The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

THE CREDIT SECRETS MINI-BOOK

by Terry Price, Consumer Publishing rou!

This mini-book was created by Consumer Publishing Group which publishes the !Credit "ecrets Bible# $in print since 1%%&'( )or more in*ormation +isit the Credit "ecrets Bible website( $Permission is granted to share and reproduce this ebook pro+ided the website addresses and links are kept intact(' Copyright 2007 Consumer Publishing Group

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible
DISCLAIMER AND TERMS OF USE The author and publisher o* this ,book and the accompanying materials ha+e used their best e**orts in preparing this ,book( The author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy applicability *itness or completeness o* the contents o* this ,book( The in*ormation contained in this ,book is strictly *or educational purposes( There*ore i* you wish to apply ideas contained in this ,book you are taking *ull responsibility *or your actions( ,-,./ ,))0.T 12" B,,3 425, T0 2CC6.2T,7/ .,P.,",3T T18" P.056CT 235 8T9" P0T,3T827( ,-,3 T106G1 T18" 8356"T./ 8" 03, 0) T1, ),: :1,., 03, C23 :.8T, T1,8. 0:3 C1,C; 83 T,.4" 0) ,2.383G" T1,., 8" 30 G62.23T,, T12T /06 :877 ,2.3 23/ 403,/ 6"83G T1, T,C138<6," 235 85,2" 83 T1,", 42T,.827"( ,=24P7," 83 T1,", 42T,.827" 2., 30T T0 B, 83T,.P.,T,5 2" 2 P.048", 0. G62.23T,, 0) ,2.383G"( ,2.383G P0T,3T827 8" ,3T8.,7/5,P,35,3T 03 T1, P,."03 6"83G 06. P.056CT 85,2" 235 T,C138<6,"( :, 50 30T P6.P0.T T18" 2" 2 !G,T .8C1 "C1,4,(# 23/ C7284" 425, 0) 2CT627 ,2.383G" 0. ,=24P7," 0) 2CT627 .,"67T" C23 B, -,.8)8,5 6P03 .,<6,"T( /06. 7,-,7 0) "6CC,"" 83 2TT28383G T1, .,"67T" C7284,5 83 06. 42T,.827" 5,P,35" 03 T1, T84, /06 5,-0T, T0 T1, P.0G.24 85,2" 235 T,C138<6," 4,3T803,5 /06. )8323C," ;30:7,5G, 235 -2.806" ";877"( "83C, T1,", )2CT0." 58)),. 2CC0.583G T0 8358-85627" :, C2330T G62.23T,, /06. "6CC,"" 0. 83C04, 7,-,7( 30. 2., :, .,"P03"8B7, )0. 23/ 0) /06. 2CT803"( 42T,.827" 83 06. P.056CT 235 06. :,B"8T, 42/ C03T283 83)0.42T803 T12T 83C765," 0. 8" B2",5 6P03 )0.:2.5-700;83G "T2T,4,3T" :8T183 T1, 4,2383G 0) T1, ",C6.8T8," 78T8G2T803 .,)0.4 2CT 0) 1%%>( )0.:2.5-700;83G "T2T,4,3T" G8-, 06. ,=P,CT2T803" 0. )0.,C2"T" 0) )6T6., ,-,3T"( /06 C23 85,3T8)/ T1,", "T2T,4,3T" B/ T1, )2CT T12T T1,/ 50 30T .,72T, "T.8CT7/ T0 18"T0.8C27 0. C6..,3T )2CT"( T1,/ 6", :0.5" "6C1 2" !23T8C8P2T, # !,"T842T, # !,=P,CT # !P.0?,CT # !83T,35 # !P723 # !B,78,-, # 235 0T1,. :0.5" 235 T,.4" 0) "84872. 4,2383G 83 C033,CT803 :8T1 2 5,"C.8PT803 0) P0T,3T827 ,2.383G" 0. )8323C827 P,.)0.423C,( 23/ 235 277 )0.:2.5 700;83G "T2T,4,3T" 1,., 0. 03 23/ 0) 06. "27," 42T,.827 2., 83T,35,5 T0 ,=P.,"" 06. 0P83803 0) ,2.383G" P0T,3T827( 423/ )2CT0." :877 B, 84P0.T23T 83 5,T,.48383G /06. 2CT627 .,"67T" 235 30 G62.23T,," 2., 425, T12T /06 :877 2C18,-, .,"67T" "84872. T0 06." 0. 23/B05/ ,7"," 83 )2CT 30 G62.23T,," 2., 425, T12T /06 :877 2C18,-, 23/ .,"67T" ).04 06. 85,2" 235 T,C138<6," 83 06. 42T,.827( The author and publisher disclaim any warranties $e@press or implied' merchantability or *itness *or any particular purpose( The author and publisher shall in no e+ent be held liable to any party *or any direct indirect puniti+e special incidental or other conseAuential damages arising directly or indirectly *rom any use o* this material which is pro+ided !as is# and without warranties( 2s always the ad+ice o* a competent legal ta@ accounting or other pro*essional should be sought( The author and publisher do not warrant the per*ormance e**ecti+eness or applicability o* any sites listed or linked to in this ,book( 2ll links are *or in*ormation purposes only and are not warranted *or content accuracy or any other implied or e@plicit purpose( This ,book is B copyrighted by Consumer Publishing Group( 3o part o* this may be copied or changed in any *ormat sold or used in any way other than what is outlined within this Ebook under any circumstances(

