Frequently Asked Questions

There are many layers to credit repair that can be quite confusing.  Think of credit repair as an onion.  The whole thing just may make you cry.  But fear not. We have gathered a collection of some of the most frequently asked questions about credit repair.

If you have a burning question about credit repair, chances are you’ll find the answer to it in our FAQ. Let’s get started.

How Long Does It Take For My Credit To Be Repaired?

Unfortunately, repairing one’s credit is not an overnight process. It does take time for credit bureaus to receive and update their files. By law, credit bureaus have 45 days to update their reports with new information they’ve received. So, the sooner you start the better.

Can Repairing My Credit Improve My Chances Of Getting A Job?

It certainly can’t hurt. Employers have been known to pull the credit reports of potential hires for a variety of reasons. In some cases they’re simply trying to verify the identity of the person. In others, they may be looking for signs of stability.

If you are looking to be hired for a financial-based position, the likelihood of a credit check is much higher. According to a 2009 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, 91% of employers performed credit checks for positions involving financial responsibility. 47% of companies performed credit checks when hiring for at least some of their positions, while 13% performed them for all positions.

It should be noted that while employers can legally perform a credit check on you, they can not get your actual credit score number.

Can I Repair My Credit On My Own?

Yes, you can. There is technically nothing a credit repair agency can do that you can’t do yourself. You just need to be  willing to put in the work and educate yourself about credit law. In fact, you can find DIY kits and other resources like books online that will give you the necessary tools.

If you do decide to approach credit repair on your own, It is a lot of work.  You will have to contact agencies and creditors in an effort to try and work out settlements or verify information. For this reason, many people choose to have credit repair agencies do this work on their behalf. Not only are they diligent in their work, they also know the ins-and-outs of credit repair.

Check out our article on Credit Repair Resources to find useful tools for tackling credit repair on your own.

Should I Dispute All Of The Information In My Credit Report?

While we could say that it can’t hurt, chances are that nothing will come from disputing correct information. Your focus should be on targeting the inaccurate or suspect data on your report.

In the case of the legitimate ones, those are the instances where you’ll need to try and work out a settlement with the company or collection agency. Note however, that even when you have paid off an old debt, it will remain on your report for the legal period of seven years.  It will, however, be updated to reflect that is has been paid.

Should I Just Create A New Credit Report Profile?

No, this is illegal, and comes with severe penalties. If you come across any service that claims to be able to perform such a feat, avoid them like the plague. Any service that promises amazing results is simply not being truthful.

**When you come across any such company, or are treated unfairly by a credit repair agency, you are encouraged to contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint. Credit repair agencies are in fact one of the most frequently complained about services to the FTC, owing to the many shady operations that lurk around the internet. This is why’s it’s so important to find legitimate services that are interested in doing real work on your behalf and helping you with your credit score, like the ones right here on CreditMarvel that have received our highest recommendations.

Real credit repair agencies know that there are no guarantees in repairing credit, and that it takes hard work and persistence to see results. This requires some patience on your own part, as well as providing the agencies with as much information as possible so they can better represent you.

Are There Really Inaccurate Items In My Credit Report?

It is very common for people to assume that their credit report is completely accurate. That is not always the case. The FTC reported in a 2012 study that 26% of credit reports that were analyzed had errors in them. Furthermore, 5% of people who disputed those errors had credit score jumps of at least 25 points, which is quite significant.

Don’t assume your credit report is accurate and leave your credit score up to chance.

Can The Credit Of My Spouse Affect Our Ability To Get A Loan?

Couples often think that If one partner has a good credit score, they should have no issues securing lines of credit.  This is not always the case. While couples do not have any sort of collective credit score, large loans will often turn to both partner’s credit. If one has a flawless credit score, yet the other’s is decidedly more spotty, this could result in higher interest rates.  More importantly, you may even be denied the loan altogether.  It’s therefore beneficial to make sure that both of your credit scores are in good standing.