1.Obtainyourcreditreport.Youareentitledtoafreecreditreportevery12monthsfromeachofthethreemajorcreditreportingagencies(Equifax,ExperianTransUnion).Requestthereportonline(www.annualcreditreport.com),viaphone(877.322.8228),orbyprinting(www.ftc.gov/credit)andmailingaformtoAnnualCreditReportRequestService,P.O.Box105281,Atlanta,Georgia30348‐5281.Youarealsoentitledtoafreereportifyouweredeniedcredit,insuranceoremploymentbecauseofinformationonyourreport(youmustrequestthereportwithin60days),areongovernmentassistanceorhaveincorrectinformationonyourreportbecauseoffraud.2.Revieweachsectionofyourreportcarefully.Lookforaccountsyoudonotrecognize,accountsthatshouldnolongerbereportedandincorrectinformation.3.Writealettertothecreditreportingcompanyandprovider.Includewhatinformationiswrongandwhyitiswrong.Askforittoberemoved/fixedandsendcopiesofsupportingdocuments.Make2copiesofyourletter,oneforyourselfandonetheinformationprovider.

Credit Repair

Havingaplaninplacetorepairyourcreditcaneliminateunnecessaryworry.Hereareafewstepstogetyoustarted.

Makesureyouhavethecorrectmailingaddressestosendthedisputeletters.Manyprovidersandcreditreportingcompanieshavespecial“dispute”addresses.Sendyourletterscertifiedmail“returnreceiptrequested.”Thecreditreportingcompanymustinvestigateyourdisputewithin30days.Whiletheinvestigationispending,a“flag”willbeplacedonthereportindicatingyourdispute.Note:Creditreportingcompaniesandprovidersdonothavetoinvestigateyourclaimiftheythinkyourrequestisnotgenuine.Onlydisputetheinformationyouhavearighttodispute.4.Reviewtheresults.Oncetheinvestigationisfinished,thecreditreportingcompanymusttellyoutheresults.Ifyouwereright,theinformationmustbecorrectedorremoved.Ifthecreditreportingcompanydeniesyourdispute,theymustprovideyouwithevidencethattheinformationiscorrect.5.Dealwithyourdebt.Ifyourcreditreporthasnegativeinformationthatiscorrectandtimely,youcanstillimproveyourcreditfile:

• Makeabudgetandsticktoit.• Contactyourcreditorifyouthinkyouwillbe

unabletopay.Askthecreditorforanewrepaymentplan.Iftheyagree,gettheplaninwriting.

• Ifyouneedhelpmanagingyourcredit,contactacreditcounselorlicensedwithSCDCA.

• Checkyourcreditreportatleastevery12monthsforaccuracy.

South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs Toll-free at 1.800.922.1594 or 803.734.4200 Online at www.scconsumer.gov