I saw an online ad for a company called Prime Credit Experts that said “Permanently Remove Charge Offs – Immediately Improve Your Credit Score.” – Source. So of course I had to go take a look at their site.
When credit repair companies make claims about their services and being able to delete inaccurate information from a credit report, that’s one thing. But when credit repair companies give consumers the impression that anything, even accurate but negative information can be deleted, well then in my opinion it sets consumers up to be potentially lured into paying for services that may land them in trouble.
Prime Credit Experts makes a pitch to consumers that looks like all negative information, like charge offs, late payments, debt collections, judgments, collections, tax liens, foreclosures, bankruptcies, garnishments, and repossessions can be removed. – Source
The description of their services appears to give the reader the impression anything can be removed and all negative items can come off. They even charge an initial fee of $59.95.
But the Federal Trade Commission sees things a bit differently.
The FTC says:
Everyday, companies target people who have poor credit histories with promises to clean up their credit reports so they can get a car loan, a home mortgage, insurance, or even a job – after paying a fee for the service. The truth is that no one can remove accurate negative information from your credit report. It’s illegal.
When negative information in your report is accurate, only the passage of time can assure that it will be removed. A consumer reporting company can report most accurate negative information for seven years and can report bankruptcy information for 10 years.
If you get an offer to repair or fix your credit, how can you know if it’s legit? Here are some signs that should set off alarms in your head – and make you put the offer in the trash:
- The company wants you to pay for credit repair services before they provide any services.
Fact: Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies cannot require you to pay until they have completed the credit repair services they promised.
- The company doesn’t tell you your rights and what you can do for yourself for free.
Fact: The law allows you to ask for an investigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete. This investigation doesn’t cost any money.
- The company recommends that you don’t contact any of the three major national consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) directly.
Fact: Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the consumer reporting company and the information provider (the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to the consumer reporting company) must correct inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take advantage of all your rights under the FCRA, contact the consumer reporting company and the information provider in writing.
- The company tells you they can get rid of most or all the negative credit information in your credit report, even if the information is accurate and current.
Fact: Any credit repair company that claims to be able to legally remove accurate and timely information from your credit report is lying. There’s no easy fix for bad credit. Improving your credit takes time and a conscious effort to pay your debts.
- The company suggests that you apply for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number so you can invent a “new” credit identity – and then, a new credit report.
Fact: If you follow illegal advice like this, you may find yourself in hot water. It’s a federal crime to lie on a loan or credit application, to misrepresent your Social Security number, or to get an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses. You could be charged and prosecuted for mail or wire fraud if you use the mail, telephone, or Internet to apply for credit and provide false information. – Source
My suggestion here is that Prime Credit Experts should make it much more apparent that accurate but negative information should remain on the credit report and provide more clarity about what the advanced fee is for. If it is not for credit repair assistance then what benefit does the consumer get out of it?
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First of all, there are a few omissions in this article. For one, here in the state of Florida credit repair companies are allowed to charge up front fees if they are BONDED AND INSURED!! You must have a minimum $10,000 bond for your customers……. This protects our customers from deceptive business practices. Also, you can have a legitimate debt removed IF the creditors (or collection agencies) haven’t followed the legal steps such as notifying you within 30 days, accurate amounts, dates, or not protecting the privacy of your data, etc. Also a debt can be a duplicate account, meaning that you owe the debt to the original company, and it may have been sold to three debt collection firms……this would be 4 negative accounts stemming from just one which is unfair and illegal according to the fair credit reporting act!! The most important thing is not guaranteeing unrealistic results to clients. People’s rights are violated everyday under the FCRA and that’s why us legit companies are here to help. Yes, you can fix it yourself if you have the time and expertise. For those who don’t, a reputable credit repair company can help you get better, faster results. Remember, you can also cut your own hair, hold your own money, remodel your own home but there are good companies out there like mine that provide a great service, and make a difference in people’s lives. I’m sorry that my company name is so similar to theirs’ but that’s not my company. We do not tell consumers to get a new social security # and try to open a new credit file. We just work to make sure that everything is accurate, we challenge all negative items and investigate to make sure that the legal steps have been followed by collection agencies and creditors…….who do not always follow the law, We make sure that our clients rights aren’t violated without them even knowing it. This is how banks charge more $$. If anyone has questions feel free to call (321)214-4711. Prime Financial Education Services, LLC DBA Prime Credit Repair, LLC. We also offer FREE UNLIMITED credit counseling to our members to help you continue to grow your score and to not make a costly financial misstep. I just wanted add some information that was missing. Other than that this is a great and informative article!! Thanks!!
So you only service Florida residents then? Otherwise you are not exempt from the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act which prevents advance fees.
Sorry, here is the Video I referred to in the last post.!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdMR2wYNmt4&feature=youtu.be
The truth is that you have a right to dispute anything you believe may contain an inaccuracy. If legally and properly disputed and the issue is not addressed in the time period prescribed by law, the item must be removed. It doesn’t matter if it’s accurate, true or not. Often the Bureaus will not respond in the time period allowed under law or in the manner prescribed and then you win and the item is eliminated. Thats the law and what no one wants you to know.
As for the Better Business bureau just know that they do not allow credit repair firms to become members so if your looking for info there, your in the wrong place. All they will do is say the company is not a member, making it look like there is something bad about them when in fact they can’t be a member even if they want.
I have worked in the credit repair industry for almost 18 years and I have seen everything from Tax liens to foreclosures, Bk’s , school loans and every type of collection permanently removed, legally. You have the right to exercise your rights.
Listen, don’t be fooled by these scare tactics, ask yourself, who keeps making more money if they get to charge me more interest because this problem i had 5 years ago is still reported?
Credit Bureaus are in the information selling business. If you get them to remove the information, they don’t have anything to sell so they are not just going to lay down for you when you try to get help from them.
You really want to see what your up against and why you will most likely require some help from a good company, watch this 13 minute video done by CBS news about what the Bureaus do, then do your homework and find a reputable company to help you. If they attempt to charge you anything other than an initial consultation fee before they do the work, run for the hills.
I’m not mentioning my company because I don’t want this to be a self serving commercial.
God Bless!
SK
How can an inaccuracy be accurate and true?
I signed up with prime and my credit score went up 124 points and I got a auto loan. Steve’s tripping
What part of the article do you disagree with and what specifically raised your score?
Well I signed up with them on 03/26/2013. They sent letters on my behalf on 04/01/2013 and so far Transunion deleted 5 of 6 items on my report as of 05/01/2013. Equifax has deleted 2 of 8 items as of 04/26/2013 and Experian still has 27 days left to respond.
i just had an AWFUL experience with a representative from this company. i called to cancel my postdated deposit for them to look into my credit and in turn got berated and yelled at. I tried to be as pleasant as possible and once i found out that it was cancelled, i removed myself from the call. they will have repercussions for treating people this way.
can somebody tell me if they have used prime credit experts and if its a good company?
Did you not read the article by Steve Rhode? They are a fake! Making empty promises & flat out lying to us. There is only one way to fix our credit scores… time! Like me, I was looking for that “quick fix”, seen this sight with a smile & hope… but decided to check around first… SO glad I did.