the letters to each credit reporting agency.
- Equifax Credit Information Services
- +1.800.448.2321
- +1.800.882.0648
- +1.800.290.8749 (Fraud Department)
- +1.770.612.2603 (Fax)
- Trans Union Corporation
- +1.800.888.4213
- +1.800.916.8800 option 2
- +1.800.680.7289 (Fraud Department)
- Experian (formerly TRW) Consumer Relations
- +1.888.397.3742 (+1.888.EXPERIAN)
- +1.800.583.4080 (Fraud Department)
Note: The credit bureaus change their addresses and phone numbers from time to time. Check their web sites or their 800 numbers for the most current information.
We have scoring models available to us – that will help us know exactly what will help raise your credit scores. Another credit card, maybe a Secured Credit Card – might do more to help your credit score than just disputing everything on your credit report. Now – if it’s WRONG information, or if you had your identity stolen (first off our hearts to out to you because you are in the middle of some SERIOUS red tape!) then that’s another thing all together. BUT – if you are just trying to get some old “bad items” off of your report – there might be a better way to spend your time, as opposed to just disputing everything on your credit report.
My point being, some collections don’t have to be paid in order to buy a house. Judgments WILL have to be paid – but call us, and let us peak under the hood at your report, and we can probably help you find a way to get higher credit scores so that you can buy a house. We can also do Rapid Re-scores, which is a MUCH quicker process for getting old items removed (with proper documentation) and higher credit scores.
Recently, FHA Home Loans NC made a new ruling, and they will allow folks who have credit score issues directly resulting from a job loss some leniency. The waiting period for those folks who had a job loss, and apply for a FHA Home Loan NC is now only 12 months.
If you are in the process of writing letters of dispute so that you can get higher credit scores to buy a house, call Steve Thorne 919 649 5058. We have the resources to help save you time, and to take the guesswork out of what is ACTUALLY going to help you get the minimum credit scores needed for a mortgage. You can also find us on Facebook and Google + or leave a question below. Straight Answers that will really help you in your goal of a better credit score! We can help you get the minimum credit score for a mortgage.
I try and answer all questions :)