Book was broken down in easy to manage subjects with great references to help get your credit back on track. ( )

A thorough and helpful book for those whose personal finances need a little (or a lot of) help. Includes helpful form letters for dealing with creditors and credit agencies. ( )

Great financial resource book. Broken down well in easily manageable subjects to allow for optima cross reference. Well written, useful resource which provides a solid basis for any library. ( )

I found this book to be very informative. Even if you do not need Credit Repair, it would be a good book for your library, because you never know when you may need it.

Not only does it cover how to get your credit report, it shows you how to read and understand it, how to fix errors and dispute problems. The book talks about all of the other reports out there, that most people probably don't even know exist like your Medical History Report, Tenant History Report, Check Writing History Report and others.

The book teaches you about bankruptcy, what the different chapters of bankruptcy are and where to go on the internet to find out more information. It also teaches you about credit counseling, debt management programs and about the scams that are run with these options. It tells you were to go on the internet to find the ones that are legit and the questions you should always ask if you try one of these options.

This is a "must add" to your personal library. The chapters are easily broken down so you can search for something that you have a question about. You are given information, such as being entitled to a FREE credit report annually, how to actually repair credit errors rather than being ripped off, and various options you have when you are trying to organize yourself into getting back on track.
There are forms, very clear directions AND helps you figure out how NOT to get into credit trouble again.
If you are old enough for credit, I'd recommend this book to anyone...very, very well done, and it will be a permanent addition to my library ( )

I always read the personal finance articles about how to raise your credit score, actions that lower your credit score, and how your credit score impacts your personal finances. So, I was happy to sign up when offered the chance to review the latest edition of NOLO's Credit Repair book.

Though we've all read about the free credit reports that we're entitled to request from the 3 credit bureaus, which you can request online from www.annualcreditreport.com or by phone 877-322-8228, or by mail from Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.



I did learn several new things about credit reports that make the book worth purchasing:

* You are also entitled to a free credit report from a specialty consumer reporting agency, such as those that specialize in tenant histories, insurance claims, medical records or payments, employment histories, etc. You will likely have to contact each of these companies separately to put in your request. I recommend contacting Lexis Nexis for your Personal Report. If you have private health insurance, go to www.mib.com and request your MIB Consumer File or call 866-692-6901. For insurance claims, go to www.iso.com or call 800-627-3487. For a check writing report, go to www.telecheck.com or call 800-366-2425 OR www.consumerdebit.com/consumerinfor/us/en/freereport.htm
* You can file use Form F-32 in the book, Request for Basis of Unfavorable Credit Offer or Action and put in a request 60 days of the denial of credit/adverse action if a report from a credit agency does result in the denial of credit or an adverse reaction.
* One credit card account may have spawned "tradelines" such as when you report a credit card lost or stolen and the credit card company closes the account and issues a new card. Your old credit card will likely be considered a different tradeaccount/separate account. This might mean that the age of your credit has changed, you have lost the advantage of the old account and have a new, younger credit line.
* The list of ways and times that you can obtain your credit report for free that go beyond the 3 free annual credit reports.
* Sources of additional information on credit scoring developments (www.creditscoring.com) and how to understand your credit score.
* Aside from the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the FTC also enforces the application of the Fair and Accurate Transactions Act of 2003.
* The common errors in credit reports and how best to correct them and combat their effects.
* The section on why to Avoid Credit Repair Clinics is particularly important. I have friends that were badly hit by the recession, the decline in housing prices/values in California, and the variable interest rate of their home mortgage. They received calls from credit repair companies and were considering paying a credit repair consultant thousands of dollars to help them with their situation. I wish I had known about the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) (15 U.S.C. sec 1679-1679j) when they were going through this process in 2008.
* How to supplement your credit report by adding information that shows stability. The book has a particularly helpful form for this in its Appendix B and the enclosed CD-ROM.
* The book also helps you negotiate with your creditors to have negative information removed from your credit file.
* The Chapter on Building Positive Credit History breaks down the different ways that a person can improve their credit score and does so in a systematic and step by step manner.

The Appendixes and the CD-ROM provide resources, additional publications, form letters and worksheets, budget forms, organizational charts for payment schedules, etc. for dealing with creditors, the FTC and the credit reporting agencies.

Though I haven't read the previous editions, NOLO's Credit Repair 10th Edition looks like helpful resource for those who want to improve their credit scores, to keep their credit reports accurate, and for those with a particular interest in the subject matter.

ISBN-10: 1413314201 - Paperback $24.00
Publisher: NOLO; 10 edition (June 6, 2011), 465 pages.
Review copy courtesy of the Amazon Vine Program and the publisher. ( )