1. What is Credit Repair?
Credit repair is the process of addressing any questionable negative items that could be hurting your credit profile. If the bureaus and your creditors can't verify these items are fair and accurate, they are required to remove them. Also, it's our name. Learn more about credit repair.
2. Can Bad Credit be Corrected or Deleted?
The law entitles you to an accurate, fair, and substantiated credit profile. If something on your credit isn't right, you can correct or repair it with the credit bureaus and your creditors.
3. Can my Credit be Repaired?
Unfortunately, we can't guarantee anything. But we can promise to help you work to address any unfair or inaccurate negative items hurting your credit profile.
4. How Long Does Credit Repair Take?
Honestly, we can't say. There's no way to predict in advance how long it will take to repair your credit, as every credit situation is different. That being said, past members have seen an average increase of 40 points in just four months*, and have typically stayed with us for six months. More on the credit repair timeline.
Also, Royal Services offers a variety of service levels and the strength and amount of credit repair increase with each plan. If you're interested in a product with more credit repair baked in, contact Royal Services to get started.
*Your results will vary and are not guaranteed
4. Is Credit Repair Expensive?
Royal Services offers several service levels to match your particular needs. Some of these are even free. Learn more about Royal Services' service plans.
5. Can I Repair my Credit on my Own?
Yes. You just need to contact the bureaus and your creditors to address any errors on your credit. That being said, this process is time consuming and confusing. Working with a reputable credit repair company like Royal Services can help you remove these items from your reports quickly and efficiently. Contact Royal Services to get started.
6. What if I Can't Afford Credit Repair?
Think of credit repair like an investment. A little effort today could save you thousands of dollars (and a headache) tomorrow. We offer a variety of service levels to support every budget. Give us a call today and we'll help you find the right service for your unique circumstance. Learn more about our credit repair services.
7. Is Credit Repair Legal?
Of course. You have a right to a fair, accurate and substantiated credit profile. Credit repair is simply one of the ways to help you get there.
8. What Are Removals?
The credit bureaus and your creditors are required by law to remove any negative items on your report that they can't prove are accurate, fair and substantiated. When these items are deleted from your payment history, we call that a removal. Learn more about removals.
9. What Can be Removed From my Credit Report?
Anything inaccurate, unfair or unverified can be challenged with the bureaus and your creditors. This includes collections, late payments, charge-offs, liens, bankruptcies, repossessions and more.
10. What is a Negative Item?
Anything in your credit history that could lower your score is a negative item. Things like collections, late payments, charge-offs, liens, bankruptcies, repossessions and more. Especially if these negative items came as a result of identity theft, divorce, medical debt, student debt or military leave, you may be able to remove them through credit repair. Learn more about negative items.
11. Do Negative Items Stay on my Credit Forever?
No, but it might feel like it. Most negative items will fall off of your report after seven years, though it could take as long as 10. If you'd rather not wait that long, credit repair is a great alternative.
12. Can Deleted Items Come Back on my Credit?
Yes, your creditors may report an item again, even after it's been removed or deleted. That's why it's important to contact both the credit bureaus and your creditors. This will increase the likelihood that inaccurate or unfair negative items will not reappear on your credit.
13. How Much Does a Negative Item Affect my Score?
According to CreditCards.com and CNNMoney, even a single negative item on your credit could cost you over 100 points.
Negative Item Credit Score Decrease
Late Payment Up to 110 points
Debt Settlement Up to 125 points
Foreclosure Up to 160 points
Bankruptcy Up to 240 points
Collection Up to 110 points
Hard Inquiry Up to 15 points
Sources:
o https://blog.equifax.com/credit/can-one-late-payment-affect-my-credit-score/
o https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/fico-credit-score-points-mistakes-1270.php
14. Can Divorce Hurt my Credit Score?
Indirectly, yes. While filing for divorce won't hurt your score, some of the symptoms of divorce could create credit problems. For example, many people miss a payment on their credit during the frenzy of divorce. Or in the aftermath, it may be unclear who is responsible to pay a debt, and payments may be missed. These missed or late payments could adversely impact your score.
15. Can Identity Theft Hurt my Credit Score?
Yes. When someone uses your name to obtain credit, that trade line, and any missed payments or collections associated with it, will show up on your credit reports. Even after you've recovered your identity, these issues could still be lurking on your credit report. Credit repair is essential to true identity theft restoration. Learn more about recovering from identity theft.
16. Can Medical Debt Hurt my Credit Score?
Yes. Past-due medical bills can affect your credit. The good news is, there are laws to protect against certain practices in medical debt reporting. If your credit is being negatively affected by medical bills, credit repair may be a solution for you. More on how medical bills affect credit.
17. Can Student Loans Hurt my Credit Score?
Yes, but they can also help your credit. Paying your student loans back on time will benefit your score. Alternatively, missing these payments can cause some significant damage to your credit profile. If that sounds like you, or if you've missed other payments as a result of your student loans, it may be time to look into credit repair. More on how student loans affect credit.
18. What Laws Protect my Credit?
While there are many laws that apply to your credit, the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) are the two laws we utilize the most.
19. When Should I Start Repairing my Credit?
Our average client uses our services for six months, so the sooner the better. Especially if you have plans to buy a home or car soon, getting started today can save you a big headache tomorrow.
20. Can I Stop Paying my Bills?
No. Even after a questionable negative item is removed from your credit, the actual debt is still owed (assuming it was valid to begin with). If you don't pay the debt, the creditor or collection agency may re-report the listing. Removing a negative item without addressing the debt is only a temporary solution. In fact, if you feel a negative credit listing is 100% accurate, timely and verifiable, we recommend you don't dispute it.
21. What Should I Do about a Collection?
Unless the collection is being falsely attributed to you, pay
it. The collection is likely already hurting your credit score, and leaving it
unpaid will only make the damage worse.
If the debt is one that you do not owe, our service levels offer debt
validation procedures that can help you get the collection removed from your
credit profile.
22. Will Paying my Bills Restore my Credit?
You might think so, but unfortunately it does not. When you pay an old debt, the negative credit item doesn't disappear, but is typically listed as a paid delinquency, charge-off or collection. If your goal is to repair your credit, just paying off your debts won't get you there.