Frequently Asked Questions Credit and Debt Counseling

Request a copy of your credit report and dispute any errors.

1. Pay your bills on time and set up automatic reminders.
2. Pay off large balances to reduce your debt load and improve credit utilization.
3. Avoid opening too many new lines of credit and use them responsibly.
4. Consider signing up for our credit repair program for guidance and resources.

By taking these steps, you can slowly enhance your credit score, leading to potential access to more favorable interest rates on loans and other financial products. It’s crucial to regularly review your credit report for precision and promptly address any discrepancies. 

Our team of experts will peruse your credit reports with you and determine what should be challenged or is erroneous. 

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to which bureau a lender will use. Lenders can pull credit reports and scores from any of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) or even use a combination of them to evaluate an individual’s creditworthiness.

Therefore, it’s essential to review your credit reports from all three bureaus to ensure accuracy and address any discrepancies that may be affecting your creditworthiness. 

Credit inquiries can temporarily lower your credit score. A “hard inquiry” when you apply for credit can lower your score by a few points. Too many inquiries in a short period of time can suggest you’re taking on too much debt and hurt your score. “Soft inquiries,” such as checking your own credit report, don’t impact your score.

Negative information on your credit report can remain for different lengths of time, depending on the type of information. Late payments and collection accounts can stay for up to 7 years, bankruptcies for up to 7-10 years, foreclosures for up to 7 years, and judgments for up to 7 years. The negative impact on your credit score will lessen over time, especially if you engage in positive credit behavior.

Yes, past-due medical bills can report and harm your credit. Fortunately, there are laws in place to prevent certain medical debt reporting practices. Credit repair may be a viable option if medical bills are negatively impacting your credit.