- 1). Review your credit report and find the negative items. Are they legitimate debts? Mistakes on credit reports are common, so be sure to check carefully. If you have legitimate negative items on your credit report, note who the original creditor is and who the current owner of the debt is. Frequently debt is sold to collection agencies.
- 2). Contact the current debt owner. This is either the original creditor or the collection agency. Ask that they provide valid proof that they own the debt and that the debt is valid. They must provide this proof in writing within 30 days of your request. Make sure to send your request in writing. Keep a copy of your letter and request a return receipt as proof they received your letter.
- 3). Follow up with the original creditor if the first two steps fail to remove the negative item. In some cases, you can make arrangements to provide payment in exchange for deleting the negative item. Make sure you get this agreement in writing before you render payment. If they have not agreed in writing to delete the item, you will have no ability to force them to do so. This is referred to as "pay for delete."
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