There Are No Requirements On Lenders To Report Negative Informatio

There Are No Requirements On Lenders To Report Negative Information

When it comes to how a lender will report to the credit bureaus, I bring this to your attention as moral support in consumer efforts to NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act clearly states that creditors are NOT required to report negative information to the credit bureaus.
There’s more to this story, however. An August 13, 2008 Announcement from Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac clearly states that they place NO requirement on how lenders report mortgage default accounts to the credit bureaus. In response to the frequently asked question about how these items should appear on the credit report, the announcement stated:
“For reporting these actions on Fannie Mae loans, we require that servicers report to one of the major credit reporting agencies, but it is our policy NOT to direct specifically how to report various actions.”
This is powerful and significant information. If the Fair Credit Reporting Act doesn’t require lenders to report negative information at all, or in a specific manner, and the nation’s largest buyer of mortgage loans does not require lenders to report negative information at all, or in a specific manner, this leaves the door wide open for negotiating deletions or non-reporting of these items. So I reiterate: NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE.
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“Is it better to file for bankruptcy or to be foreclosed?

 “Is it better to file for bankruptcy or to be foreclosed?”
 ”What is a short sale and how can it affect my credit?”
 ”What about a Deed In Lieu of Foreclosure?
 ”What should I do?”

The recent economic crisis has paralyzed the hopes and futures of millions of homeowners who are now wondering how they will recover and rebuild in one of the most stringent lending environments on record. How will they manage their credit through the turbulent economic and financial strangleholds in which they find themselves trapped? Is there relief? Is there any salvaging of the housing market? What is the best path for consumers to get there?
There’s no question that many families will still have to leave their homes. Their biggest question now is how to most effectively do so (without devastating their credit scores) so that they will someday be able to buy a home again.
Now is the time for tough questions to be asked and answered.
Note: The guidelines which are referred to in this report are the selling guidelines of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, the two companies (recently taken over by the U.S. government) that own or guarantee about half of the U.S.’s mortgages. These companies base their decisions to purchase mortgage loans on guidelines that are national policy. These guidelines mandate specific credit requirements and policies with respect to problematic situations such as foreclosures, deed in lieu of foreclosures, short sale, or bankruptcy. Specifically, a demonstration of an impeccable credit history must be shown for a designated period of time after the negative event has occurred.
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If you are ready to purchase a home

If you are ready to purchase a home, or refi your existing loan, and you feel that the credit challenges you are facing are too much, and that you do not have the time to do the work or the necessary follow-up, then it is a good idea to seek professional help. Yes, there are companies out there who have given the repair industry a bad name, but just like attorneys, doctors, and many other professional industries, there are legitimate credit improvement firms that can help you. If you would like to get in touch with someone about your credit, please give me a call and I will refer you to a reputable company that I trust.
For more information about credit repair agencies, ask for my  Fact Sheet: Avoid Credit Repair Scams.
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Can I Improve My Score?

Can I Improve My Score?

Yes, there are specific and strategic steps you can take right now to start repairing your credit problems.

1. Start with the basics. Order all three of your credit reports and all three of your credit scores. You are entitled under the law to a free copy of your credit report-from all three credit bureaus-each year when you order it from Annual Credit Report Request Service. To order, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P. O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You will have to pay an additional fee for the credit score from each bureau. Scan your report for any errors. Is there an account on there that you didn’t apply for? Is there a company reporting a debt that is inaccurate? Are all of your credit card limits reporting? Are your balances up-to-date? Are your name, birth date and Social Security Number correct? If there are any errors on your report, no matter how small, they can lead to big problems and inhibit you from obtaining credit and even keep you from getting the interest rate you deserve on your mortgage or refinance.
2. Start improving what you can immediately. Late payments and delinquent accounts will affect your score negatively, so take care of them-the sooner, the better. If you have a good relationship with your creditor, call them to see if they’ll work with you on removing a late payment. They do it all the time. If you have past due accounts, call your creditors to see if you can negotiate a better interest rate, lower payments or make other arrangements to pay off your debt sooner. Also, don’t carry high balances on your credit cards. If you carry more than 30% of your limit every month, this reflects negatively in your score. Don’t charge what you can’t pay off within 90 days, and don’t max out your cards.
   • Rule 1: Make sure that you only send the letter to the bureau(s) that is reporting the derogatory information. Not all creditors report to all bureaus. If you send a dispute letter to one of the three bureaus that is NOT reporting the information, you take the risk of having the derogatory information added to that bureau, and your score will go down.
   • Rule 2: Make sure that you send everything certified so that you can prove delivery.
   • Rule 3: Include copies of any supporting documentation you may have to support your claim.
   • Rule 4: Keeping a log of activities is very important for successful credit repair. Click Here for an example of a log you can use.
   • Rule 5: Mail disputes to bureaus at their different addresses. Each bureau has several addresses. If your first dispute comes back without change, send it to another address for that bureau. Click Here to print a list of credit bureau addresses.
3. Disputing errors on your report. Errors can appear on your credit report. These can be human error in reporting information from a creditor or one of the credit bureaus. They could even be unauthorized accounts set up in your name by an identity thief. Before you apply for a loan, you should verify the information in your credit report. If you find errors, you should correct them immediately. Here are the rules in sending dispute letters to the credit bureaus:
4. If the credit challenges are too much. If you feel that the credit challenges you are facing are too much, or if you don’t have the time or stamina to do the homework necessary to get the ball rolling, then it’s time to consider using a professional service to help you reach your goals. If you decide this is the path you would like to take, give me a call and I will set up a free credit consultation for you with a company that has orchestrated higher credit scores and better financial opportunities and futures for of individuals from all walks of life.

