| Your Credit Repair Companion | p. 1 |
1 | The Elements of Repairing Credit | p. 5 |
2 | Credit Reports and Credit Scores: The Nuts and Bolts | p. 7 |
| How Creditors Evaluate Your Creditworthiness | p. 9 |
| Credit Reports and Credit Scores: What's the Difference? | p. 10 |
| Your Credit Report | p. 11 |
| Getting Your Credit Report | p. 12 |
| What Is in a Credit Report? | p. 21 |
| Investigative Reports | p. 26 |
| Who Can Look at Your Credit Report | p. 27 |
| Your Credit Score: What It Is and Why It Matters | p. 32 |
| How Credit Scores Are Calculated | p. 34 |
| What Credit Score Do You Need to Get Credit? | p. 42 |
| Getting Your Credit Score | p. 44 |
3 | The First Step to a Better Credit Score-Cleaning Up Your Credit Report | p. 51 |
| Common Errors in Credit Reports | p. 53 |
| Your Right to an Accurate Credit Report | p. 55 |
| Review Your Report for Errors and Incomplete or Prohibited Information | p. 59 |
| Dispute Incomplete and Inaccurate Information | p. 63 |
| Add an Explanatory Statement to Your Credit File | p. 76 |
| Add Positive Information to Your Credit Report | p. 78 |
| Check Your Credit Reports Often | p. 81 |
| Avoid Credit Repair Clinics | p. 83 |
4 | Assess Your Financial Situation | p. 89 |
| How to Assess Your Financial Situation | p. 91 |
| Determining Your Credit Repair Options Based on Your Financial Situation | p. 101 |
5 | Reducing Current Expenses and Debts | p. 107 |
| Cutting Expenses | p. 108 |
| Reducing Current Debt Obligations | p. 117 |
| Reducing Mortgage Debt | p. 127 |
| Filing for Bankruptcy | p. 133 |
6 | Finding Money to Pay Your Debts | p. 137 |
| Ways to Raise Money | p. 138 |
| Options to Avoid | p. 152 |
7 | Negotiating With Creditors and Debt Collectors | p. 161 |
| Prepare a Negotiating Plan | p. 162 |
| Negotiating With Creditors and Debt Collectors | p. 169 |
| Dealing With Debt Collectors | p. 178 |
| Tax Consequences of Forgiven Loans | p. 195 |
8 | Getting Help to Negotiate and Manage Debts | p. 197 |
| Avoid Most Debt Relief Services | p. 198 |
| How Does a Debt Management Plan Work? | p. 202 |
| Debt Management Plans vs. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy | p. 204 |
| Choosing a Good Credit Counseling Organization | p. 205 |
| After You've Chosen an Agency, Monitor Your Plan | p. 211 |
9 | Building Positive Credit History | p. 213 |
| First Steps to Rebuilding Credit | p. 215 |
| Ways to Improve Your Credit History Without Getting New Credit | p. 222 |
| Next Steps to Rebuilding Credit-Getting New Credit | p. 233 |
| Putting It All Together: Preventing Future Financial Problems | p. 242 |
| Be on Guard for Credit Discrimination | p. 244 |
10 | Choosing and Using Credit Cards | p. 251 |
| Choosing Credit Cards | p. 252 |
| Using Credit Cards: How to Protect Yourself | p. 258 |
11 | Avoiding and Dealing With Identity Theft | p. 261 |
| The Crime of Identity Theft: The Scope of the Problem | p. 262 |
| What's in a Stolen Name? | p. 263 |
| How Can an Identity Be Stolen? | p. 264 |
| How to Protect Yourself | p. 266 |
| Protecting Your Social Security Number | p. 273 |
| If Your Identity Is Stolen | p. 274 |
| Identity Theft Protection Products and Insurance | p. 281 |
| Appendixes | |
A | Resources | p. 283 |
| Debtors Anonymous | p. 284 |
| Nolo Publications | p. 284 |
| Other Publications | p. 285 |
| Online Resources | p. 286 |
| Where to Complain: Federal Agencies | p. 288 |
| State Consumer Protection Agencies | p. 290 |
B | Forms and Letters | p. 299 |
Form F-1 | Request Credit Report | |
Form F-2 | Request Reinvestigation | |
Form F-3 | Request to Furnishing Creditor to Reinvestigate | |
Form F-4 | Request Follow-Up After Reinvestigation | |
Form F-5 | Request Removal of Incorrect Information by Creditor | |
Form F-6 | Creditor Verification | |
Form F-7 | Request Addition of Information Showing Stability | |
Form F-8 | Request Addition of Account Histories | |
Form F-9 | Monthly Income | |
Form F-10 | Your Debts | |
Form F-11 | Daily Expenses | |
Form F-12 | Payments to Savings and Debt Reduction | |
Form F-13 | Monthly Budget | |
Form F-14 | Inform Creditor of Judgment Proof Status | |
Form F-15 | Request Short-Term Lower Payments | |
Form F-16 | Request Long-Term Lower Payments | |
Form F-17 | Request to Pay Nothing Short-Term | |
Form F-18 | Request to Pay Nothing Long-Term | |
Form F-19 | Request Rewrite of Loan Terms | |
Form F-20 | Offer (Delayed) Payment of Past Due Amounts | |
Form F-21 | Offer (Reduced) Lump Sum Payment | |
Form F-22 | Offer Payment Schedule to Pay Off (Reduced) Debt | |
Form F-23 | Cashing Check Constitutes Payment in Full (Some States) | |
Form F-24 | Cashing Check Constitutes Release of All Claims | |
Form F-25 | Offer to Give Secured Property Back | |
Form F-26 | Request Direct Negotiation With Creditor | |
Form F-27 | Request for Verification of Debt/Identity of Original Creditor/Return of Debt to Original Creditor | |
Form F-28 | Complaint About Debt Collector Violation of Law | |
Form F-29 | Debt Collector: Cease All Contact | |
Form F-30 | Request for Basis of Unfavorable Credit Offer or Action | |
Form F-31 | Identity Theft Dispute Letter for Existing Accounts | |
Form F-32 | Identity Theft Dispute Letter for New Accounts | |
C | Additional State Protections Concerning Credit Repair Clinics | p. 369 |
D | How to Use the Downloadable Forms on Nolo.com | p. 379 |
| Editing RTFs | p. 380 |
| Downloadable Forms Available on the Nolo Website | p. 381 |
| Index | p. 385 |