Credit Repair Kit For Dummies
5. Edition February 2021
480 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Sensible ways to manage and repair your credit
Need a credit makeover? You're not alone: in the U.S., outstanding credit card and other types of revolving debt have jumped over 20% in the past decade, and millions of Americans are struggling with one or more credit-related issues. Whether you're just working on improving your score or need some sound advice on how to make debt a thing of the past, the latest edition of Credit Repair Kit for Dummies is packed with reliable information for escaping the quicksand and taking the concrete steps needed to build up a solid score.
There are many reasons why you might have a subpar credit score--mortgage and auto debt, student loans, impacts of disasters such as COVID-19, and even identity theft. This book covers these scenarios and more, helping you identify the reasons behind a lower score and providing you with straightforward, proven techniques for managing it back to where you want it to be. Also included are sample credit reports, forms, templates, and other helpful online tools to use to whip your score into decent shape.
* Add information to your report to beef-up a low score
* Avoid, reduce, and get rid of mortgage, credit card, student loan, and auto debt
* Keep a good credit score during a period of unemployment
* Fight back against identity theft
A good credit score is always a great thing to have. This book shows you how to put even the worst credit situations behind you and make a poor score just a bad--and distant--memory.
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Started with Credit Repair 7
Chapter 1: Introducing Credit Repair, Credit Scores, and Your Life on Credit 9
Chapter 2: Turning Your Credit Around 27
Chapter 3: Cleaning Up Your Credit Reports 43
Chapter 4: Getting the Best Help for Bad Credit for Free 63
Chapter 5: Coping with Debt Collection 77
Chapter 6: Working with Collectors, Lawyers, and the Courts to Manage Debt Obligations 101
Part 2: Reducing Credit Damage from Major Setbacks 119
Chapter 7: Reducing Credit Damage in a Crisis 121
Chapter 8: Filing for and Recovering from Bankruptcy 145
Chapter 9: Repairing Credit Damage in the Wake of Identity Theft 165
Part 3: Rebuilding Credit, No Matter Where or When You Begin 175
Chapter 10: Starting or Restarting Your Credit in Real Life 177
Chapter 11: Ending Life's Negative Credit Surprises 199
Chapter 12: Protecting Your Credit During Major Life Challenges 213
Part 4: Making Sense of Credit Reporting and Scoring 243
Chapter 13: Discovering How Credit Reporting Works 245
Chapter 14: Understanding Credit Reports and Scores 261
Chapter 15: Monitoring Your Credit Reports and Scores 295
Part 5: Successfully Managing Your Credit for Life 307
Chapter 16: Putting Yourself in Control of Your Credit 309
Chapter 17: Taking a Sustainable Approach to Your Credit 317
Chapter 18: Safeguarding Your Credit with a Spending Plan 329
Chapter 19: Understanding Equity and Diversity in Credit 355
Chapter 20: Knowing Your Rights to Protect Your Credit 367
Chapter 21: Protecting Your Identity 387
Part 6: The Part of Tens 403
Chapter 22: Ten Consumer Protections Everyone Needs to Know 405
Chapter 23: Ten Strategies for Dealing with Student Loans 415
Chapter 24: Ten Ways to Deal with a Mortgage Meltdown 425
Index 435
Steve Bucci is a credit-scoring columnist for CreditCards.com and a syndicated columnist for Bankrate.
Rod Griffin is Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy for Experian, responsible for the company's national consumer education programs and outreach.