Improving Your Credit Score is not that difficult if you follow competent advice. First, your dispute letter to the credit bureaus needs to be short and to the point. Don't quote your lawyer or imply an impending doom for their legal department. Instead of being a junior legal eagle, just make sure that each of your dispute letters have these three elements:

• Number 2 - Why you are disputing it
• Number 3 - What specific results you are seeking
• Number 1 - What exactly you are disputing

You want each of your dispute letters to have all three of the above elements. Take a look at this example of a simple dispute letter: DON'T USE MY WORDS!!

If the credit bureaus receive hundreds or thousands of the same letter, they will consider your letter frivolous and possibly dismiss it the dispute.That said, here is an example of a letter to send to the credit bureaus:

• Your Name
• Your Social Security Number
• Dear Credit Bureau Name
• I am disputing the Sears account appearing on my credit report, number XXXX, for the reason of (mention one of 13 reasons below).
• Re: (account and reason for your dispute goes here)
• Please delete. Thank You.
• Your Date Of Birth
• Your Address

As you write the letter, choose one of these 13 reasons:

• Incorrect Date
• Account Transferred To Another Lender
• Not Liable For the Account
• Incorrect Account Designation
• Original Creditor Not Listed
• Account Closed By Consumer
• Opened/Not Accurate/Inaccurate Terms
• Creditor Classification
• Incorrect Balance Being Reported
• Inaccurate Remarks
• Account Type Inaccurate
• Inaccurate Late Pays
• Obsolete Account

Improving credit scores begins with a smart reason of dispute-no more playing lawyer or credit repair student with plagiarized textbook form letters. This letter has two benefits- if the credit bureaus accepts your reason, then send them another dispute letter using a different reason on the list. When you provide a different reason to each bureau for each bad account, you will repair your credit one by one.

You might have been lured into believing that disputing your account as "not yours" would be the best way. But by being an informed consumer, you now have a treasure trove of reasons to choose from.

Putting it all together: Don't believe the myths that credit courses push on you. In addition, restoring your bad credit is a secret process within the credit agency system that only a handful of qualified repairmen know. You should now be empowered with good information and avoid the bad. For More Information on credit repair Click the link below and go to our website. Author Bio: Mark Garcia will teach you how to Improve Your Credit Score fast with his FREE Instant Access to a 3 minute video about his own credit repair story. You can also download a special report on the "10 Most Dangerous Mistakes That People Make When Trying To Fix Bad Credit" available at Crushing the Credit Bureaus.

Improving Your Credit Score isn't that complicated if you listen to good advice. First, your letter of dispute with the bureaus needs to be short and concise. Don't quote the Bill of Rights or play legal tag with your lawyers. Fixing your credit is not about legal intimidation; it's about these three points:

• Number 2 - Why you are disputing it
• Number 1 - What exactly you are disputing
• Number 3 - What specific results you are seeking

You want each of your dispute letters to have all three of the above elements. Below is an example of how I would write a letter: YOU MUST WRITE A LETTER USING ONLY YOUR WORDS, NOT MINE!!

If the credit bureaus start getting letters that look exactly alike, then they will dismiss them as some frivolous copy from a credit repair course and kick out the dispute. With that in mind, here is my letter to the credit bureaus:

• Your Address
• Please delete. Thank You.
• Your Social Security Number
• I am disputing the Sears account appearing on my credit report, number XXXX, for the reason of (mention one of 13 reasons below).
• Your Name
• Dear Credit Bureau Name
• Re: (account and reason for your dispute goes here)
• Your Date Of Birth

Next, pick one of the following 13 reasons for your dispute:

• Account Closed By Consumer
• Incorrect Balance Being Reported
• Account Transferred To Another Lender
• Incorrect Account Designation
• Incorrect Date
• Not Liable For the Account
• Original Creditor Not Listed
• Account Type Inaccurate
• Creditor Classification
• Opened/Not Accurate/Inaccurate Terms
• Inaccurate Remarks
• Obsolete Account
• Inaccurate Late Pays

Using one of these reasons are the simple and smart way to increase your credit score-no threats, law school tryouts or plagiarized credit repair book letter. The beauty of this system is twofold- if the credit bureaus verify your first dispute letter as accurate, then craft a different dispute letter using another reason or item. By providing a different reason for each account with each bureau, you will repair your credit little by little with each credit bureau.

