Yes that is right, Free!! I have been bombarded by credit repair companies lately. They will give you referral fees, promise to improve credit scores and even remove foreclosures and bankruptcies. Let me say first, this isn't my first blog on the subject and may not be the last.

Yes it is an opportunistic theme these days. Look around, credit guidelines are tightening, tiered pricing based on credit scores went into effect June 1st with Fannie and Freddie. There is a huge market of people who need these services, no doubt. I don't want to block the road to opportunity, I just want people to know the truth.

You can, I have and my clients have, gotten items removed off of their report and improved their credit scores for free. All in a matter of 3 weeks. If you go to, or advise clients to go to www.annualcreditreport.com and order your free credit reports (all three from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and review the report.

 If you see something that shouldn't be there, dispute it. I had a late car payment made one time on 1999. Due to the time that has passed, it was removed and my score went up.

If you want to dispute something negative, go ahead and try. Click on the item to be disputed, state your claim and see what happens. I have had clients go there and it works. They had a response in 3 weeks and the score went up!

These credit repair companies want money up front and a monthly membership, they admit that their members are usually involved for 12 months with a monthly fee anywhere from $50 to $100 per month.

Come on, this is convenience really. If you are truly lazy and rich, pay the money. Otherwise, do it the free way yourself. Or try it yourself first, it is free and good info to have anyways, and then advise them on the process based on your own experience with the site. They have staff available by phone to assist you, which is really helpful.

If folks have serious problems with credit, refer them to Hud approved non-profit credit counseling agencies, find one in your area

  www.debtadvice.org/takethefirststep/compinfo.cfm?agency_id=10931

Finally, only refer your truly lazy clients to credit repair but for your more astute client's give them this information and they will appreciate your resourcefulness and honesty and probably refer you to all their family and friends like mine do. Good Luck on your Score!!