Credit Clean-up and Monitoring Tools?

[bellisimaj]

Well I'm happy to say that our wonderful attorney was able to move us from a 13 to a 7. We had our 341 meeting a few weeks ago and just confirmed we are listed as no asset in pacer. A huge weight has been lifted! I'm excited to be in the 60 day club and would like to start working on our credit reports. I have read so much in the forum about how to approach this process - but couldn't find any information on what tools or websites are suggested. Is there a website that you can subscribe to that allows you to pull your credit report monthly to work on cleaning it up? Thank you!

[discombob1]

I think you will get several opinions. Generally you can do it yourself with time and persistence. However, I work two jobs and don't want to spend what extra time I have doing that. I signed up with Equifax's service. I disputed everything online, and watched my actual FICO score jump over 60 points in just a few weeks, plus FAKO scores jumped. I plan on keeping it for a few more months until I know everything is correct, then go to one a year free reports after that. Time will heal the rest of those wounds.

Just my own experience, I know others will have suggestions for you.

[Amy26]

You can subscribe to monitoring services but the best way to clean up your reports post BK is to get your reports directly from the credit bureaus in hardcopy. Many credit monitoring sites will not show you the "full picture" and can be subject to interpretation on their part. The best way is to get it straight from the horses mouth but not just doing it online... actually calling them up and asking for a paper copy to be mailed to you. Only then will you see how the report "actually" looks and what you need to dispute. Going to Equifax's website and doing it is ok as well... but I only use monitoring services online for just that... post monitoring and when events occur. To clean up post BK, I would feel safer using the method I discribed.

There is also much debate on if you should dispute online or mail in disputes via snail mail.

[Jjstuie]

Is it the individual creditors that have to enter a code and change the information that is reporting or is it the actual credit reporting agency that adjusts the reports to show that the accounts read properly? (i.e. - included in BK, $0 balance, etc.) I'm curious because I want to get on the ball with this as soon as possible to make sure my reports are as clean as possible at time of discharge. Thanks in advance =D

[IBroke]

Is it the individual creditors that have to enter a code and change the information that is reporting or is it the actual credit reporting agency that adjusts the reports to show that the accounts read properly? (i.e. - included in BK, $0 balance, etc.) I'm curious because I want to get on the ball with this as soon as possible to make sure my reports are as clean as possible at time of discharge. Thanks in advance =D

The most effective way is to start the clean-up AFTER discharge because there are certain things creditors are allowed to report pre-discharge but not post-discharge. In order to avoid having to dispute things twice, I recommend doing it post-discharge.

Disputing by mail with the bureaus gives you more legal power in case errors get verified - which happens very often. You might find out that some bureaus will tell you that when disputing online, you won't get a result by mail - only online. With Equifax, you will get a .pdf-file you can print out that looks just like a mailed report so that would be your "proof of dispute" - so you could dispute with them online and by mail with the other two.

If there are still - now verified - errors on your report, send CMRRR-letters to the matching creditors, demanding correction (if positive TL) or deletion (if negative TL) of the entire account from your credit-reports.

[Jjstuie]

The most effective way is to start the clean-up AFTER discharge because there are certain things creditors are allowed to report pre-discharge but not post-discharge. In order to avoid having to dispute things twice, I recommend doing it post-discharge.

Disputing by mail with the bureaus gives you more legal power in case errors get verified - which happens very often. You might find out that some bureaus will tell you that when disputing online, you won't get a result by mail - only online. With Equifax, you will get a .pdf-file you can print out that looks just like a mailed report so that would be your "proof of dispute" - so you could dispute with them online and by mail with the other two.

If there are still - now verified - errors on your report, send CMRRR-letters to the matching creditors, demanding correction (if positive TL) or deletion (if negative TL) of the entire account from your credit-reports.

Thanks so much I really appreciate the response!