Credit Repair and Credit Score Restoration - Law Offices of Bruce D. Stuart

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Please click on the icon to view the answer to each question.

How is bad credit removed from my credit report?

Everyone knows that under the law, if you are accused of anything, the burden of proof lies with your accuser. In other words, if the credit bureaus are going to promote and sell information about you that can cause you economic hardship, they must back it up to the full letter of the law. Congress has provided consumers the right to challenge information that is deemed to be inaccurate or unverifiable or obsolete. Our Attorneys are experienced at presenting your case in the most effective way possible. Information that is not properly validated under the law must be removed regardless as to whether it is accurate or not. Regardless of the accuracy, credit bureaus are often unwilling (to invest the resources necessary) or unable (to get the credit grantor to invest the resources necessary) to validate the disputed item. Oftentimes, it becomes a matter of economics. If the case is presented properly, it is often more difficult (expensive) for the credit bureaus to substantiate the item than to simply remove it. The law requires more than a form letter to verify that an item is accurate. If the credit bureau confirms an item on your report, the assigned attorney will ratchet up the intensity of our challenge and represent it. This forces the bureau to invest additional time and expense in conducting a new investigation.

Is repairing my credit legal

Absolutely! An affiliated attorney network provides credit repair services on behalf of our members. Obviously if credit repair was illegal licensed attorneys would not facilitate the service. The Fair Credit Reporting Act was designed specifically to provide a way for consumers to force the removal of erroneous, outdated and unverifiable information from their report. Additionally, The Credit Repair Organization Act was passed to govern credit repair companies. If providing credit repair advice were illegal there would be no laws governing how to operate a credit repair company within the law.

How much does this service cost?

Attorney facilitated credit repair is available exclusively to valid Members in good standing. Attorney fees referred to as “correction fees” are only $5.00 per deleted or corrected item per credit report and paid directly to your attorney ONLY AFTER MEMBER IS NOTIFIED BY THE CREDIT BUREAU OF THE RESULTS.

How is the $5 correction fee paid?

You may mail a check or money order - payable to your attorney - with your updated report reflecting the corrections received or if you have a checking account on file you may authorize the amount and date.

Does this program offer a guarantee?

It is important to understand that there can be no absolute guarantees involved in any legal matter. As in a court of law, an attorney could never guarantee that a judge would rule in their favor. Based on extremely positive past experiences, we offer members the industry's only MONEY BACK Triple Results Warranty to protect their membership investment

Would you explain the triple warranty on results?

Warranty #1 says that as long as you do your part, if no derogatory item is removed from your credit reports within the first 3 months, at your request we will cancel your membership and refund all monies paid. Quite simply this never happens! Warranty #2 says at the conclusion of your membership, if you have any derogatory item left on your report, an evaluation of your results will be performed. A value of $75.00 will be placed on each deleted or improved item and deducted from your total amount paid. We will refund to you any difference. This is offered to help you feel comfortable with the results that you can anticipate. VCA attorneys typically deliver results that far and away exceed the warranty value. Warranty #3 says that if for almost any reason you are not satisfied with your results; our attorneys will extend your case and continue to work on your behalf until you are completely 100% satisfied with your results.

How long does the credit restoration process take?

Each case varies significantly. The most important variables are how involved your credit problem is and the responsiveness of the credit bureaus. It would be improper for a professional organization to say exactly how long an individual case would require. If you forward your credit reports on a timely basis, you should see exciting progress within the first 60 days. After that progress will be steady. Statistically, a participating member will see roughly (on average) 1/3 of the negative items deleted every time that the credit bureaus are challenged. (Every 60 days or so) Many members complete the credit repair service in approximately 6 months. A few of the more complicated cases use most or all of the one-year membership. As previously mentioned, progress will vary greatly based on your prompt forwarding of information received, the nature of your case, and the cooperation from the credit bureau(s).

Do I need to know exactly what is on my report before I sign up for your service?

No. Most of our members do not know everything that is on each of their reports. Once obtained, your attorney will easily be able to determine what items need to be removed.

Should I get counseling from a non profit credit counseling service?

