Frequently asked questions
Credit questions, answered honestly
Including the answers that other companies avoid.
Credit restoration is the process of reviewing your credit reports for information that may be inaccurate, incomplete, outdated or unverifiable, and then helping you exercise your rights under applicable consumer protection laws to have that information investigated by the credit bureaus and furnishers. It is an education and process-driven service, not a guarantee of any particular outcome.
Information that is verified as accurate, complete and timely generally remains on your credit report for the period allowed by law. What can be challenged is information that appears inaccurate, incomplete, outdated or unverifiable. No one can lawfully promise to remove accurate negative information simply because it is unfavorable.
Timelines vary by consumer. Credit bureaus are generally allowed a defined investigation period for each item, and most credit profiles involve several cycles of review. Rather than promising a date, we set expectations at your consultation based on what your reports actually show.
No. No company can lawfully guarantee a specific score increase. Credit scores are calculated by third-party models using data reported by your creditors. What we can do is help you understand your reports, address information that appears inaccurate, and build habits that support a healthier profile over time.
No. The outcome of any investigation is determined by the credit bureaus and the companies that furnish the information — not by us. We guarantee our process, our communication and our education, never a result.
Generally, information that appears inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, duplicated, misreported or that cannot be verified by the furnisher. Common examples include accounts that are not yours, incorrect balances or dates, duplicate collection entries, and outdated public record information.
Reviewing your reports at least a few times a year is a healthy habit, and more often while you are actively working toward a mortgage or another major financing goal. Ongoing monitoring makes it easier to catch errors and identity theft early.
Credit preparation helps you understand and organize your credit profile before you apply for financing. It does not approve loans and does not guarantee approval — that decision belongs to your lender. What it can do is help you walk into that conversation informed and prepared.
Many consumers benefit from reviewing their reports before applying, because errors, high utilization and unresolved collections are easier to address before an application is in motion. We help you prepare your credit profile before speaking with — or returning to — your mortgage professional.
Reviewing your own reports and scores is generally treated as a soft inquiry and does not lower your scores. Applications for new credit typically create hard inquiries, which can have a smaller, temporary effect.
Scoring models commonly weigh payment history, amounts owed and utilization, length of credit history, credit mix and new credit activity. The exact weighting depends on the model and on your individual profile.
Utilization compares your revolving balances to your available limits, both per account and overall. Lower utilization is generally viewed more favorably, and many consumers pay attention to balances reported at the end of each statement cycle.
A collection generally appears when a creditor transfers or sells an unpaid debt to a collection agency, which may then report it to the credit bureaus. Collection entries should be reviewed carefully for accuracy, ownership, balances and dates.
A charge-off is an accounting action a creditor takes when it considers a debt unlikely to be collected. The balance is generally still owed, and the status appears on the credit report. Charge-offs should be reviewed for accurate balances, dates and status reporting.
Payment history is one of the most influential categories in most scoring models. Recent and repeated late payments generally carry more weight than older, isolated ones. Late payments reported in error should be investigated.
Yes. Many consumers rebuild after job loss, medical events, divorce or business setbacks. Rebuilding is usually a combination of accurate reporting, on-time payments, controlled utilization and consistency over time.
Yes. We regularly work with Realtors, loan officers, mortgage brokers, real estate teams and builders whose clients are not yet credit-ready. We educate and prepare the consumer, keep the referring professional informed with the consumer's permission, and send them back when they are better prepared to continue.
Yes. Consultations, documents and ongoing communication are available in English and Spanish.
Yes. Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Parrish, Venice and the greater Tampa Bay area are our home communities, and we also work with consumers elsewhere, remotely.