The FTC says that only time can fix a credit report, yet even they have instructions on how to dispute negative items.  The fact of the matter is credit repair works. The credit bureaus just don't want you to know how to do it or else they'd lose millions defending themselves.

If you do some research, it's easy to find 101 do it yourself credit repair guides on the internet and in the library.  Having read a majority of them myself, I can tell you with great certainty that a majority of credit repair "experts" have no clue what they're talking about.  Their advice is more likely to do more damage than good.

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when trying to repair their own credit and some tips on how to avoid them.

1. Using template forms
   The credit bureaus aren’t stupid. They keep records of every dispute you make. In fact, they keep records of all disputes. When they see a dispute often enough (like a template dispute you may find on the internet along with thousands of other net surfers) they are much more likely to mark that dispute as frivolous; since the odds are the person using it is either a fly-by-night credit repair company or an amateur. Once your account has been flagged it will be much more difficult to make any further progress on your credit report. Use the template to give you an idea of what you need to say, and then put it in your own words.

2. Not disputing in the proper order
   When disputing you are requesting the bureaus and your creditors to prove they are following the law to the letter. If they are not your ultimate recourse is a law suit. Your case won’t hold water if you don’t follow the proper procedures. If you’re going to ask for leniency from a creditor, do that before disputing with the bureaus. If you plan to fight a remark on your report, you must dispute with the bureaus first.

3. Not validating with the creditor or collection agent
   Many consumers are too quick to pay off creditors and collection agents just to stop the harassing calls or in an effort to clean up their credit history. Before paying any past due debt, you have the right to request validation that the debt is yours. You’d be surprised how often they fail to comply.

4. Reviving the statute of limitations
   The statute of limitations is the period of time a creditor can sue for a balance owed. The time varies state by state, but begins on the date of your last payment. Making ANY payment, even 20 years later, will cause the debt to reactivate and become legally enforceable. Before making any payments be sure to research whether or not the debt is within the statute of limitations.

5. Validating negative information
   Another common rookie mistake is to validate negative information while trying to dispute the information being reported. The rule of thumb is the less you say the better. Make them prove themselves to you. The law is on your side.

6. Not using certified mail
   Believe it or not, credit repair is a legal process. Any lawyer will tell you it’s not what you know, but what you can prove that counts. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) the credit bureaus, creditors, and collection agencies have 30 days to investigate and respond to your disputes. This is a major weapon in your arsenal because lenders maintain millions of records. It can be very difficult for them to produce the requested documents.

7. Not keeping copies of all correspondence
   Every letter you send and receive from a creditor or collection agent can be used to build your case. Never negotiate or accept offers unless they’re in writing. Document EVERYTHING.

8. Closing old accounts
   The age of your accounts, types of accounts, and amount of debt used make up a total of 55% of your credit score. When you close an account you remove that account from the equation. That’s usually not a good thing. Instead it’s much wiser to use your old cards once every 6 months to keep them active. Just be sure to pay off the balance within 2 -3 months.

9. Giving up too soon
   While you may get immediate results if you have evidence of wrong doing, you can still get good results if you’re persistent enough. For instance, most collection agencies will reply to a request for validation with a template letter. This letter violates the Fair Debt collections Practices Act (FDCPA). By following up you can leverage their violation into a deletion or a law suit.

10. Not hiring a professional
    Credit repair may seem simple. As you can plainly see, it’s not. To get fast results far above anything you could ever do on your own without years of experience, trial and error, and maybe an ulcer, you’d do well to invest a few hundred dollars hiring a reputable professional like those at Score More Credit.

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