Yes, by all means. You as a consumer have the right to contact a credit counseling service for advice concerning your individual credit situation and personal finances.

Do negative items need to be paid before they can be removed from my report?

No. The fact that a derogatory piece of information is paid has nothing to do with its being removed from your report. Removing an item from your report DOES NOT eliminate your obligation for payment. It simply will not appear when a potential credit grantor is looking at your report. Leaving an item unpaid runs the risk of the creditor taking further action against you that damages your credit after it is cleaned up (like submitting it to a collection agent or filing a small claims court action). In either case, you receive ample advanced notice to contact the creditor and settle the matter before any damage to your credit appears. You can also negotiate to settle unpaid obligations - ask for professional assistance.

Does paying off all my bills repair my credit?

That assumption would be logical but IS NOT true. Then again, the credit reporting system just does not work according to logic. Paying an item that is on your credit report extends the time that the item will remain on your report. The seven (7) year clock starts all over again. Ironically, a paid in full negative item is not generally looked at any more favorably than an unpaid negative listing. In most cases, without professional help, you will not get much further by paying the old debt (IN FACT, YOU ARE LIKELY TO MAKE IT WORSE) .

Will deleted items reappear on my report?

Occasionally, the creditor will verify an item that has been deleted. The newly amended Fair Credit Reporting Act has provisions to protect you against items being re-reported on your report. Additionally, you must be notified before a previously deleted item can be re-reported. It is fairly rare for a listing to re-appear on a report once deleted. If an item is re-reported, it is a simple matter to challenge the listing again and press for permanent deletion. If an item is re-reported your attorney will credit you toward your next deleted or corrected item (or) at your discretion promptly send a $5.00 refund for the re-inserted item.

Can I restore my own credit?

Absolutely you can repair your own credit, represent yourself in court, be your own doctor or paint your own house. Given the time and energy and commitment you can learn to do most of what our attorneys do on your behalf. Our attorneys are professionals who specialize in credit restoration. They eat, drink and sleep your rights under the applicable consumer protection laws. Like anything, a professional is often able to accomplish a task more quickly and effectively than a layperson. The ultimate question becomes how you value your time and your aptitude and inclination to learn this kind of work.

I don’t completely understand how the service works.

That is why you should consider using a professional. When your car breaks down you may not completely understand how to repair the problem, or if you do, you may prefer to simply channel your efforts elsewhere. What is important is that our attorneys understand your rights and will be successful in restoring your credit rating.

When the service is completed will I be approved for credit?

You should be approved for credit as long as you meet the other requirements that the credit grantor may have separate from a clean credit report (employment, debt ratio, residence info, etc). Sometimes little or no credit is as limiting as bad credit. If you do not have very many positive trade lines on your credit report, you may want to consider adding some new credit lines though Member Services.

Does the law require that an accurate item stay on a credit report for 7 years?

No. The law limits negative information from staying on your report for longer than the 7 year maximum. Also, the credit bureaus can delete the item whenever they see fit.

Will I be opening a new credit file or establishing a new Social Security Number or Tax ID number?

NO! It's considered fraud. Simply put, we are legally challenging the credit bureaus, exercising the rights extended to you by Congress and forcing the deletion of adverse information from your credit report.

How will I be updated as to the progress on my account?

Credit reports will be sent to you from each of the three major credit reporting agencies regularly. As you receive them, you will see items being removed from your report. It is a little bit like losing weight, every time you step on the scale you are down a few pounds and eventually with patience and perseverance you reach your goal. Should you have questions regarding your progress, you may always contact Member Services for an update.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

If you need to make a contact, you will be offered a member service number, a special e-mail address and a fax number that goes directly to member services. The attorneys offer the association heavily discounted rates. For this reason, Members may not contact the attorneys directly without incurring an additional fee. TCRA Member Service Representatives will handle all of your service needs.

What are my responsibilities as a member?

As detailed in the Service Agreement, you must make sure that your membership and “correction fees” are paid as agreed and act as a conduit (as you receive information forward it promptly) to keep the wheels of progress moving. Other than that, being our member is simply an exercise in patience, fueled by regular updates coming to you directly from the credit bureaus in the form of updated credit reports.