Too many people dispute their bad accounts the only way they have been told to-by saying it is not theirs. Most people think that the only way to dispute an account is by saying it is not mine. However, you now have an arsenal with which to dispute each and every negative account on your credit report.

The truth about credit repair is this: Don't spend thousands of dollars on credit courses about credit repair myths. There are also hidden secrets that the credit bureaus don't want you to know about how to fix your credit and only a select few have this knowledge. I hope you will begin to fix your credit using tested reasons, rather than flimsy ones. For More Information on credit repair Click the link below and go to our website. Author Bio: Mark Garcia will teach you how to Improve Your Credit Score fast with his FREE Instant Access to a 3 minute video about his own credit repair story. You can also download a special report on the "10 Most Dangerous Mistakes That People Make When Trying To Fix Bad Credit" available at Crushing the Credit Bureaus.

Improving Your Credit Score is easy when you follow people in the know. First, your letter of dispute with the bureaus needs to be short and concise. Don't cite the constitution or threaten them with a lawsuit. Fixing your credit is not about legal intimidation; it's about these three points:

• Number 1 - What exactly you are disputing
• Number 3 - What specific results you are seeking
• Number 2 - Why you are disputing it

Every letter of dispute must contain these three points. Here is an example of such a letter: Below is an example of a dispute letter that I would write: DO NOT COPY THIS LETTER WORD FOR WORD!!

Credit bureaus are savvy about credit repair course letters and will dismiss what looks like frivoulous letters. That said, here is an example of a letter to send to the credit bureaus:

• Your Name
• Your Address
• Your Date Of Birth
• Please delete. Thank You.
• Your Social Security Number
• Dear Credit Bureau Name
• Re: (account and reason for your dispute goes here)
• I am disputing the Sears account appearing on my credit report, number XXXX, for the reason of (mention one of 13 reasons below).

As you write the letter, choose one of these 13 reasons:

• Obsolete Account
• Incorrect Balance Being Reported
• Account Transferred To Another Lender
• Not Liable For the Account
• Original Creditor Not Listed
• Creditor Classification
• Inaccurate Late Pays
• Opened/Not Accurate/Inaccurate Terms
• Incorrect Date
• Inaccurate Remarks
• Incorrect Account Designation
• Account Type Inaccurate
• Account Closed By Consumer

Improving credit scores begins with a smart reason of dispute-no more playing lawyer or credit repair student with plagiarized textbook form letters. The benefits of this system can be powerful because if the credit bureau approves of the first reason, you can send them a second letter citing another reason from the list. Fixing your credit one piece at a time is simple when you provide a different reason for each account with each credit bureau.

Too many people dispute their bad accounts the only way they have been told to-by saying it is not theirs. Most people think that the only way to dispute an account is by saying it is not mine. However, you now have an arsenal with which to dispute each and every negative account on your credit report.

To sum up: The commonly-accepted myths about credit repair are just not true. In addition, restoring your bad credit is a secret process within the credit agency system that only a handful of qualified repairmen know. You should now be empowered with good information and avoid the bad. For More Information on credit repair Click the link below and go to our website. Author Bio: Mark Garcia will teach you how to Improve Your Credit Score fast with his FREE Instant Access to a 3 minute video about his own credit repair story. You can also download a special report on the "10 Most Dangerous Mistakes That People Make When Trying To Fix Bad Credit" available at Crushing the Credit Bureaus.

The current mortgage crisis has left many individuals ‘upside down’ on their homes – owing more than the home is worth. Learn how to protect your credit scores and repair your credit report if this happens to you

A common strategy in these situations is to have the mortgage adjusted, generally with more favorable payment terms for the borrower. These loan modifications, some of them sponsored by the federal government, can be beneficial for individuals who need to gain control of their debt and reduce mortgage payments at the same time.

However, some borrowers are discovering that these mortgage readjustments and loan modifications are having a detrimental effect to their credit scores. This is because loan modifications are reported as partial payments, and may even be reported as late payments by lenders. Under the Credit Data Industry Association rules, loan modifications are typically reported as a partial payment, which can lower your credit score 50 to 100 points, or more, depending upon your particular situation.

