Hello everyone!

My name is Brenda Butnick, and I’m a Financial Coach at Jewish Family Service in Dallas. I work one-on-one with clients to help them achieve financial self-sufficiency. In my last blog, we talked about the 3 C’s of Credit. Today, we’re focusing on How to Repair Your Credit. Repairing your credit involves a multi-step process aimed at improving your credit history and score.

Here are the first two steps to get started (stay tuned for more in my next blog!):

Step 1: Assess Your Credit Situation
– Get a free copy of your credit report: You’re entitled to a free report from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) annually. You can access these at AnnualCreditReport.com. **Since the Pandemic, these free credit reports can be downloaded weekly, where previously they were only available once per year.
– Review for errors: Check for inaccuracies like misspelled names, wrong addresses, incorrect account statuses (e.g., open vs. closed accounts), or inaccurate balance amounts.

Step 2: Dispute Errors
– Dispute inaccuracies with the credit bureaus. You can do this online or by mail.
– Provide clear information. Explain in writing what you believe is wrong, and include supporting documentation (send copies, not originals). Many bureaus also provide dispute forms.
– Keep records. Save copies of everything you send. If mailing, consider using certified mail with a return receipt.

We’ll cover more steps on How to Repair Your Credit in my next post on Friday, October 3rd.

That’s all for your Financial Fitness today! Until next time—take care and stay financially fit!