How to Remove a Bad Mark From Your Credit

Having a bad mark on your credit report can greatly affect many situations, from securing a good loan for a house or car to getting a job you've applied for. Removing a mark from your credit report can be done, but it takes work and must be for legitimate reasons. There are many scams claiming to be able to fix your credit (for a price), but real credit repair just takes work, time and good habits to implement.

Instructions

1

Get a copy of your credit report. There are three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion (get a copy of your report from each agency). Some items may exist on one report but not on another. You need to know as much about the bad claim as possible. The report should list the creditor, the amount and the date.

2

Research the bad mark. Call the creditor and ask why it's reporting this bad mark. If it's for a valid reason, work with the creditor to pay off the debt. If the mark is a mistake, ask them to stop reporting it.

3

Send a dispute letter to each of the credit reporting agencies that show the bad mark if the claim is a mistake. Provide your reasons showing why that mark is a mistake (offer copies of any proof that you have).

4

Check back with your credit reports to see if the bad mark has been removed. You may have to contact the agencies several times to get the mark removed. Contact the creditor again, explaining the mistake and what you've done with the credit agencies.