Having bad credit can negatively affect your life in many ways, from making it difficult to get a loan or credit card to paying rent or even getting a job. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be considering hiring a credit repair company to help you improve your score.
However, before you take a step forward, it’s critical that you know your rights and protections as a consumer, and that you know how to choose a reputable credit repair company. In this article, we’ll explain how to do this, based on the laws in the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) and the recommendations of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
What does the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) say?
The CROA is a federal law that regulates credit repair companies. Among other things, the law prohibits these companies from making false or misleading promises about what they can do to improve your credit score, and requires them to provide you with a written contract that clearly outlines their services and fees.
What does the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommend?
The FTC offers several tips for choosing a credit repair company, including:
Do your research before you hire: Check the company’s history with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and look for consumer complaints online.
Avoid companies that make promises that seem too good to be true: If a company guarantees that it can wipe out all negative history from your credit in a short period of time, it’s probably a scam.
Get everything in writing: Before you sign any contract, make sure you read it carefully and understand all the terms and conditions. The contract must clearly describe the services to be provided, the total cost, and your right to cancel the contract.
Don’t pay upfront: Legitimate credit repair companies won’t ask you to pay upfront.
Be your own advocate: You have the right to dispute any errors on your credit report on your own. You don’t have to pay a company to do it for you.
What else should you consider?
In addition to the tips above, it’s also important to make sure that the credit repair company is certified by the National Association of Credit Service Organizations (NASCO) and that its employees are “certified specialist agents in the area.” This will help ensure that you are getting quality services from qualified professionals.
Choosing a reputable credit repair company can be an important step in improving your credit score and financial health. However, it’s important that you do your research and take precautions to avoid being scammed. By following the tips above, you can be sure that you are making the right decision for your future.
Credit Repair Specialist Agent
@TurboCredit.Us