Credit Repair - The Service That Dares Not Speak Its Name

"Never try to wrestle with a pig. You can't win and the pig enjoys it" - D.Van Skilling, former president of Experian

Are You Rich Enough to Fix Your Credit Report?

Vast numbers of people are constantly attacked by credit reports and they want to know how to defend themselves. As we have said from the beginning, it is our belief that the credit reporting system is such a poor concept and so corrupt in its implimentation that it offers no hope of being "fixed" by any means short of halting the practice altogether. When you do try to fix even obvious errors the bureaus will use the opportunity to "fish" for private information they can sell to make life even worse.

There is a second reason we do not offer credit repair suggestions. Most do not work for average Joes. If you are a millionaire and have a glitch on your credit report, you have your lawyer buy the debt from whoever holds it, maybe for less than what you borrowed. Now you own the right to report whatever you want about that debt, including reporting that it was paid off on time, as agreed. If you really want a good credit rating, you get an agreement in writing that you will specify how the debt is reported on any challenge. This works well for the high and mighty, but the average victim just doesn't have the contacts to do this. Instead victims blunder through the ineffectual remedies promised by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and they just don't work. The best you can hope for is an internal "cloak" on certain data that might cause the bureau to look at the accuracy of your report a little closer for a few months. Just remember that trying to correct a credit report is like a slave working to clean his chains. You may feel better afterwards, but your time would be better spent sawing rather than polishing.

Rants and Raves about Credit Reporting

There is a more ominous reason VCR hesitates to offer suggestions on "cleaning up" your credit report. The credit reporting industry has such political strength in Washington that credit repair is dangerous to even discuss. In several well publicized cases, those who dared to speak up and inform the american people that their credit emperors had no clothes faced criminal and civil action to silence them. Even before the data cowboys were given free reign by 911 attacks, opponents were being arrested and harrassed. Come back later for updated links to Bill Sheehans story. The use of criminal charges to silence critics of an industry that promises to predict the future makes many afraid to even talk about how truthful the claims of their salesman really are.

Some people did talk, but it was not their own words. In the mid 90's the Attorney Generals of several states chanted together on national TV saying "only time will fix your credit rating". What these highly paid lawyers didn't know was that most americans already knew the 7 year time limit was a joke and that the AGs hadn't bothered to enforce laws against credit bureaus. Now most of those appearing in that ad are former Attorney Generals thanks to the 1998 elections.

You should know there are those who don't put up with credit reports. Many US credit bureaus are owned by foreigners or expatriots who live in countries where credit reports are severely restricted or even outlawed altogether (See current events for info on the European Data Protection ACT). US personal credit reports are often used by foreign companies against their US competitors. This is particularly effective in countries like Japan where reputation is vital to business success (1999 - consumer credit reports were formally adopted in Japan in 1997 - one year later their economy was in shambles). Familiarity does breed contempt, and those with US connections who do business abroad face having their private lives used against them while their foreign competitors enjoy privacy.

Summary:Credit Bureau owners know the value of personal privacy. Its just that they want it only for themselves at any cost to you. If there is a way out of credit report tyranny it lies in the ballot box. Most Americans take their right to privacy seriously, most politicans do not.