In Conclusion

Your credit score is so important to your current financial well-being and the stability of your financial future. In fact, your credit score is really the key that can either open doors for you or lock them shut for several years. I am very committed to my effort to help you learn more about both the importance of the score as well as repairing, improving and maintaining strong credit reports and scores for life.
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What Is Not In Your Score?

What Is Not In Your Score?

Your race, color, religion, national origin, sex and marital status, age, salary, occupation, title, employment history, where you live, interest rates, child/family support obligations, rental agreements, soft inquiries, whether or not you are involved in a credit counseling program.
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What Goes Into Your Score?

What Goes Into Your Score?

There are five factors that make up your credit score, and each factor weighs differently on your score. Here’s the breakdown:

• 35% of your score is based on Payment History: The biggest chunk of your credit score, payment history tells lenders how you have been paying your bills. Late payments, collections, past due accounts, and public records such as bankruptcies can seriously hurt your score. It is very important to not incur late payments on Mortgage Accounts. One 30-day late can cost you 50-75 points.
• 30% of the score is based on Amounts Owed: The second biggest factor affecting your credit score, this factor takes into account how much is owed on all your accounts, how many accounts you have that carry a balance, and what percentage of your available credit are you using. Keep credit card balances under 50% of the available limit at all times, and when preparing to make a large purchase, bring those balances down to under 30% at least 3 months before applying for the loan.
• 10% of the score is based on New Credit: This factor includes the number of recently opened accounts, the number of credit inquiries, and the time since each account was opened. This portion of the score also looks at how often you apply for credit. It is best when applying for a mortgage that you do not open or apply for new credit accounts. When shopping for a new mortgage or auto loan, it pays to plan ahead so that you do all of your shopping within a focused period of time. You can have your credit report pulled as many times as you want within a 14-day period when shopping for a mortgage or auto loan and it will only count as ONE hard inquiry.
• 15% of the score is based on Length of Credit History: This factor scores you on how long you have had credit, the time since you opened an account and the time since recent account activity. While applying for a mortgage, consumers will want to leave open accounts they have had for a long time as it will help boost this portion of the score.
• 10% of the score is based on Types of Credit Used: A mix of credit is the best way to develop a good score. The most important consideration is to be picky about the type of credit you apply for because that will really help your score. For instance, to the scoring system, third party financed credit cards (i.e. department store credit cards) are considered to be particularly low quality credit as the holder of such cards can appear desperate for credit. However, there is one exception to this rule, and that is that the scoring system considers Sears credit cards as a positive.

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Some Facts You Should Know

Some Facts You Should Know

What Is a “Good” Credit Score?

Scores generally range between 350 and 850. A score of 740 or better is considered “Excellent” credit.

Why do the scores from the three credit bureaus vary?

The three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are for profit businesses, not government agencies. Their main business is collecting data about YOU from creditors and then reselling that data to lenders, employers, insurance companies, utility companies, and most recently to YOU, the consumer. Since these three companies are competitors, and DO NOT share data with one another, it is very common that the data they house in your file will differ because not all creditors report to all three bureaus. That explains the variance in the scores as each line item affects the score either up or down.

How many scores do I really have?

When you go to apply for a loan, the scores the lender will pull will not be the same scores that you would receive from the bureaus. The reason for this is that lenders DO NOT buy their scores directly from the bureaus, but instead take the DATA ONLY from each bureau, enter it into their own scoring software and calculate their own scores based on the criteria they feel better evaluates whether or not you will be a good credit risk for their program. So all lenders calculate your scores using the same data from the three bureaus, but all lenders DO NOT use the same software to evaluate that data.
The potential for varying scores is great. You want to properly manage your credit to ensure that your scores are favorable under all scoring software models.

Do lenders use all three scores?

Mortgage lenders use the middle of the three scores. All other creditors can use any one of the three. That is why it is important to keep all three scores maintained.

How fast can your credit score change?

Your credit score can change whenever your credit report changes. And the good news is that once it changes, there is no memory of yesterday’s score in the system. You don’t have to worry about looking back as you move forward with improving your credit. Just remember, negative items will lower your score fast, but improving your score takes time. That is why it is important to check your scores all the time so that you will be prepared for the next opportunity.
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