Credit repair can involve fixing your bad credit in any way, shape or form, but when most people use the term ‘credit repair’, they’re referring to the process of disputing errors on credit reports. You can go through this dispute process for free with each of the credit bureaus on your own. This involves filing a formal dispute with the credit bureau(s) in question either online or via snail mail.
Free tools and a word of caution
Get your free credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official free site. Check them for mistakes, like accounts you don't recognize or debts listed twice.
Be careful with paid "credit repair" companies. Anything they can legally do, you can do yourself for free. By law, they can't charge you before they've done the work, and no one can remove accurate negative information just because you pay them. Be wary of anyone who promises to "erase" bad credit or tells you to create a new credit identity. The FTC's consumer site explains your rights.
Need help with debts? A nonprofit credit counselor can help you make a plan. See Help Paying Bills for how to find one.
For a trustworthy, plain-English book on the subject, Nolo's Credit Repair walks you through fixing errors and rebuilding your credit step by step. The link shows the newest edition, and your library may have it too.
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