Fix Your Credit Yourself, Step by Step

Follow our simple process to remove errors, lower balances, deal with collections, and
build positive credit so you can move toward your financial goals

See the 7‑Step Credit Repair Guide
Client / Subscriber Portal

How It Works – 7‑Step Credit Repair Guide

Step 1 – Get Your Credit Reports

1. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com and request your reports from all three bureaus
(Experian, TransUnion, Equifax).
2. Download each report as a PDF and save them in a safe folder.
3. Print them if you prefer to review on paper.
4. Optional: Upload your reports to the Subscriber Portal if you’re working with us
directly.

www.experian.com

(866) 617-1894

www.transunion.com

(800) 916-8800

www.equifax.com

(866) 640-2273

Step 2 – Negative account removal / Credit Versio

Negative account removal

Review your reports and highlight all negative accounts (late payments,
collections, charge‑offs, bankruptcies, etc.).
2. Decide whether you want to handle disputes yourself or use an automated tool.
3. If using an automated platform like Credit Versio, visit their website and follow
their instructions to link your reports and generate disputes.
4. If doing it yourself, continue to the next steps on this page for manual dispute
letters, inquiries, and personal‑information corrections.

Learn About Automated Dispute Tools

Step 3 – Call the Bureaus and Fix Personal Information

Correct Personal Information and Mail Dispute Letter

1. Use your reports to check that your name, addresses, employers, and personal
info are correct.
2. If anything is outdated or wrong, use the sample letter on this page to request
corrections with each bureau.
3. Call each bureau if needed using the numbers listed:
      ● Experian: 866‑617‑1894,
      ● TransUnion: 800‑916‑8800,
      ● Equifax: 866‑640‑2273,
4. Mail your dispute letters with copies (not originals) of:
      ● Government‑issued ID
      ● Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement)
5. Keep copies of every letter and response in a folder.

Step 4 – Inquiry Clearance (Hard Inquiry Removal When Justified)

Inquiry Clearance

1. Go to IdentityTheft.gov and click “Get Started.”
2. Place a statement that any unauthorized inquiries were not approved by you.
3. Download the FTC identity‑theft or fraud report as a PDF.
4. Go to CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) and file a complaint,
uploading the FTC report.
5. Call each bureau and tell them you’ve completed FTC and CFPB reports and need
unauthorized inquiries removed immediately.
Only use this process for truly unauthorized inquiries or identity‑theft situations.

Visit IdentityTheft.gov

Step 5 – Opt‑Out Process (Data & Prescreening Databases)

Opt Out of Third‑Party Databases

Opt Out of Third‑Party Databases
1. Visit each of the services shown (ARS, Clarity, ChexSystems, SageStream,
LexisNexis, CoreLogic, Plaid) and follow their online or PDF opt‑out instructions.
2. Complete online forms where available; for some (like CoreLogic or
ChexSystems), you may need to print, complete, and mail a PDF form.
3. Keep confirmations or copies of any forms you submit.
Opting out helps limit unnecessary prescreened offers and reduces extra data sharing
that can affect how lenders view your profile.

ARS INC

Public records, bankruptcies and inquiries

clarityservices.com

Payday loans, auto title, subprime lending and check cashing

optoutprescreen.com

House payment, mortgage history, and any late payments

chexsystems.com

PDF Form to complete and mail in

sagestreamllc.com

Auto lenders, credit cards, retail, utilities and cell phone bills

lexisnexis.com

Bankruptcies, liens, judgements and historical addresses

CoreLog

PDF Form to complete and mail in Rental applications, child support and criminal records.

plaid.com

Financial Data Reporting

Step 6 – Deal With Collections and Past‑Due Accounts

On your reports, list all:
       ● Past‑due accounts (currently behind).
       ● Collection accounts.
2. First, bring open accounts current to stop new late payments.
3. Next, decide which collections you can afford to pay or settle.
4. Before paying, try to:
       ● Get any agreement in writing.
      ● Clarify whether the account will be updated to “paid,” “settled,” or similar.
5. After paying, keep all receipts and check that your reports update over the next
30–60 days.

Step 7 – Build Positive Credit (Credit‑Building Accounts)

Open New Accounts Designed to Build Credit

1. Consider secured credit cards (for example: Discover it Secured, Capital One
Secured, Citi Secured).
2. Consider credit builder loans (Self, Credit Strong, SeedFi).
3. If appropriate, consider retail cards (Target REDcard, Walmart, Macy’s) or
specialized accounts (Fingerhut, OpenSky, Credit One) to diversify your mix.
4. In some cases, responsible personal loans for bad credit (OneMain, Avant,
Upstart) can help your credit mix if they fit your budget.
5. For every new account:
     ● Keep balances low (ideally under 30% of the limit, best under 10%).
     ● Pay on time, every month.
     ● Avoid opening too many accounts at once.

Secured Credit Cards

Credit Builder Loans

Retail Store Cards (Easier Approval)

Personal Loans for Bad Credit

Step 8 – Track Progress and Rapid Rescore

Monitor Changes and Understand Rapid Rescore

1. Use a credit monitoring tool or free score apps to track your scores and check for
updates to:
    ● Corrected personal information.
    ● Removed or updated negative accounts.
    ● Reduced balances.
    ● Paid collections.
2. Keep your folder of letters, proofs, receipts, opt‑out confirmations, and new
account approvals up to date.
Rapid rescore:
3. When you have made significant changes (big pay‑downs, corrections, removals)
and are preparing for a major loan, talk with your lender about rapid rescore.
4. Rapid rescore is a service a lender uses to send your documented updates to the
credit bureaus and request that they refresh your file faster than the normal
30–45 day cycle.
5. You cannot request rapid rescore yourself; only a lender can do it, and it only
reports real, documented changes—it does not erase accurate negatives or
guarantee a higher score.

Tradelines: Fast Track to a Higher Credit Score

What This Means:

Tradelines are one of the fastest strategies used in credit repair to help increase a client’s credit score in a short period of time.

What Are Tradelines? 

A tradeline is any account that appears on a credit report (credit cards, auto loans, etc.). When you are added as an authorized user to an established credit card with strong history (low balance, on-time payments, long age), that account can be reported on your credit profile.

This can positively impact key credit factors such as:

  • Payment history
  • Credit utilization
  • Length of credit history

How Tradelines Help:

When done correctly, tradelines can:

Rapidly boost credit scores (often within 15–45 days)

Improve approval odds for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards

Strengthen overall credit profile before applying for financing

Important Note:

Tradelines do not remove negative items. They are used as a strategic boost alongside credit repair, not a replacement for it.

How We Use Tradelines in Our Process

  • Review your current credit profile
  • Identify score gaps and utilization issues
  • Match you with qualified tradeline options
  • Add you as an authorized user
  • Monitor score increase and optimize timing for loan approval

Recommended Tradeline Companies

Below are reputable tradeline providers that offer authorized user tradelines for purchase:

  • BoostCredit101 – Wide inventory, fast posting times
  • Tradeline Supply Company – One of the largest marketplaces with transparent pricing
  • Superior Tradelines – Strong aged tradeline options
  • Coast Tradelines – Good for high-limit accounts
  • CreditPro Tradelines – Offers package deals and consulting
  • Perfect Tradelines – Focus on premium, seasoned accounts
  • USA Tradelines – Competitive pricing and flexible options

Compliance & Transparency

We ensure all tradeline strategies:

  • Follow legal authorized user guidelines
  • Are used ethically and responsibly
  • Align with lender expectations

Want to boost your score quickly?

Schedule a consultation to see if tradelines are right for your profile.
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