• By: PAUL ELMS

  3360

  
  If you're having credit problems, you may be tempted to use the services of one of the companies that advertise to repair your bad credit report. Before proceeding with this you should be very careful. In fact, you may find it more effective to repair your own credit report.

  You may well have seen adverts for companies that offer a credit cleaning service. They appear on the Internet, TV and in magazines. The adverts can sound very enticing. You could be able to afford the house that you've always wanted or the car that you've dreamed off. But there is also a less glamorous side to this business.

  Some of these companies have been shown to use fraudulent methods such as requesting that you invent a new credit identity. Some have been known to take your money and then do nothing in return.

  The fact is, you could achieve results in improving your bad credit report by doing it yourself. It will take time and a little organisation, but you can do it.

  The first step to take is order a free copy of your credit report from the 3 credit bureaus. You can do this by visiting annualcreditreport.com. When you have your credit report, print it out and go through it with a fine toothcomb. Look for any items that should not be on your file and take them up with both the creditor and the credit bureau involved. Any disputes should be put in writing so that you have a copy of any correspondence.

  If there is negative information on your report that is factually correct, only time can improve this. Make efforts to pay off any outstanding debts. You maybe able to contact a creditor and renegotiate your loan repayments over a longer period so that you are paying less each month. Once you have paid off a debt it will not immediately disappear from your credit report. However over time, it will have less effect on your credit score. Visit http://www.freecreditreport-guide.com to find out the truth about why you should get a free government credit report

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