How to Remove Negative Items From Credit Reports

So let's say you got a little careless with the credit cards in the past. Only, even though that period is far in your past, it's still coming back to haunt you. There are steps you can take to mitigate negative credit information and return your credit to a more user-friendly, credit-acceptable state.

Instructions

1

Start by ordering your credit reports. There are three main credit reporting agencies and each one may have a slightly different version of your credit. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion all have your credit report on file. You can either order from each one separately or go with one of the online services which will provide you with all three reports in one form.

2

Go over the reports and look for discrepancies. While you are going through it, make a list of anything that you feel is a negative. At this point, it doesn't really matter whether you did something to deserve the negative mark or not.

3

Fill out a dispute form in regards to anything on those reports that you feel is negative. One of the nice things about being able to go through and dispute negative information is that, if it's not true the agency will remove it. Sometimes, even when it is true, the credit reporting agency will still remove it just because they can't verify it through the company that reported the negative credit information in the first place.

4

Wait for the credit reporting agencies to respond to your disputed charges.

5

Send for new credit reports. It's not free but it doesn't cost all that much either. If you go directly through the credit reporting agencies, depending on where you live, you get a free one every year. The second one will cost you $10 to $15 depending on the agency. Once you get your new reports, you can go back through them to find out which negatives have been removed and which ones haven't.