While it is unfortunate that there are many credit repair scams out there, there are also legitimate, trustworthy ones. First, verify that the company has an actual physical business address, with a legitimate office location. Second, they must be registered with the Secretary of State as a Credit Service Organization as well as maintain a surety bond on file with the Secretary of State. There are a few more requirements of doing business, but in short, those are the two main things required to operate as a legitimate Credit Repair business.

United Credit Source is registered and bonded through the State of Texas.

In essence it means that the company has posted a $10,000 surety bond within their State of operation for consumer protection.

United Credit Source is registered and bonded through the State of Texas.

Unfortunately, many credit repair agencies have taken advantage of the rising demand of credit restoration by posing as full service credit repair agencies, providing little to no real service and then quickly disappearing. Many of these "companies" made promises they couldn't, or didn't intend to keep, only to take consumers' money and vanish. Several of these agencies even encouraged consumers to use unethical and even illegal tactics to "clean" their credit reports.

Increased consumer complaints about these unscrupulous credit repair opportunists prompted the FTC to impose strict regulations on credit repair agencies in an effort to protect consumers from further credit repair scams. Even with these regulations in place, we recommend that you consider carefully before making your final decision.

Remember, it is your legal right to dispute inaccuracies on your credit report. Deal only with companies that are up-front about their fees and willingly share information with you. Be wary of any credit restoration service provider that appears to be a law firm, yet fails to provide the full name(s) of its attorneys or to clearly identify the state(s) in which they are licensed to practice. A closer look may reveal that these credit restoration service providers are merely credit repair agencies in disguise.

When being considered for credit, by law, you have certain credit rights. Credit is increasingly used by millions of consumers to finance everything from education and houses to entertainment and business opportunities.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) ensures that all consumers are given an equal chance to obtain credit. This doesn’t mean that every consumer who applies for credit will receive it. Factors such as income, expenses, debt, and credit history are considerations for creditworthiness. The law protects you when you deal with any creditor who regularly extends credit, including banks, small loan and finance companies, retail and department stores, credit card companies, and credit unions. Anyone involved in granting credit, such as real estate brokers who arrange financing, is covered by the law. Businesses applying for credit also are protected by the law.

Money owed to the IRS or Department of Revenue is a very serious matter. If you find yourself in this predicament, it is recommended that you contact a Tax Attorney. Our suggestion for this type of service is Larry Heinkel, Esq., who comes highly recommended. Click here for more information: www.taxproblemsolver.com or email Larryh@taxproblemsolver.com or LarryHeinkel@Lawyer.com.

Due to the optional programs we have available, the cost of program that best fits your needs are discussed during initial consultation. Regardless of your situation, it is very affordable and payments are very flexible for each program. There are no hidden fees and no hidden agendas. We are not out to take advantage of people - we are here to help.

To provide the best results for our clients, our programs include custom disputes, account validation, debt verification, and creditor verifications. We handle dealing with all three of the major credit bureaus: Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. We work hard to get results and force your creditors and the bureaus to respond and verify information. In addition we can assist you with the various items on your personal file – paid accounts, fraud alerts, identification issues, incorrect, obsolete, and invalid information – in order to help you establish a clear and correct credit file. We work legally and ethically on our client’s behalf in order to improve your credit status, not just put a band-aid on it.

Depending on your time, patience, perseverance, and complexity of your dispute, you can successfully dispute inaccurate credit report items on your own. However, credit bureaus' strategies and tactics make the process often time consuming, overly burdensome and ineffective for the consumer. Some consumers are even unable to establish contact or gain a response from the credit bureaus, who routinely dismiss complaints because of deficiencies in the dispute letter sent by the consumer.

At UCS, our client services staff are not only familiar in dealing with these tactics, but we also have developed successful methods for credit report dispute resolution.

Our experience in working with the credit bureaus facilitates the credit repair process because we are more likely to anticipate the tactics and responses of the credit bureau. Members of our professional team of account executives and client representatives have experience in this type of work and have gained insight in regards to efficiently and effectively disputing credit report errors.

We also stay current on consumer credit laws and economic issues, and we utilize the newest technology and proven techniques to ensure successful removal of inaccurate credit report information for our clients.

We understand that couples often join finances and unify their budgets, but that, however, rarely presents double-the-work. So, in order to make our programs even that much more affordable for couples, we have simply added a minimal fee to the individual program costs in order to provide you substantial savings! To qualify for the couples program, both applicants must reside at the same physical address.

At UCS we are so confident in our customer service and credit restoration abilities that we offer money-back guarantee on score improvement. You will receive the details outlining this guarantee as part of our client disclosure and agreement when enrolling in services. This element will also be discussed in your free consultation with a Program Specialist.

