Consumer Credit Articles and Information
CRE Credit Services is dedicated to bringing you valuable and timely consumer credit information. You will find an introduction and links to some of those articles below. Many of the articles offer good advice on how to avoid credit problems that could hurt your credit history and ratings. We hope you find the information valuable and timely.
Credit Protection, Repair, and Restoration Articles
Click on the images or links below to read the complete article:
"The
Credit Dispute Dance" by
James Charlet
I have worked at an extremely high level within a credit-reporting agency. I have responded to attorney general complaints, lawsuits against them, congressmen, and lobbyist firms working on their behalf. I am considered an “expert.” I have also worked for credit restoration companies, including one of, if not the, largest as an executive. I have written letters for and on behalf of clients that specifically stated which sections and sub-sections of the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) were being violated by errors I saw on the client’s credit report, only to get a form letter response completely ignoring the substance of the letter...
"Make Payments Count" by James Charlet
"Prevention can safeguard an individual from the potential problems associated with a derogatory mark from the creditor on their credit report.
Do your homework. Make sure you know when the billing cycle ends. Prepare a file for each of your creditors and keep this in your file along with a copy of the cardholder agreement and a front and back copy of your card (in case your card is lost or stolen). Often consumers assume that their payment is late if it is received thirty days after the due date when in fact..."
"What Happens When You Investigate an Account With a Credit Reporting Agency?" by James Charlet
"There is a lot of misinformation, especially on the World Wide Web, that pertains to the rights and responsibilities of credit reporting agencies (i.e. Experian, Equifax, Transunion, Innovis, CSC) and consumers (i.e. you) when it comes to what they do and do not have to do with credit report disputes. In particular, how long to companies have to respond to investigations and what happens when they do not respond..."
"Protecting
Children Before and After ID Theft" by James Charlet
"Identity theft gets so much air time in the press that many people get tired of hearing about it. They think that, like other crimes, identity theft is something that happens to someone else. The reality is that the commission of fraud through the assumption pf personal information is the fastest growing crime in the country and more and more people are falling prey without even knowing it. The easiest targets for the crime are often the elderly and children....:
"The
Importance of a Good Credit Beginning" by James Charlet
"Randall, a nineteen year old college sophomore, was standing in line at a local department store recently when he was propositioned with a phrase that has become common place in United States vernacular: “Would you like to save fifteen percent on your purchase today?” When Randall said “yes,” the clerk asked him to fill out a form which authorized the company to pull a copy of his credit report. Randall knew that he had never had credit before, so he assumed..."
"When
Helping a Friend is Not the Best Thing to do" by James Charlet
"Linda and Stacy were best friends in college. One day, Linda wanted to buy a car but didn't have the credit, so Stacy went into the dealership and signed her name to the paper to help her friend get the car. Time went on, Linda and Stacy graduated the next spring, and they went their separate ways, talking only on occasion. One day, out of the blue..."