How to Clean Up Your Credit in Illinois

According to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, it is possible to repair your credit in Illinois, but do not expect overnight success. Citizens can take control of their finances by seeking help from local nonprofit credit counseling firms and engaging in their own credit repair. Madigan advises against the use of so-called credit repair firms, charging up to $1,000 or more for their services.

Instructions

1

Visit Annual Credit Report online to instantly view and print your credit report from one of three nationwide credit bureaus. Click "Request Report" on the homepage to begin, or order by phone by dialing 877-322-8228. The credit bureaus--TransUnion, Equifax and Experian--offer free reports, as required by law.

2

Schedule an appointment with a nonprofit credit counseling agency in Illinois. Popular options include the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS), which has agencies across Illinois. Check your telephone directory for the CCCS agency nearest you, or ask other community organizations for a referral. For help in Chicago with finding a nonprofit credit counselor, contact the Chicago Urban League or the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. In Champagne, contact Habitat for Humanity or the Champagne chapter of the Salvation Army. The Urban League, Habitat for Humanity and Salvation Army have branches in most cities in Illinois. Banks and credit unions can also offer suggestions.

3

Take your credit report to the counseling session. Most services at the nonprofit agencies are free, and you can expect your counselor to offer a free analysis of your report. Together, you may find inaccurate information that can be removed from your credit report by writing letters to the credit bureaus. The counselor can also recommend a plan for cleaning up other items on your report. The plan may include prioritizing the delinquent accounts on your report and creating a budget for paying them off based on your income and living expenses.

4

Ask about financial literacy classes in Illinois. The classes typically include guidance for repairing your credit and may be available from your credit counselor in Illinois. You can also check with a branch of Alliant Credit Union, the largest credit union in Illinois. In 2009, the credit union launched the Alliant Credit Union Foundation, an organization devoted to improving financial literacy for people living in markets served by the credit union. Contact the credit union by calling 800-328-1935.