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Con"en"s
8ntroduction((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((> Chapter 1((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((7 1ow to 4ake /oursel* -irtually 8dentity The*t P.00) in C0 4inutes or 7ess(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((7 "tudy The Past To Predict The )uture((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((D 2 5i**erent 2pproach(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((% B2"8C 85 T1,)T 5,),3",E ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((10 C.,58T 18?2C;83G 5,),3",E ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((10 "ummary(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((11 10 ,@tra !)inancial# 8dentity Protection Tips((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((12 Chapter 2((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1& )acts Consumers "hould ;now Be*ore 6sing 2 Credit .epair Company(((((((((1& Things To Consider((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1& .,),.,3C,"E (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1> C03T.2CTE (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1> 403T17/ ),,E (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1> 303-58"C70"6., 0) 4,T105"E (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((17 70C2T,5 83 104, "T2T,E(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((17 C6"T048F2T803E ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1D 8t9s :ork But 8t Pays :ell((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((1D Chapter G((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((20 )i+e Things ,+ery 4arried "hould ;now Be*ore "igning 2ny Credit 2pplication((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((20 -8T27 ;,/ H1E(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((20 -8T27 ;,/ H2E ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((20 -8T27 ;,/ HGE ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((21 -8T27 ;,/ H&E ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((21 -8T27 ;,/ H>E ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((22 Chapter &((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((2& The Truth 2bout Creating 2n 2lternate Credit )ile((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((2& Too Good To Be TrueI(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((2& 1ow To Create 2n 2lternate Credit )ile 7egally(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((2> Chapter >((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((27 )acts Consumers "hould ;now Be*ore Considering Credit Counseling or 5ebt Consolidation((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((27
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Chapter C((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((G2 8nsider TechniAues To .aise /our Credit "core )ast((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((G2 5,BT to C.,58T .2T80E((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((G2 "6B-P.84, 4,.C12358", C2.5"E ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((GG P8GG/B2C;83GE((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((G> 25-23C,5 C.,58T P.0)8783GE((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((GC 5,P0"8T 7023 P.0G.24"E(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((G7 Chapter 7((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((G% 8s /our Credit "core Costing /ou 2 )ortuneI(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((G% Chapter D((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((&1 The T.6T1 2bout Credit .epairJ(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((&1 The 0**icial Credit "ecrets Bible $T4'(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((&G

