Are Credit Counseling and Credit Repair Different?

Are Credit Counseling and Credit Repair Different? - You have probably heard about all of the bad press that credit counseling agencies have received over the past couple years- and rightfully so. What you have probably not heard much about are credit repair companies. While they sound similar in name, there are many important distinctions between the two. Not only in what they do, but also how they will impact your credit in general.

The biggest difference between credit repair, and credit counseling is that credit repair companies dispute the derogatory information on your credit report, while the counseling companies make plans with your creditors for repayment.

Credit counseling consolidates your debts into one debt so that you can make one monthly payment, which generally is lower than how much money you are currently paying on your debts. Consumer Credit Counseling companies supposedly negotiate lower interest rates, lower payoffs, and lower monthly payments from your creditors in return for a small fee themselves that they usually work into your total monthly payment. Consumer credit counseling agencies are supposed to be looking out for your best interest and non-profit companies; however they do not always help consumers as much as they state they are helping. Many lenders will not lend to someone in Consumer Credit counseling and other lenders may require that you first quit the consumer credit counseling plan in order to obtain financing. Credit counseling is viewed by many lenders the equivalent of bankruptcy and treat consumers in the counseling service with the same underwriting guidelines as those who have had a Bankruptcy.

Credit repair companies will typically dispute the derogatory items listed on your credit report in an effort to get the negative items deleted entirely. In some cases challenging these types of information has actually improved some people's credit scores by over 100 points!

As with any financial transaction always approach credit repair and credit counseling with caution. Many companies will make bold statements and almost sound to good to be true. The sad fact is that many of these companies are just that, to good to be true. Try and stick with credit repair and credit counseling companies that offer a guarantee and do not collect large up front fee's.

CCC, Consumer Credit Counseling - What is consumer credit counseling, also referred to as CCC? Consumer credit counseling is a debt management service that helps consumers regain control of their finances. They can usually arrange for you to consolidate all of your debts, or at least most, into one debt, reduce and sometimes eliminate interest rates from certain debts, lower monthly payments and put you on a payment plan to pay off your debt much quicker than you would on your own. There are many pros and cons to consumer credit counseling companies and agencies though.

One argument for using a CCC program to assist you in paying off your bills is that one has admitted that one is unable to do something on one's own and needs assistance. If one has actually gotten to this stage then there are alternatives to paying off one's debt that doesn't damage your credit even more.

Some mortgage lenders will look at a consumer credit counseling program the same as a bankruptcy. This will reduce the availible LTV on a home loan and affect interest rates as well.

When researching companies that offer consumer credit counseling, make sure that they are registered with the Better Business Bureau and a clean record on file with them.

Credit Repair - There are many companies out there that claim to be able to repair your credit. They will charge you for things you can do on your own. Heres how to do it on your own. You must first get a copy of your credit report from all 3 credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, Experian).

Many people have errors on their credit report. These must be corrected, and the results could improve your credit score. To remove these items, you must dispute them with the 3 credit bureaus individually. The credit bureau is then required to contact the erroneous reporter and verify the information. If the information is not verified with 30 days, it must be removed (DELETED) from your credit file completely.

Credit repair companies are a convenient alternative to self credit repair but always research the credit repair company completely and avoid companies that require a large up front fee.

If you get a copy of your credit report at [url]www.AnnualCreditReport.com[/url] you can actually challenge any incorrect items electronically over the internet.

There are also credit repair companies that will fix your credit up for a fee. There are many of these types of companies out there and if you decide to use one of them you should really try to do your homework and research them before paying them a fee for their services. Ask for referrals, ask your mortgage broker which ones he/she uses on a regular basis and how their results are, and check to see how long they have been in business to make sure they are not just going to take your money and run. Many consumers can be helped by credit repair companies and can end up qualifying for a loan that they may not have been able to qualify for before. Therefore the small amount of money spent on credit repair can end up saving you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your loan.

Through a refinance you can actually improve your credit as well. By paying down credit balances, closing collection accounts and lowering the amount of credite extended to you, your scores will gradually improve.

Prior to repairing your credit you should speak with a mortgage professional. Often things you think will help will actually hurt.

Make sure you keep tabs on your credit profile by checking your credit report for errors and inaccuracies at least once per year. You are able to access your credit report from all three credit repositories, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, online one time per year for free. By checking your credit at least 1 time per year this is going to help you to prevent or correct any inaccuracies that may be reporting to your credit profile. Preventative maintenance is the best form of credit repair there is available, along with learning the basics of credit and credit scoring. There are many things that can be done by you, the consumer, to help improve and maintain a high credit rating and credit score. Here is a short list of some simple tips that will help you maintain a good credit record and credit score:
* Pay all of your bills on time
* Never max. out your credit cards
* Try to keep your credit card balances under 50% of what your maximum credit limits are
* Keep your credit applications to a minimum and do not apply for credit all year round
* Do not close your credit card accounts after you have paid them off. The length of time your credit accounts are open will help improve your credit rating
* Check your credit report for inaccuracies with all 3 bureaus at least once per year
The best form of credit repair is understanding the basics of credit and credit scoring, and this following this information will help your credit profile much more than alternative types of credit repair. Do not wait until you are getting ready to buy a new car or a new house to check your credit reports. Stay on top of your credit profile to take care of problems, or errors, when they happen instead of when you need to get approved for financing. 29% of all credit reports contain serious errors. That is almost one out of every three consumers that are affected by serious errors that can greatly affect they type of financing you are being approved for. Approximately 70% of all credit reports have at least minor errors or inaccuracies of some kind. Those are some pretty unbelievable stats. Especially when you consider how important of a role credit plays in your life now-a-days. Employers check your credit report when you are applying for a job, insurance companies check your credit when you are applying for a new policy, credit card companies, auto companies, banks, mortgage companies, and the list goes on and on. Please consult a mortgage professional to find out more about tips to improve your credit, preventative maintenance on your credit, and about credit repair to make sure you qualify for the financing terms you deserve.

Broker Outpost | For Sale By Owner Tips | Home Equity Line of Credit | Refinance a Home Equity Line Of Credit | Gift of Equity | Consolidation Loans | Employment History | Hard Money