RESOURCES
CONSUMER RIGHTS & RESOURCES
CREDIT REPAIR WORKS!
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The Fair Credit Reporting Act
This is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FRCA) as prepared by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It is intended only as a convenience for the public and not a substitute for the text in the U.S. Code.
Credit Repair Organization ACT CROA
The Credit Repair Organizations Act(CROA) is a title passed to ensure that prospective buyers of the services of credit repair organizations are provided with the information necessary to make an informed decision regarding the purchase of such services; and to protect the public from unfair or deceptive advertising
Identity Theft
A number of government and private organizations have information about various aspects of identity theft and fraud: how it can occur, what you can do about it, and how to guard your privacy. Agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Trade Commission, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, the Better Business Bureau, and more.
CREDIT REPORTS AND SERVICES
Credit Reports
You have the right to receive a copy of your credit report. Each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.
When a company denies your application, you have the right to the name and address of that credit bureau.
Should you question the accuracy or completeness of information in your report, you have the right to file a dispute with the consumer reporting company and the information provider.
You have a right to add a summary explanation to your credit report when your dispute is not resolved to your satisfaction.
Annual Credit Report
This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
IdentityIQ
IdentityIQ is an identity theft protection company that specializes in credit protection and being as accurate as the banks.
Privacy Guard
PrivacyGuard offers a comprehensive credit and identity theft protection plan.
Credit Keeper
One of the most popular credit report sites around.
Credit Check Total
Another popular credit report sites around.
Equifax
Equifax Inc. is an American multinational consumer credit reporting agency headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and is one of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies, along with Experian and TransUnion. Equifax collects and aggregates information on over 800 million individual consumers and more than 88 million businesses worldwide. In addition to credit and demographic data and services to business, Equifax sells credit monitoring and fraud prevention services directly to consumers.
TransUnion
TransUnion is an American consumer credit reporting agency. TransUnion collects and aggregates information on over one billion individual consumers in over thirty countries including “200 million files profiling nearly every credit-active consumer in the United States”. Its customers include over 65,000 businesses. Based in Chicago, Illinois, TransUnion’s 2014 revenue was US$1.3 billion. It is the smallest of the three largest credit agencies, along with Experian and Equifax.
Experian
Experian is a multinational data analytics and consumer credit reporting company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Experian collects and aggregates information on over 1 billion people and businesses including 235 million individual U.S. consumers and more than 25 million U.S. businesses. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Experian is a partner in USPS address validation. It is one of the “Big Three” credit-reporting agencies, alongside TransUnion and Equifax.
Identity Theft Programs
Trusted ID
TrustedID provides identity theft protection services that prevent thieves from stealing a victim’s identity and committing credit fraud, and it offers a $1,000,000 guarantee. TrustedID is the perfect solution for customers whose personal information has already been compromised or who want to protect themselves against credit fraud.
Life Lock
LifeLock offers consumers protection from identity theft and credit fraud. As an alternative to traditional credit monitoring services that alert customers after their credit information has already been compromised, LifeLock blocks access to consumers credit files before thieves are able to access them. They also offer helpful services to your customers such as stopping pre-approved credit offers and providing a smooth experience when trying to obtain new credit.
Identity Guard
Identity Guard offers credit monitoring and identity theft prevention services with a wide range of identity theft protection plans available to help your customers secure their personal information, and they also provide access to credit reports and credit scores from the three major credit bureaus.
Identity Truth
IdentityTruth provides credit monitoring and identity theft prevention services that can help protect your customers from credit fraud for less than $10 a month with a $2 million guarantee.
Credit Monitoring
Privacy Matters 1-2-3
Give consumers access to their credit report and credit score for free through Privacy Matters 1-2-3. As one of the most popular consumer protection programs in the nation, Privacy Matters 1-2-3 comes with powerful credit management and monitoring tools – making it easy for your customers to keep on top of their personal credit information.
MyFICO
myFICO is a part of the same organization that developed the FICO Score, which is the most widely established measurement of consumer credit that is used by financial institutions and lenders today. myFICO is also a well-respected provider of credit services and information, and they offer a wide range of options including credit report and score monitoring plans as well as several packages for customers that simply want access to their credit reports and scores.
