Credit Repair Scam You Should Avoid
As the number of agencies or companies offering credit repair services, consumers are advised to do all the necessary research before making a choice. More importantly, know what strategies or propaganda are used by these fake credit repair agencies and stay away from them.
One example of a scam is the file segregation technique. What is it and what should you know about it.
File Segregation Credit Repair Scam – Claims To Instantly Fix Your Credit
File segregation technique is also known as data manipulation technique and many fake credit counseling agencies use this trick to attract consumers to sign up for their service. If you’re seeking to improve your bad credit history, the promise of achieving good credit in an instant may seem enticing. However, bear in mind that there is no way any credit counseling agency can instantly fix your credit score.
A fake credit counselor may suggest that you change some details in your credit report to somehow improve your rating.
For instance, you may be advised to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS and use it to replace your personal Social Security Number (SSN). By replacing your SSN with an EIN, it would seem like your credit report belongs to someone else.
Take note that the EIN is only given for small business owners.
Although the number may appear similar to a Social Security Number, providing false information can only cause more damage to your reputation. Even worse, a civil fraud case can be filed against you.
If your credit repair agency suggests that details in your credit report will be altered to improve your credit history, take your business somewhere else and report the agency immediately to your State Attorney General’s office. Yes, file segregation scheme or any form of altering or manipulating any detail in a person’s credit report is a federal crime and will not solve your debt problems.
Consumers must always remember that the only way you can rebuild damaged credit history is by paying off your past debts and keeping up with your repayment.
A credit counseling agency can negotiate on your behalf. However, after a new repayment plan has been arranged, you will still have the responsibility to keep up with the new terms.
It will take some time before you can completely recover from your debt problems but if you stay consistent with your repayment plan, you should be able to improve your bad credit one step at a time. A genuine credit repair agency should help you find practical ways so you can stick with your new repayment plan no matter what.
