Getting your credit report erased is actually impossible. While you can have individual derogatory items erased from your credit report, you cannot get your whole credit report erased. Here is how to clean up your credit. When you begin the task of getting derogatory information on your credit report erased, the first thing you will need to get is a copy of your three credit reports. Before you can have errors erased, you first need to know if there are any, and if so… what the errors are.

Getting your report is easy–the three major credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and Transunion–are required by law to give you one free copy of your credit report each year. To order, visit Annual Credit Report online or phone 1-877-322-8228. You can also mail your request to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They are providing the free annual credit reports only through Annual Credit Report.

Examine It Carefully

Once you have your report in hand, examine it carefully. Make a note of any charge you do not recognize. Also make note of any debt that was paid off but is still showing on your credit report.

The Process

The process for getting derogatory information on your credit report erased, is to send a letter to the credit bureau for each item you are disputing. If you know an item has been paid in full, send documentation of the payoff along with your letter. All communications with the credit bureau should be sent via certified mail. Be sure to check the box marked “return receipt requested” so you will have proof it was delivered and accepted.

If you do not have documentation, you can still get information in your credit report erased. As long as you notify the credit bureau in writing which items you are disputing, the credit bureau must contact the creditor, and request verification. The creditor has thirty days to notify the credit bureau that either the item in dispute is accurate as reported, or that it is not accurate.

Be vigilant in getting derogatory information in your credit report erased. In this day and age, your credit score has a huge effect on your life. Your credit score affects where you live, where you work, the kind of car you drive, and numerous other aspects of your life.

The credit rating method used by 90% of lenders is the Fair Isaac Corporation method, commonly referred to as the FICO method. Credit scores using this method range from 300 to 850, with the higher scores being the better scores. FICO reports that the median credit score in America is 723. FICO scores are determined based on five categories of information contained in your credit reports.

Your Payment Record – 35%

The most important factor in the credit rating method is your payment record. A full 35% of your credit score is based on how well and how timely you make your payments. Included in this category are late pays, collections, charge offs, and bankruptcies. The more current any derogatory information in your file is, the worse lenders view it. Even the worst things that affect your credit get better with age.

Outstanding Debt – 30%

The next biggest factor in the credit rating method, is how much debt you are carrying. Credit card debt is particularly scrutinized because cards are the easiest to get in trouble with. If you have one or two cards that are “maxed out”, your credit scores will probably be much lower. Better to spread your balances over a few cards than to max any of them out. If possible, keep balances on all your cards at 30% of the high limit or less.

Length of Credit History – 15%

The longer you have had credit established, the more favorably you are viewed by lenders. A long credit history gives a lender more information in which to gauge your future actions.

Inquires – 10%

Inquires account for 10% of the credit rating method, and is probably the least understood. Each time you apply for credit, insurance, a rental, or employment, there is a good chance a credit report will be pulled. This is called a hard inquiry, and is recorded in your credit report. Lenders look hard at these inquires, especially if they have occurred in the last six months.

Lenders won’t get too concerned if you have no more than 10 hard inquiries in your credit report, spread out over several months. But if you suddenly have 8 to 10 inquires in a short period of time, they tend to get nervous. The exception to this is when several inquires show up that indicate you are shopping for a particular type of loan, such as an auto loan or a mortgage. It should be obvious that you are only looking for one such loan. Inquires can stay on your credit report for 2 to 3 years.

Lenders often times pull a mini version of your credit report for a promotional offer. These are called a soft inquiry and are not reported. Likewise, when you request a copy of your own credit report, that also is called an inquiry but it does not show on your credit report either.

Different Types of Credit You Have – 10%

A credit file containing a mortgage, auto loan, bank loan, and two or three credit cards tells lenders that you have the capability of managing different kinds of debt. This variety of debt will add to your credit score. If your credit history only shows a few credit cards, even though your payment history was perfect on them, your scores will be less.

Understanding how the credit rating method works should help you manage your credit scores better. With proper management, you could easily be at the median credit score of 723 or better very quickly.

In the world of credit cards, credit debt is all too common. Debt from credit cards can be very stressful, and lead to a very crippling situation. No one is immune to credit card debt, as even students can experience debt with their credit cards as well. With people using their credit cards more these days, more and more people continue to take the plunge into debt. Debt is never good, as it leads to bankruptcy and the destruction of your credit report.

Even though getting in credit card debt is simple to do, getting out of it is something that takes a lot of work. Even if you go to an agency or company that specializes in helping people out of debt, it won’t happen overnight. To get out of debt, it will take you quite a bit of time and effort as you get the debt under control and begin the long process of rebuilding your credit.

To properly defend yourself from credit card debt, you’ll need to know quite a bit about credit, managing your money, and finances in general. Normally, you can stay out of debt by creating an ideal budget and saving money whenever you can. If you stick to this plan and avoid steering away from it, you’ll normally have no problems staying out of debt.

If you have other credit cards that you don’t use, such as store credit cards that are known for high interest rates, you should dispose of them. If you have a lot of open accounts, you should look into debt consolidation, which will combine all of your debts into one payment so you can get them out of the way quicker. By using debt consolidation services, you will only have one bill to pay.

When you receive your credit card bill, you should always strive to pay more than just the minimum. If you only pay the minimum amount, you could very well end up being in debt the rest of your life – as you could be paying nothing but the interest. Every month, you should strive to pay the minimum amount and then some. Paying more than the minimum amount will also help to pay offer your credit card bill faster as well.

No matter how much credit card debt you are in, you can always find debt management services and agencies that will help you fight back. Credit card debt is very common these days, something many of us have experienced. Although there are ways out of credit card debt, the best way to get out of it is to avoid it all together. If you pay your bills on time and never miss a payment – you’ll always live a debt free lifestyle.