UCS is an experience restoration company that can be trusted to provide the best service possible. Our team of Credit Representatives are committed to providing you with the most personal, customized, effective credit restoration on the market. We have helped thousands of people get back on the road to financial success through the services we provide, and although everyone's case is different, many of our clients have experienced a varied range of score increase.

At UCS we understand that joint accounts affect both parties and that working on both credit reports at the same time is a great benefit. Credit reports do list joint accounts, but they otherwise list husband and wife individually. We work with couples in the same manner to ensure that we give each of you full attention and don’t miss items because you are listed together. Though you sign up as a couple at a discounted price, we still focus on your individual credit files in order to ensure the best service and results.

To qualify for the couples program, both applicants must reside at the same physical address.

As we deal with information on your credit reports, we handle joint accounts in the same meticulous manner as individual accounts and we will dispute the information in your name only. Keep in mind that deletions resulting from your disputes may be deleted from the other person’s credit report as well.

Another point to consider is that if you intend to apply for credit together in the future, make sure that both of your reports are in good standing.

Because of the considerable discrepancy of response times of the major credit bureaus, and because of the variances in every personal credit file, no legitimate credit repair service can guarantee any time frames or results. However, we can offer the following information based on our experience.

The major credit bureaus generally take at least 5-8 weeks to apply simple corrections to inaccurate information reporting on consumer credit files, but the time frames do vary considerably from case to case. At times the bureaus play ‘hard ball’ but the key is knowing what is a ‘valid dispute’ and understanding the methods used by the credit bureaus in order to submit disputes that meet their requirements and warrant a timely response.

 For some results will be immediate. For others, progress may slowly build over a longer time frame.

Each creditor has different requirements and receives their credit report updates on different schedules. Therefore, your responses from creditors will vary.

You have the right to be considered fairly, without discrimination when applying for credit. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) ensures that all consumers are given an equal chance to obtain credit. This doesn’t mean that every consumer who applies for credit will receive it. Factors such as income, expenses, debt, and credit history are considerations for creditworthiness.

The law protects you when you deal with any creditor who regularly extends credit, including banks, small loan and finance companies, retail and department stores, credit card companies, and credit unions. Anyone involved in granting credit, such as real estate brokers who arrange financing, is covered by the law. Businesses applying for credit also are protected by the law.

As your negative credit report item are being disputed your scores can fluctuate, so it is in your best interest to wait until the disputing process is complete before you apply for additional credit.

During the credit restoration process, we will continually work together and keep you informed of the status of your case. We will be forthright with our information and even discourage you from pursuing lengthy disputes if we suspect that your chances of having the credit bureau remove the item in question are improbable.

We understand however, that your credit report is very personal and we will respect any decision you make with regards to pursuing the dispute process. Depending on your credit situation you may only need to work with us for a few months, which is typical for clients who only dispute a few items on their credit reports. If you have an abundance of inaccurate negative items on your report and want to dispute each item, you may be looking at a 12 month, or longer, dispute process. In similar fashion, some clients choose to keep us on retainer so we can dispute inaccurate negative items as they appear on their reports.  

The timeliness of the credit restoration process also depends on the credit bureaus. Their response times are inconsistent and unpredictable, at times quickly investigating and responding and at other times using stall letters, or not even responding. Ultimately, the decision in terms of the time you are willing to pursue disputes is up to you. We are here to provide the best credit restoration services available for as long as you choose.

Absolutely! We encourage you to call or email one of our professional executives and ask any questions that may help you in determining the best solution for you credit needs. Please visit the ‘Contact Us’ section on this web site in order to inquire about your credit restoration options. All consultations are of no charge to you.

There are many possible reasons a creditor decides to deny further credit to an individual. Typically it is because the score requirement does not fit what they are looking for in a customer. However, there are other varying factors. One scenario, for example, is that the creditor receives updated credit reports, only once a year. Their report may be outdated by months and therefore, may not be reflecting any recently deleted mistakes or show any new payment habits or improved scores. Depending on your level of importance, you may request the credit order an updated credit report or you can make a copy of your latest report and show it to them.

Although we cannot make that determination for you, it would be irresponsible for anyone to recommend (or not recommend) bankruptcy to you without an in-depth, qualified evaluation of your situation.  

For qualified applicants, bankruptcy can mean a fresh start and an opportunity for a secure financial future – however, it should be used as a last resort since its results and long-lasting and far-reaching. Filing bankruptcy does actually hurt your credit life for up to ten years – usually crippling your abilities to purchase a home, a car, get better interest rates…all the things that typically allow someone to live a ‘comfortable’ life.  

