Many times, once you’re denied a loan or much-needed financing, you start looking for credit repair methods that will help you increase your FICO scores as quickly as possible. Truth be told, a big boost in credit scores won’t happen overnight, but with the right approach it can happen in 30 to 45 days.

Tips to fix credit fast

To get started, you’ll need a copy of your most recent credit report. Some people tell you to use their free annual report, but I recommend purchasing a report from each of the individual bureaus. This is because each reports differently and it’s easy to see what each reports when you have separate reports. Also, if you are new to reading a credit report, you may be confused by an all-in-one triple combination report.

Step one

Once you have your reports, go through each one and make a list for each office starting with the oldest accounts first. List all accounts that show late payments, collections, or other negative information. Also take note of any incorrect information it might be displaying as well. Common mistakes are wrong names, wrong addresses, and even accounts that aren’t yours.

Second step

Write a credit dispute letter for the first two accounts on your lists and send it to the offices. In the letter, you will need to mention your name, account number, social security number, and the reason you are disputing the account. Try to dispute a certain part of the account, such as the date of record, balance due, or late payment dates. This is more effective than simply saying the account is not yours.

Step three

In about 30 to 45 days, you’ll receive a response from the credit bureaus telling you what your investigation found and whether they removed anything from your report. Cross out the items that were removed and dispute the next two accounts in the same way. Keep repeating this process until you have disputed all of your accounts.