Unfortunately, lenders are not required to tell you that they will report your loan modifications as a partial payment or a late payment. You may not find out about the damage to your credit scores until you attempt to apply for new credit or see lower limits on the credit that you are to have. Even if you make all agreed-upon payments under the new loan modification consistently on time, you may find that your credit report shows you as delinquent with regards to your mortgage payments. The only way to correct this is to contact the lender directly — the credit bureaus have no control over how your loan modifications are reported to them.

So what can you do to protect your good credit score if you need to have your mortgage modified? Your best option is to speak directly with the lender and find out how your loan modifications will be reported. By working directly with your lender upfront, you may be able to avoid the damage to your credit scores. If you are already taking advantage of a loan modification, it’s in your best interests to check your credit report and be sure that your timely payments are being ported accurately by your lender. If your bank has a policy of reporting loan modifications in a manner that is detrimental to your credit scores, you may wish to try to negotiate more equitable terms for your particular situation. Some banks are willing to work on a case-by-case basis with borrowers, so you may be able to get your credit report adjusted if you speak directly with the lender.

A final option is to place a notation on your credit report, detailing your situation. While this may not make a big difference in your actual credit scores, lenders who pull your credit report will have a more accurate picture of your current financial situation, as well as an understanding of your commitment to pay your creditors on time. By being aware of the potential damage to your credit scores before you enter a loan modification agreement, you can take steps to minimize the negative effects.

To learn more about how to repair credit report, visit CrushingTheCreditBureaus.com for more free tips, tactics, and techniques on how to protect your credit rating

Mark

   I want to wish all of my loyal readers and subscribers a truly safe and happy New Year! I will be sharing some new tips over the next couple of days on credit repair and increasing your FICO credit scores over the next couple of days. 

   Be safe and we will see you on the other side of 2009!

   As we come to the close of the year, I recommend to all my students and clients to get copies of their credit reports so that you can hit the ground running in January with their credit repair plan.

   The mailing addresses for the three major credit bureaus are:

   About a week ago I mentioned to my readers about the $2 Trillion in credit lines that were going to be pulled in the next 18 months by the major credit card issuers. Some of my students and coaching clients began asking me how the could combat this loss as they continue to perform credit repair for themselves.

   There are several ways to fight back – just remember that you are performing this tactic to increase your credit scores and fix bad credit – not going on a spending spree!

   First, pick up your phone. Reach out to your credit card issuers and just have a conversation with them. Ask them the reasons “why” they reduced your credit limits. Sometimes just calling and asking the question will get your credit limits restored. You don’t have to blindly accept their action.

   Share with them details about your salary and job status. Did you recently get promoted? It helps if you have been a customer for awhile and also haven’t been recently late on any payments If you’ve been a good customer, paying on time for a long time, say so. But don’t feel too tied to the card company.

   Chances are you’re still getting some credit card offers in the mail, and now may be the time to use them as leverage. Threaten to leave your current provider, pointing out the better rates their competitors are offering. If you haven’t gotten solicitations, check out Credit.com, CardRatings.com or Bankrate.com to see what you’re missing. If your issuer is playing those games with you, through no fault of your own, it’s time to shop around for a new provider. Now may also be a good time to pick up another card on top of the one you have.

   Because card companies don’t want to carry as much potential for default, they’re slashing card limits. That means someone who used to have a $5,000 credit limit and spent $3,000 every month was well within the limit. But now they may be hitting their heads on the ceiling of a $3,500-a-month limit, which leaves them with an ugly “credit utilization ratio” (the amount owed relative to the credit limit). C

   Restoring a high credit limit is a great goal, but not if you’re doing it just to take on added debt. Tell your card company you want to maintain your pristine (or improve your lackluster) credit score and you’d threaten that number by having a lower limit. They’ll respond better to that than to whines about wanting a new TV.

   Finally, if your interest rates have spiked and you can’t switch to a better card, try to “opt-out” of the new rate. That means you’ll pay off your current balance at the existing rate, but you may not be able to make new purchases anymore. Ask your credit card issuer for details.

