Frequently Asked Questions
No we cannot guarantee removals. The final decision is ultimately up to the bureau. However, the more information you can provide to me to dispel any information the better. Some clients may have to go through more than one round to see change. EVERYONES CREDIT PROCESS IS DIFFERENT!
This is not something that can be pinpointed. What is important, is to remember the main factors that play a part in your score in general, and manage your activity. ALL POINTS MATTER !
No! DO NOT pay of any closed account unless you have contacted the current holder, reached a settlement and they have agreed to DELETE that account off of your report permanently. If they say they will only update it as “PAID”, DO NOT PAY OFF THE COLLECTIONS as your score will drop drastically. Make sure that the agreement is in writing and states that they will DELETE the account permanently before paying. I’d also advise you to record the phone call as backup
If you’ve received a link to view your results VIEW THEM. The link will expire 30days from the day it arrives in your email. If the link doesn’t work, that means you have to view the results on a computer/laptop. NOT an iPad or your handheld device.
YES! As long as you have an OPEN card on your account, keep it in good standing. If you cannot manage to do that then have it closed before it causes more damage to your credit score. However, keep in mind that a revolving (credit card) is beneficial in helping BUILD your credit.
This is completely normal! The CFPB considers this “ invisible credit” . The good news is that it only takes a few months of active credit activity to accumulate enough information for the bureaus to calculate a score. This does not mean your score is “0”. The first fix to this is to apply for a secured or traditional (regular) credit card. You may have a relatively low limit but if you make consistent ON TIME payments and keep a low usage (15%) you will see growth in little as to 3 months.
You’ll be able to view the dispute process in real time by checking your personal portal.
This is completely normal. Both sites simply use a different scoring module. Credit karma uses VANTAGE and experian uses FICO. They report different things and have different level of sensitivity to certain accounts. This also goes for the three different bureaus. (EXPERIAN / TRANSUNION / EQUIFAX) VANTAGE = 450 - 990 SCORING FICO = 200-850 SCORING
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Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict how long it will take to repair your credit, as every credit report is unique. Credit bureaus are required to respond and resolve credit disputes within 30 days—sometimes 45 days in special circumstances. Though that seems like a short timeline, the average consumer may have multiple errors that need to be disputed, so it could end up taking anywhere from three to six months.