CREDIT SCORE FACTS AND FALLACIES
Fallacy: My score determines whether or not I get credit
Fact: Lenders use a number of facts to make credit decisions, including your FICO?,® score. Lenders look at information such as the amount of debt you can reasonably handle given your income, your employment history, and your credit history. Based on their perception of this information, as well as their specific underwriting policies, lenders may extend credit to you although your score is low, or decline your request for credit although your score is high.
Fallacy: A poor score will hunt me forever
Fact: Just the opposite is true. A score is a “snapshot” of your risk at a particular point in time. It changes as new information is added to your bank and credit bureau files. Scores change gradually as you change the way you handle credit. For example, past credit problems impact your score less as time passes. Lenders request a current score when you submit a credit application, so they have the most recent information available. Therefore by taking the time to improve your score, you can qualify for more favorable interest rates.
Fallacy: Credit scoring is unfair to minorities
Fact: Scoring considers only credit-related information. Factors like gender, race, nationality and marital status are not included. In fact, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) prohibits lenders from considering this type of information when issuing credit. Independent research has been done to make sure that credit scoring is not unfair to minorities or people with little credit history. Scoring has proven to be an accurate and consistent measure of repayment for all people who have some credit history. In other words, at a given score, non-minority and minority applicants are equally likely to pay as agreed.
Fallacy: Credit scoring infrings on my privacy
Fact: Credit scoring evaluates the same information lenders already look at – the credit bureau report, credit application and/or your bank file. A score is simply a numeric summary of that information. Lenders using scoring sometimes ask for less information – fewer questions on the application form, for example.
Fallacy: My score will drop if I apply for new credit
Fact: If it does, it probably won’t drop much. If you apply for several credit cards within a short period of time, multiple requests for your credit report information (called “inquiries”) will appear on your report. Looking for new credit can equate with higher risk, but most credit scores are not affected by multiple inquiries from auto or mortgage lenders within a short period of time. Typically, these are treated as a single inquiry and will have little impact on the credit score.
If you are behind on payments and wanted to know what options are available, many time professionals forget the simple options to homeowners. For professionals in the foreclosure business, we use terms such as deed-in-lieu, forbearance, loan mod, and other terms that homeowners may not. I have come up with a few terms and options that homeowners should have available as options for available alternatives to foreclosure.
Forbearance
A company will attempt to stall or reduce your payment by submitting a hardship package on your behalf. Many times the lender will work with a “foreclosure assistance” company before working with an individual attempting to submit a foreclosure package.
Buy-Back-Program
With this option, you can actually sell your house and continue living in. Some investors offer a buy back program where they will step-in quickly, purchase your house, and allow you to rent it while you catch up on your bills and even allow you to purchase it back from them once you are “back on your feet”. (Be very careful, some companies are better then others, and of course, you have those predators out there)
Restructure (Most Popular Alternative)
Some foreclosure companies will negotiate with your lender to get your loan in good standing again. There are many options available to get a restructure approved like a separate payment plan for your delinquency or even adding the delinquency to the end of your loan. No one can guarantee to restructure your payments, so be careful.
Reinstatement
Pay your lender(s) your entire past due payments to bring your mortgage current. This option is rarely feasible. (However I know some private money lenders that will provide homeowners up to 90% for the reinstatement amount.)
Refinance
Hardly available, through traditional lenders, however some foreclosure companies have established relationships with in-house lenders who can give loans on mortgages that are in foreclosure if there is enough equity in your property available.
Sell Your Home
You may simply sell your home before the Foreclosure Sale Date. Sometimes the home owner is unable to sell the home outright at the desired sale price and this is not an option.
Short Sale
In this instance the lender may take less than what you owe on the loan to avoid a lengthy and costly foreclosure process.
Deed-in-lieu of Foreclosure
You or a foreclosure company can arrange for you to simply give the home back to the lender and walk away with a clean slate.
Bankruptcy
This is a last resort. This will only save your home temporarily. If you miss one payment during this process the lender will put you right back into foreclosure.