Many items can be removed from your credit report, especially if they're inaccurate or unverifiable. Here's a list of items that can potentially be removed or corrected:
- Inaccuracies or Errors: These are the most common targets for credit repair. If something on your credit report is not accurate, we can work to have it removed.
- Old Debts: Most negative items should fall off your credit report after 7 years (or up to 10 years for certain types of bankruptcy). If they don't, we can dispute them.
- Fraudulent Accounts: If you're a victim of identity theft and someone has opened accounts in your name, we can dispute these accounts and have them removed.
- Debts that Aren't Verified: If we dispute a debt and the creditor can't verify it, then it must be removed from your credit report.
- Paid Off Collections: Some creditors might agree to remove a collection account from your report if you pay it off or settle. This is often referred to as a "pay for delete" agreement, but it's not always successful and not all creditors will agree to it.
- Late Payments: If you have a good history with a creditor but missed a payment due to an unusual circumstance, we may be able to have that late payment removed by contacting the creditor directly and asking for a goodwill adjustment.
- Bankruptcies, Foreclosures, and Repossessions: These are harder to remove and usually stay on the report for seven to ten years. However, if they're inaccurately reported or past their reporting period, they can be disputed and potentially removed.
- Inquiries: Inquiries remain on your credit report for two years. If you didn't authorize a hard inquiry, we may be able to dispute and remove it.
The law allows us to challenge negative items such as collections, late payments, charge-offs, liens, bankruptcies, or repossessions for accuracy with the credit bureaus and your creditors. If those items are found to be inaccurate, unfair, or unverified, they may be corrected or removed. This is why it's important to have someone on your side who knows the rules and can use them to your benefit!