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy are legal proceedings that are available to a person in severe financial distress. Bankruptcy laws provide for the development of a plan that allows a debtor, who is unable to pay his creditors, the opportunity to resolve his debts through the division of his non-exempt assets among creditors (depending on the bankruptcy chapter filed). Many bankruptcy lawyers offer a free initial consultation, so if you are seriously considering taking action of this sort, we would recommend that you consult with a qualified attorney who is licensed in your state in order to make an informed decision for your situation.

Consumers who are filing bankruptcy or have filed within the past 12 months do not benefit at all from credit repair services unless they are only disputing ‘non-credit’ or inaccurate items that are not associated with the bankruptcy.

Although we do pursue disputes with creditors on your behalf, if you have any unresolved balances that you legitimately owe a creditor and are interested in debt settlement for some of your accounts, we do have debt settlement services available. Please contact us for further assistance in that process, if interested. If there is a legal matter that has progressed significantly, you may need to hire a lawyer who is licensed in your state to pursue litigation. To find a lawyer in your area, contact your State’s Bar Association or visit www.legalmatch.com. This website also contains other helpful legal information.

Once you become a client of UCS, we have the necessary paperwork that you can file with creditors that are harassing you for payment. This should quiet the phone calls while business is being taken care of.

You may personally request your report as often as you choose – without affecting your score. You have the right to view your reports as often as you like with no penalty against you. However, ‘inquiries’ on your credit report from potential creditors, credit card companies, auto lots, mortgage companies, various businesses or employers do count as an inquiry and affect your credit score.
 

As consumers we depend on credit bureaus to report information accurately. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In fact, it is the minority. Seventy-nine percent of all credit reports contain inaccuracies – meaning that we all must be diligent in monitoring our credit reports and take immediate action when mistakes are discovered.

In our expectations of being treated fairly, we assume that if one negative item on our credit report is considered equal to another item; the credit bureaus have to be fair and accurate when reporting the item.

Credit bureaus sometimes ‘generalize’ and will argue that ‘Settlements’ and ‘Charge Offs’ are the same, when in fact, they are not. It is up to us to insist they investigate these items and change the incorrect information, or if they cannot verify the information within 30 days, then they need to delete the item. This is one of your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We remain steadfast in pursuing these items.
 

When disputing items and accounts on your credit report keep in mind that it is always easier to pursue deletions when accounts have been paid off (zero balance). It is advantageous to pay your account off because it facilitates the dispute process, collection activities are ceased, and it is an agreed-upon financial obligation.

Once a collector has an account paid off (and has documented proof), credit bureaus generally do not pursue verifying that information – unlike an open account. As a collection tactic, the bureaus prefer to invest their time and efforts in verifying negative information. Whenever possible, it is in your best interest to pay off your accounts.

 As part of the service we provide, our staff can discuss with you which debts are better to pay off in the immediate that will make a positive influence your credit score, as sometimes paying off certain accounts has a negative impact on your overall scores than other accounts. It just depends on your personal credit file and the reporting information. Our staff is fully knowledgeable in understanding all of this information and has the resources to answer any questions you may have in this regard.

If you have several collection accounts and would prefer to let a company handle the settling of those accounts that legitimately belong to you, UCS also offers debt settlement services. Please contact us if you are interested in such services.

 Important Note: If a creditor or collector agrees to settle an account for less than the full amount, have them send you a written statement to protect yourself from unethical collectors harassing you for the original balance later.

We suggest it is best to keep as many accounts paid off as possible. What you choose to do with these accounts once they have been paid off, however, is up to you. Having credit card balances over 50% of the credit limit negatively affects your credit score, so try to keep your balances below half of your credit limit. Naturally, having accounts that are paid off will not hurt your credit score. Closing accounts that are showing as good accounts on your credit file can ultimately hurt your scores. So, although the final decision is up to you, we do not recommend it.

It is illegal for deleted information to re-appear on your credit report once it has been removed. If, by chance, it should, UCS will re-dispute the information on your behalf, at no extra charge to you - even if you have completely finished the program tenure.

Credit scores are used by creditors to measure the ‘risk factor’ of a consumer who is applying for a loan or credit line. The credit score reflects the budgeting habits and/or financial responsibility of a consumer, through past and present credit accounts. Creditors use the score to ‘predict’ how a consumer will treat their potential financial obligation.

As a ‘snapshot’ of your financial history, your credit report is essentially your 'financial fingerprint' and contains information that can be grouped into the five categories listed below. (A percentage of the approximate emphasis assigned for each factor is shown in parentheses after the category; however, keep in mind that these figures are not ‘absolute’ and companies may consider different factors.).
 
