Before you start, getting a copy of your credit report will help you focus on what needs fixing. You can get one credit report free each year. You can get it through the Annual Credit Report Request Service in Atlanta Georgia. While the report is free, you do not get a credit score along with it. You only get the listing and codes regarding your debts and obligations.



Once you have the report in hand, you can start to look through it for mistakes and discrepancies. You might find that you were reported as late for payments on your house when in fact you were never late once. The report might show excessive inquiries when you have not actually applied for any loans other than a few essential ones. You might have a debt that you paid late that was never taken off your credit report after many years.

Any of these scenarios represent a job for you to do in order to accomplish your own credit repair. You need to sit down with your report and compile a complete list of everything that you do not believe should be there. Only then can you get ready to contact the bureaus.

For each item, you have to write an individual letter, stating what the item is and why you believe it does not belong on your credit report. If you have evidence to back up your words, send that along too. However, remember to only send copies of information because it can easily be lost.

When you send out the letters, keep copies of them. Send them out by certified mail and clip the mail receipt to the copy of the letter. If you have very many requests, you will soon have a large file and it is best to keep it all organized from the very beginning.

There may be a long fight with the credit bureau to complete the transaction that will remove negative information from your report. If you are patient and persistent, you can usually get it done though. Remember that it does not always work the first time around. Every step you take towards credit repair is one that will lead to more financial power for you.