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

&

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

In"ro#uc"ion

,+en with the apparent abundance that we enKoy in the 6nited "tates many people *ind themsel+es with *inancial problems beyond what they e+er imagined they would ha+e( Credit is wrecked houses are lost *amilies are destroyed((( all in a country that brands itsel* as the world9s prosperity hub( Phrases like !the land o* opportunity# and !the 2merican dream# are common here( The truth is things like bankruptcy po+erty e@cessi+e debt and !barely making it# while li+ing paycheck to paycheck are becoming *ar more common in this land o* prosperity( :hat are we missingI The problem as it turns out usually isn9t that we ha+e a lack o* anything material( :e are rich with !buying power# but poor in the knowledge and *inancial intelligence that tell us how to use it( This might be why o+er hal* a million people $>%7 %C>' *iled *or Bankruptcy in 200C $sourceE httpELLwww(uscourts(go+LbnkrpctystatsLstatistics(htm' ( The issues are compounded by the *act that most people don9t realiMe that they are !knowledge-poor# in the area o* *inances and credit until it9s too late( By the time most o* us are aware that we lack *inancial intelligence the damage has already been done( This is why understandin !redit and !redit"re#air is so i$#ortant% )or many people credit repair should be the *irst step that they take towards a better *inancial *uture( !Credit repair# is simply the name gi+en to the process o* impro+ing your credit score and remo+ing incorrect items *rom your credit report( :ant to know how you can gi+e yoursel* a raise without talking to your boss or e+en increasing your actual paycheck amountI The answer as you probably guessed is to *i@ your credit( 2 higher credit score can sa+e you thousands o* dollars( 2s this book points out in Chapter 2 *i@ing your credit
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

>

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

is probably the highest paid work you9ll e+er do( Gi+e yoursel* a raise( 8mpro+e your credit and become *inancially smart( :hat we9+e gi+en you in this book should be considered a !primer# *or your *inancial education( There is a lot more to it than what is co+ered here( That said this little book could be a big boost to your *inancial intelligence( Consumer Publishing Group $the company that produced this guide' has created one o* the most comprehensi+e credit repair manuals a+ailable called The Credit "ecrets Bible T4( The Credit "ecrets Bible has been in print since 1%%& and is absolutely essential i* you are serious about *i@ing or impro+ing your credit( To learn more about the Credit "ecrets Bible +isit the Credit "ecrets Bible website(

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Ch$!"er %

How to Make Yourself Virtually Identity Theft PROOF in 60 Minutes or Less

The )B8 has called it !The *astest growing crime in 2merica(# Close to 10 million 2mericans e+ery year are +ictimiMed by it and the costs are estimated at >0 billion dollars annually( 4any criminals get o** easy while the +ictims spend years working to restore their damaged credit reports and reputations( :orse yet there seems to be no end in sight( !The popularity o* the crime is simply growing *aster than the solutions to stop it# many e@perts conclude( The task o* reco+ery is so time consuming and tedious multiple states ha+e resorted to creating !8dentity The*t Passports# *or +ictims in an attempt to ease the pain *or them as they endure the lengthy and *rustrating clean up process( By the end o* this article 8 will share with you the secrets o* making yoursel* +irtually identity the*t proo* in C0 minutes or less $*or *ree'( 8 use the term !secrets# because less than 1N o* the country are aware o* these techniAues $let alone practicing them'( 8* you are interested in learning more about these and other !secret# techniAues you9ll want to check out the Credit "ecrets BibleOthe authority on credit and credit repair( 8* 2mericans took these pre+entati+e steps up to %%N o* all identity the*t would be eliminated( 1owe+er !why# this bene*icial approach is not being made common knowledge in the mainstream media is something 8 will not disclose in this article $more on that another time'( )or the moment 8 belie+e the biggest crime one can commit is to not share this in*ormation with their
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

*riends and *amily $by the end o* this article you will understand why'( 6nlike other authors co+ering this subKect 8 will not insult your intelligence by sharing common sense tips like !5onPt carry your ""3 Card or 2T4 P83H in your wallet or purse# or !;eep all data sensiti+e documents like credit card and bank statements locked up in your home or o**ice#( This is elementary ad+ice at best( The key to protecting yoursel* *rom identity the*t is to look at what the masses are doing and then do the opposite $to say the least'( 2lmost 70N o* 2mericans are now shredding all their mail and documents and many are e+en subscribing to credit monitoring ser+ices or buying identity the*t insurance in an attempt to protect themsel+es *rom becoming +ictims( :hile this is better than doing nothing itPs a *ar cry *rom T.6, security( S"u#y The P$s" To Pre#ic" The &u"ure Contrary to popular belie* statistics show the maKority o* identity the*t does 30T result *rom the internet as most consumers ha+e been led to belie+e( 8n *act less than 10N o* identity the*t cases $where data compromise can be determined' originated online( 8n almost >0N o* cases consumers are the ones who detect the breach( 8n nearly &0N o* cases the criminal was someone who was in close contact with the +ictim (friend, relative, neighbor, co orker, in-home em!loyee, aiter" aitress or financial institution em!loyee#$ 8n then end nearly one third o* identity the*t cases come *rom a stolen walletLpurse checkbook or credit card( 4ore interesting the age o* the primary +ictim has lowered( 8* you are between the age o* 2> to G& you are now the largest target *or the crime $C>Q has become the smallest'( The bad news is that while identity the*t nationwide is on the decline $D(% million +ictims last year down *rom %(G million in 200>' the dollar amount per +ictim is going up $RC GDG last year up *rom R> DD> in 200>' and so are the number o* hours +ictims spend
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

