Lauren Smith, WalletHub Staff Writer
@laurenellesmith
You can remove negative items from your credit report before 7 years passes by filing a dispute with the three major credit bureaus, assuming the negative items are inaccurate. Accurate information typically cannot be removed from your credit report early. You can ask the creditor to make a goodwill adjustment or negotiate a “pay for delete” arrangement to remove the items, but the company has no legal obligation to do so.
How To Remove Negative Information From Credit Reports Before 7 Years
- Dispute errors with the credit bureaus. You can file a dispute with the three major credit bureaus via phone, mail or online. The bureaus respond to disputes within 30 to 45 days.
- Dispute errors with the original creditor. If the account information is inaccurate, you can also dispute it with the creditor. Once it’s corrected, the creditor will report the revised information to the bureaus. However, this may be a longer process than a direct dispute.
- Write a goodwill letter. If the negative items are accurate, you can ask the creditor to remove them by making a goodwill request. Although this is not a guaranteed strategy, it is successful in some cases.
- Negotiate a “pay for delete” deal. You can send a letter to your creditor asking to remove a negative item from your report if you pay the account balance. Similar to a goodwill request, the creditor is not required to remove derogatory marks even if you pay the remaining balance.
- Bring accounts current. Paying past-due balances will not remove negative information, but it will improve your overall financial profile and credit.
You can check your credit report and get personalized credit-improvement tips for free here at WalletHub.
People also ask
How do I remove negative items from my credit report?
You cannot remove negative items from your credit report unless the information listed is incorrect. If the entry is an error, you can file a dispute with the three major credit bureaus to have it removed, but the information will remain on your report for seven years if it is accurate.
How to File a Dispute to Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report
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