   I just joined up on Twitter and will share many more tips on credit repair, credit scores, and how to fix my bad credit. Follow me there

Stay tuned

Mark

   I attended a retirement party awhile back and thought the atmosphere was pretty funny. This event was in a “roast” style event, where the guest of honor has friends and colleagues pay tribute and poke fun at them. It got me thinking about how humor can really make us look at ourselves and have a chuckle. This doesn’t really have anything to do with credit repair, credit scores, or fixing bad credit, but I thought my readers might find it amusing – Enjoy! 

   A retirement party is a great opportunity to let the retiree know what they meant to the company, and to their colleagues. After years of service, a retirement party is meant to summarize accomplishments, remember memorable moments, and celebrate personal connections. A retirement party should also be fun, so a little humor is most likely in order. No one has to be a comedian, but it helps to inject a little humor into the proceedings. Besides, there must be some pretty embarrassing moments throughout one’s career that should be brought up in public.

 When trying to come up with a retirement speech, the humor part of it can be very challenging to come up with. Delivering a little humor in a retirement speech is an excellent way to break the ice and get the crowd to relax. Retirement jokes abound on the internet, making it easy to find some stock material that will go over fairly well. The best kind of humor, however, can be found when it applies to the personal experiences of the retiree.

 Look back through the time a retiree spent at the company, and find potentially humorous or even embarrassing moments. Talk to colleagues about incidents they may have experienced with the guest of honor. The best way to use humor in a retirement speech is to create a smooth introduction, leading into a more serious subject. Humor can act as a great intro for a memorable moment, when the retiree may shown great character.

   Situations that may have been stressful during the career of the retiree can be a funny way to segue into a commentary on their character. Talking about a tough situation the retiree found him or herself in can be humorous, but it can also demonstrate their stalwart character. Getting the audience to laugh, and then drawing them in with a memorable commentary, is a great speech technique.

 More general retirement jokes can be found just about anywhere on the internet. While these tend to be highly formulaic and general, they can be a simple way to break the ice. Again, nobody has to be a comedian at a retirement party. Retirement jokes are simply meant to establish a rapport with the audience and get them to perhaps chuckle a little. If you go with some one liners from the internet, be sure to only employ a few of them. Any more and a speech will begin to sound excessively canned.

   It seems as though we have been on a bit of “retirement binge” here lately at www.CrushingTheCreditBureaus, and that is due to I have several family members who will be retiring this year, so it is top of my mind.

   I keep finding out interesting tidbits and information that I want to pass on them as they go through this phase of their life. Heck, it can’t always be about credit repair, credit scores, and how to fix bad credit.

   Retirement poems can make a great addition to a retirement party, bringing both a little humor, as well as a memorable moment, to the occasion. Retirement poems often focus on the career of the retiree, and what they will be doing in their upcoming retirement. This is a great opportunity to inject a little bit of humor into the proceedings.

   Retirement poems written by colleauges can be very memorable as well, adding meaning to the events of the evening.

   If you do not have the time to write retirement poems, the internet is full of resources that offer free retirement poems. Although a personalized retirement poem would definitely be more memorable, it can be acceptable to use a stock retirement poem from online. Although these won’t apply directly to the retiree, they may still bring some humor to the event. A simple search online will reveal scads of retirement poems, with most of them being free for use.

   Retirement poems vary from the witty to the heartfelt. They are usually short and to the point. Go online and search through some of these poems for an idea of what is available. With so many online, you are sure to find something appropriate for a retirement party. Save some of these poems to your computer whenever you come across poems that may work.

   If you are retiring, then this is a great opportunity to write a retirement poem. Retirement poems are an opportunity to offer a succinct summary of your experiences, emotions, and ideas going ahead in retirement. Study some other retirement poems for ideas on how to write your own. Reading a retirement poem at your own party can be a great way to let everybody know how you are feeling.

   There are some great resources online for retirement poems, including websites like www.public-speaking-advice.com. Finding a free retirement poem should only take a few minutes, but be sure to spend a little time on looking for a quality poem. Although there are vast quantities of poems out on the internet, only some of them are high enough quality to use at a retirement party.

   It is also important to make sure other guests are not intent on using the same retirement poem at your retirement party. This could potentially be a little embarrassing, so check if you believe others intend on using free retirement poems.

Enjoy!

Mark