Q.   I have been refused credit.  Can I do something about it?

  A.     Absolutely!  Nearly 90% of Americans, just like you, have some "blemish" on their credit reports.  Due to the nature of the credit reporting industry, those blemishes can be mistakenly included on your record.  Frequently, credit reports contain outdated information, unverifiable negative items, or totally inaccurate entries.  Under the law the credit reporting companies must remove such information.  You should check your credit report and see why you were, or may be, denied credit.  Then, you can do something to correct the mistakes and have your report corrected.

Q.   Is it illegal or immoral to have your credit profile cleared?

A.    No. It is not illegal or immoral to eliminate mistakes on your credit report.  In fact the federal government, under the 1970 Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 168 le, protects your right to do so.

Q.   How does information about me get into my credit report?

A.    When you agree to accept credit from a bank, most retail stores, etc., or fill out an employment application - if a credit report is used as a background check - you give the creditor the right to provide information to any credit reporting company.  Additional information about you comes from public records, such as court records, debt collection companies, and even the utility companies.

 Q.   Who will remove items from my credit report?

A.   Only the credit bureaus have the power to remove items from your credit report.  But, as required by law, the credit bureaus must delete inaccurate, unverifiable, or outdated information.

Q.   How can I add positive data to my credit report?

A.   Since the Fair Credit Reporting Act does not require creditors to report information about you, many do not.  That means positive information may not be reported.  As long as the positive information is verified, it can be added to your credit report.

Q.   How long does the restoration process take?

A.   It may take 3 to 12 months due to the credit reporting companies' continuing mistakes and delaying tactics.

Q.   Are credit reports all the same?

A.   No. Each of the three reporting companies' reports look different and may not contain the same information.  The companies maintain their own databases and do not often share information.