Credit cards are great, but if not used with common sense and self-control, can easily break your bank and peace of mind. If youve been broken by your credit card, credit repair services are easily available in every state and online to help you. But which credit repair services are legitimate? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has come up with some safety tips for those of you to choose a credit repair or debt reduction service.
What to Look for in a Scam
There are about as many debt reduction services as there are kinds of credit card. Credit repair service should always work within the law and not make any outrageous promises. They should also concentrate on helping you learn how to manage your money for the rest of your life instead of offering the financial equivalent of a band-aid. Any sales person or advertisements that have these statements are considered scams by the FTC:
“100% Guaranteed – We will Repair your Credit”, not possible “Obtain a new credit identity”, illegal “Have low credit ratings, bankruptcies, and liens removed from your credit history” “No credit problem is too hard for us to handle”
The bottom line is that credit repair services can help you get out of debt but to do so, they must adhere to federal laws. This means they must also advise you of free steps you can take to correct and better your credit report. Any company that asks for money upfront to obtain your credit report is lying. You as the consumer can ask for a free report once a year from each of the reporting agencies. Therefore, if they ask for money to obtain one means they are trying to scam you.
You are allowed one, two or three free credit reports a year. Just contact the three companies who offer this free service ” Equifax, TransUnion and Experian ” either over the phone or online. However, you do have to pay a fee for your credit score, which is different from your credit report.
Understanding the Credit Repair Organizations Act
Because credit repair services are actual businesses, they are strictly regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. To ensure you are protected, a law was established called the Credit Repair Organizations Act, which states that all debt reduction companies must inform you of your rights prior to any money being paid for their services.
In addition, these companies are not allowed to charge you until all of the work is done. Therefore, if any false claims are made regarding the services offered, you have the responsibility to let the FTC know. After all, this would be illegal action on the part of the debt reduction company.
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