ServicesCredit Repair
Credit Repair in Palmetto
A wrong late payment or a collection that isn't yours can cost you a loan, a lease or a lower rate. We pull your three credit reports, find what doesn't belong, dispute it in writing and tell you plainly what changed.
What credit repair is, and when it makes sense
Credit repair means checking your credit reports for items that are wrong, outdated or can't be verified, then disputing them with the bureaus and the companies that reported them. The law gives you the right to an accurate report. Our job is to use that right carefully and keep after it.
It makes sense when something on your report is hurting you and you think it shouldn't be there. It does not make accurate, recent debt disappear. If a late payment really happened, we will tell you so, and we will show you what can still be done to raise your score.
You can dispute on your own, and we will say that out loud. Most clients come to us because they don't have time to write letters, track deadlines and read bureau replies for months. We do that part, the same way we'd do it for a neighbor in Palmetto.
What the work includes
A full read of all three reports
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion often don't match. We go through each one line by line, looking at balances, dates, account status and personal information.
A written list of what we'll dispute
Before anything is sent, you see which items we plan to challenge and why. Nothing goes out without your okay.
Dispute letters to bureaus and creditors
We send disputes to the credit bureaus and, where it helps, to the original creditor or collection agency. Each letter is specific to the item, not a form letter.
Tracking every reply
Bureaus generally have about 30 days to investigate. We log each response, note what was deleted or corrected, and follow up on anything left unresolved.
Score-building advice
Removing errors is half of it. We also talk through credit card balances, payment habits and how new accounts affect your score.
Signs your credit report needs work
- Accounts you don't recognize
- A card, loan or collection you never opened can point to a reporting mix-up or identity theft. Either way, it should be challenged.
- Late payments you paid on time
- Creditors make mistakes. If you have the bank records, a wrong late mark is worth disputing.
- The same debt listed twice
- A collection can show up under the original lender and again under a collector. Counting it twice drags your score down for no reason.
- Old items past their time
- Most negative items should drop off after about seven years. If yours are still there, they may be outdated.
- Turned down and not sure why
- If a lender said no and you expected a yes, the reason is usually somewhere on your report. That's the place to start.
How it works, from first call to final update
- 1
A phone call to start
You call, tell us what's going on, and we talk about whether credit repair fits. If it does, we explain how enrollment works and what you'll need.
- 2
Review your reports together
We meet at our office, or by phone or video. We go over your reports with you and point out each item we think is wrong.
- 3
Send the first round of disputes
We prepare and send the letters. You get a copy of what was sent and to whom.
- 4
Follow up and report back
As replies come in, we tell you what came off, what was corrected and what stayed. Items that stay may get a second dispute with more detail or proof.
What moves the cost
Every credit file is different, so we don't quote a price before we see yours. On the call we'll talk through what affects it. Once we review your reports, you'll know the cost before you enroll.
- How many items need disputing
- A report with two bad entries is a smaller job than one with a dozen collections and late payments.
- How many reports are involved
- One person's three reports is one job. Couples who want both files cleaned up add more work.
- How tangled the problems are
- Identity theft, mixed files or debts sold to several collectors take more letters and more follow-up.
- How long it runs
- Some files clear in a couple of dispute rounds. Others need several months of steady follow-up.
Credit repair questions we hear a lot
- Can you remove everything negative from my report?
- No, and you should be careful with anyone who says they can. We dispute items that are wrong, outdated or can't be verified. Accurate, recent debt usually stays, and we'll tell you that up front.
- How long until I see changes?
- Bureaus usually answer a dispute in about 30 days, so the first results often show up in a month or two. Bigger files take longer. We keep you updated after each round so you're never guessing.
- Will disputing hurt my credit score?
- Filing a dispute does not lower your score. Checking your own reports doesn't either. The score only moves when an item is changed or removed.
- Do I have to come to your office?
- No. We work with clients at our office, or by phone and video. Plenty of people in Bradenton and nearby towns never sit across the desk from us.
- What happens after my credit is cleaned up?
- That's often when a loan or credit line becomes realistic. We also help with personal funding and small business funding, so the next step can happen with the same people who know your file.
Let's look at your credit report together
Call and tell us what's holding you back. We'll talk through your situation and how enrolling in our credit repair program would work for you.