Managing your credit report is a very important task. Without a good credit rating, the average consumer will spend more than $400,000 on loans compared with someone that has favorable credit. Please never delay your credit report management as it often takes many months to repair your credit.

1. The first step is viewing your credit report - Please don’t be apprehensive about viewing your credit report because if you don’t know what’s on your report, you’re already putting yourself in a disadvantageous position. Many important people have once said, “In the American Credit System, you’re guilty until you prove yourself innocent.” Unfortunately, LendingKeys.com agrees with that statement so please be informed and patient and everything should eventually work out. You are entitled to one FREE credit report each year through www.annualcreditreport.com. This website will allow you to either download your three credit reports through Trans Union, Experian and Equifax which are the three major credit reporting repositories. You are also entitled to a free credit report if you’ve recently been denied credit.
2. The next step is disputing negative items on your credit report – If you have errors on your credit report such as late payments, balances reporting that have been paid off or items that you don’t recognize you should dispute those items immediately. You can either dispute those items online through www.annualcreditreport.com, or you can mail in your dispute request and we recommend that you send the dispute via certified mail. Please see attached file as an example of how a dispute can be prepared. Offer proof such as paid receipts, or statements showing disputed balances along with your dispute letter. After the credit bureaus receive your dispute, they have thirty days to “verify” the debt (meaning they think your dispute is wrong) or they can make the requested change to your credit report. If a change has been made, the credit bureaus will also mail you a new copy of your credit report. If the credit bureaus fail to respond to your dispute within 30 days, they are supposed to remove the item according to the ECOA (Equal Credit Opportunity Act).
3. The last step is keeping track of time and watching your mail – Make sure you keep good records of your dispute including dates of dispute and all proof relating to the dispute. Unfortunately, the credit bureaus can verify your debt even if the dispute is accurate. You have limited choices other than disputing the item again. Please stay persistent, again, it should work out eventually! Good Luck!