• Payment History (35%): Your payment history contains information about how you paid your bills and whether you have any delinquencies, late payments, etc. on various types of accounts.

• Outstanding Debt (30%) Your credit score is adversely affected if you owe amounts at or near your credit limit, so if possible, split the balance and transfer some of the debt to a second card.

• Length of Credit History (15%) The longer you have maintained your accounts, the better it reflects on your credit report.

• Recent Inquiries (10%) Recent applications for several new accounts may negatively affect your score. If you inquire about special promotions it should not affect your credit report.

• Types of Credit Currently in Use (10%) Loans from finance companies generally lower your credit score. According to FICO, this is heavily relied upon when there is little other credit history upon which to base a score.
Credit scores range between 350 and 850. The higher your score, the more likely you are to qualify for additional credit. (Scores above 700 are considered excellent.)

While there is a specific formula to calculate scores, it is closely guarded by its originator: Fair Isaac Co. (also known as FICO).

You may also order your credit report or find additional information at: www.myfico.com.

FICO scores are the overall "risk" scores that credit bureaus produce from models developed by Fair Isaac Corporation. Fair Isaac credit bureau scores are used by lenders and others to assess the credit risk of a potential customer/borrower, in order to help make credit and marketing decisions. These scores are derived solely from the information available on credit bureau reports.

Everyone has a FICO, or "risk", score with all three major credit bureaus - Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. A mid-score is simply referring to the score that falls in-between the highest and lowest reporting scores between all three credit bureaus. Typically when purchasing a home, mid-scores are what lenders base their decision on.

Things that affect your credit score are payment history, account balances, amount owed on balances, length of credit history and new credit sought. Another factor that helps determine credit scores is how many (credit) cards have debt over 50% of the balance, and how many have low balances.

Now that you have your credit report, just how do you make sense of it all? What exactly are the credit bureaus saying about you?

The following information shows the ratings used in credit reports and will assist you in the process of understanding your overall credit rating and what credit report items you should consider disputing with the credit bureaus. Each item on your credit report carries a corresponding ratings number that summarizes your account status: R = Revolving
Account; I = Installment Loan and I0 = Installment Loan with no Payments Yet.

R0=Too new to rate. Approved but not used.
R1=Pays within 30 days of billing or as agreed.
R2=Pays in more than 30 days, but less than 60 or when next payment is due.
R3=Pays in more than 60 days, but less than 90 or when two payments are due.
R4=Pays in more than 90 days, but less than 120 or when two payments are due.
R5=Account is at least 120 days past due but is not yet rated R9.
R6=No rating exists.
R7=Paid through a consolidation order, consumer proposal or credit counseling debt management program.
R8=Repossession
R9=Bad debt, or placed for collection or bankruptcy.

Restoring your credit report is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. UCS is a trusted company, and we make the process convenient, personal, and effective. Contact us today for more information:

As UCS is engaged in the dispute process with the credit bureaus, your score may change periodically. When disputing negative information on your credit report, the credit bureaus will remove the item(s) in question until it is verified, modified, or deleted; thus, reflecting temporary changes in your credit score.

Since we are disputing ‘negative’ or ‘inaccurate’ items on your report, your score may increase during the process because the negative item is removed until it is verified. This temporary score is not necessarily an indicator of your final credit score. (Disputing personal information such as an incorrect address or date of birth will not affect your credit score).

Upon completion of the dispute process, your credit report will then show the new score. Keep in mind that each credit bureau has different criteria for determining your score, which is why your score varies from bureau to bureau.

The FICO website (www.myfico.com) also offers your credit score for a fee, but keep in mind that scores will fluctuate, but can usually be improved upon completion of our process.

There are several websites from which you can order your credit report.
If you have difficulty, contact us and we will assist you in getting your reports. Here are some popular websites to order your credit report from:

www.truecredit.com
www.creditreport.com
www.consumerinfo.com
www.creditreporting.com

For qualified consumers, there are some options provided under the Fair Credit Reporting Act that entitle you to receive a free copy of your credit report:

• You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you’ve been denied credit, insurance or employment and request the report within 60 days of notice, or if you can prove that (a) you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days, (b) you’re on welfare, or (c) your report is inaccurate because of fraud or identity theft.
• If your application for credit, insurance, or employment is denied because of inaccurate or incomplete credit information, the company to which you applied must give you the name and address of the reporting credit bureau.
• The following states require credit bureaus to provide you with a free credit report: Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont.
• Job applicants can have corrected reports sent to anyone who received a report for employment purposes during the past two years.

If you don’t qualify under any of those categories, you will need to purchase your credit reports, which are approximately $9.00 - $12.95 each when purchased directly from the credit bureaus.