When Your Credit Report Reads Red (cont.)
Contributed by Roland Head
Start the process with those experienced in helping you get your credit report back up to par
First contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to find your local non-profit credit counselor. To find a NFCC organization near you call 1-800-388-2227 which is a 24 hour hotline. NFCC is the nation's longest serving, largest and most reputable consumer debt organization. Debt companies apply to NFCC to become members. They've been in business over 50 years. Members work in conjunction with NFCC to give you help. As indicated above, you contact NFCC and they will put you in contact with one of their member organizations.
They have high standards required of their members and are always working for ways to improve the relationships between creditors and debtors.
If you think you can clear up your credit report on your own
If you approach your bank or institution that produced the card with a degree of contrition and a plan to relieve your debt they may listen to you. It may require methods such as putting aside your credit cards and using cash only. In heavier cases, you may have to trim back your lifestyle in order to make the necessary payments.
Cleaning up your credit report will take a lot of determination on your part to get over the hurdle. Nonetheless, thousands of people have done it and returned their credit report to good standing. The general rule is that if you don't think you can do it within a year, you probably should seek out help.
