To improve your credit you need to find out just how bad off you are. In order to do that you need to get a copy of your credit report. Also, you need to study your personal credit report for errors, to check the correct spelling of your name, your address and other personal details.
If there is a discrepancy, you need to write to the credit bureau that is reporting the erroneous information and dispute it. (Not to the creditor that is reporting this information),
You should dispute anything and everything that you do not agree with. You can dispute this online at one of the credit bureau's websites, or the old fashioned way by writing a letter.
The best way that has been proven effective is to use an already successful letter template. You can find many by checking online. And they do work!
When you send your dispute letter in to the credit bureau, send any and all documentation you have supporting your claim. The more proof the easier it will be to be overturned.
The reporting creditor has 30 days to respond to your dispute (to the credit bureau), or your item is automatically removed. Send your well-written letter, and keep track of time.
Don't take "No" for an answer! The key to success when you are trying to dispute one or ten items is quick response time coupled with excellent documentation.
Often people become confused as how to payoff their debts. Some pay one payment when the bill comes in and then another payment in a couple of weeks. By doing this, the company (or creditor) can become confused as to which month this payment should be applied to.
To stop this problem use online bill pay, which eliminates physical checks and stamps. When the bill arrives make the monthly minimum payment and then you can make additional payments of $5, $100 or whatever you feel comfortable with. Start with the bill that has the highest interest rate first to attack.
After your first bill has been paid off, take that payment and put it on the next bill with the highest interest rate. You will be making double payments with additional payments along the way and that bill will soon be gone.
If you continue to do this by attacking each bill one by one and not charging anything NEW, you will conquer your bills. Also, by paying your bills online you will have an accurate record of all of your payments, dates and exact transactions if there is a question later on.
