The Oprah Winfrey Show
Suze Orman Answers Your Money Questions
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What is the best way to fix a credit report?

In July 2007, audience member Linda will have paid off about $50,000 in credit card debt in only two years! "But the bad credit still follows me and I still get calls because I'm on a credit report with someone else," she says. "So how do I fix that?"

If you have a negative but accurate history, Suze says it will stay on your credit report for seven years. "If, however, there is information on your credit report that is not accurate, then you have to take an active role in contacting the three credit bureaus and stay on them to get it removed," Suze says. "Because even after you've gotten it removed, it will reappear again a few months later. You just have to stay on it."

If you notice a mistake on your credit report, you should contact the three credit-reporting agencies:

  • Equifax: 888-766-0008 or www.equifax.com
  • Experian: 888-397-3742 or www.experian.com
  • TransUnion: 800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com

Here's the good news for Linda. "Anybody who can get themselves out of $50,000 in credit card debt in two years can handle these credit bureaus easily," Suze says.

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