How to Get Damaging Information Off of My Credit Report

Removing damaging information from your credit important can improve your credit score. Information such as collection accounts, charge offs, late payments, foreclosures and bankruptcies can harm your credit for years. The Federal Trade Commission reports that federal law allows credit bureaus to report most negative credit information for seven years. The credit bureaus can list bankruptcy information on reports for at least 10 years. Removing negative information that is accurate and timely is impossible, according to the FTC, although there is at least one legal loophole. However, the FTC strongly recommends that you direct your credit repair and avoid so-called credit repair agencies. The agencies often make promises they cannot keep while collecting expensive fees.

Instructions

1

Get a current copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com. The Federal Trade Commission endorses the site as a source for free credit reports under terms of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Visit the site to view and print reports from major credit bureaus Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.

2

Read the credit report to identify damaging information. Contact creditors directly to demand removal of information that is incorrect or outdated. Call the customer service number for the creditor to request that it update your credit report to remove damaging information such as a credit card charge off that is more than seven years old. Alternatively, ask the creditor to correct an account that is showing as open and past due although you paid it off several years ago. Follow up by sending a letter recapping your request. Get the creditor's mailing address from customer service.

3

Contact the credit bureaus directly as an alternative. Dispute damaging information on your credit report that is outdated or wrong by writing letters to the credit bureaus, or enter disputes online or by phone. Follow instructions on the credit reports to file disputes by mail, phone or online.

4

Ask creditors or debt collectors to delete delinquent accounts with balances from your credit reports. Offer to pay the balances in full in exchange for the arrangement -- a process known as "pay for delete." This is a legal loophole for removing damaging information from credit reports, but not all creditors or debt collectors will agree to the arrangements.