cleaning up the mess $&0Q hours last year up *rom 2D hours in 200>'( :eP+e all heard the saying !2n ounce o* pre+ention is worth a pound o* cure#( /et no one is practicing it in the pandemic o* identity the*t( Credit monitoring is nice but only 11N o* consumers e+er catch identity the*t through this means( 8dentity The*t 8nsurance $according to many e@perts' is e+en more o* a hoa@( 2 product marketed by playing on the *ears o* 2merican consumers which does nothing more than assist them in cleaning up the mess only 2)T,. their identity has been stolen( ' Di((eren" '!!ro$ch The *ollowing is a completely di**erent approach to pre+enting and protecting yoursel* *rom identity the*t( 8t is based on the reality that we li+e in a world now where there is Mero pri+acy o* personal data( 4eaning that your name address phone number social security number date o* birth $e+en your mothers maiden name' can be obtained by 23/03, *or a *ee( 8* youPre one who *eels this is paranoid thinking let me tell you about 2my Boyer( 8n 1%%% 4iss Boyer had an old high school classmate $7iam /ouens' come back into her li*e many years later( 4r( /ouens obtained 2myPs ""3 and other personal in*ormation a*ter paying 5ocusearch 8nc( R1>0( 2*ter /ouens shot 4iss Boyer to death he then turned the gun on himsel*( Today the company tells +isitors to its website that !not all searches are a+ailable to the public# and some are reser+ed *or the in+estigati+e and legal industry( %o &s that for homeland security' :ith this !di**erent# approach we break down identity the*t into two distinct categories( 1(' Basic 8dentity The*t and 2(' Credit 1iKacking( By de*inition !Basic 8dentity The*t# is when the perpetrator steals your identity and then uses it to obtain 3,: credit accounts *or their personal gain( !Credit 1iKacking# *alls under a criminal stealing your identity in order to access and use your ,=8"T83G credit accounts( ,ach type o* *raud is di**erent and there*ore so is your plan o* de*ense(
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

B !I" I# TH$FT #$F$%!$&

The best proacti+e de*ense against basic identity the*t is through the placing o* an !8nitial )raud 2lert# on all three o* your credit reports( This !8nitial )raud 2lert# accomplishes three important *actorsE 1(' /our name and personal in*ormation can no longer be sold by the credit bureaus to 23/ third parties *or any marketing purpose (i$e$ credit card offers, loan solicitations or credit !re screenings#$ 2(' 3o one can be appro+ed *or credit with your personal in*ormation until the creditor personally calls you at the telephone number you list on your consumer credit report( G(' .eAuesting this initial *raud alert entitles you to a *ree copy o* all three o* your credit reports (one co!y from each of the three ma(or credit re!orting agencies#$ Please be ad+ised that this is an !8nitial )raud 2lert# which lasts only %0 days( To e@tend the *raud alert and obtain the abo+e mentioned bene*its *or 7 years you will need to write to each credit bureau at the address pro+ided within your initial *raud alert con*irmation letter ()ote* +t is likely credit bureaus ill make the e,tended alert harder to obtain as a great deal of their revenue comes from the third !arty rental and sale your information#$
"R$#IT HI' "(I%) #$F$%!$&

4ost online merchants now utiliMe a security *eature known as !2ddress -eri*ication "er+ice# or !2-"#( 2-" is a security *eature *or online merchants allowing them to only authoriMe credit card transactions *or merchandise to be shipped to the same address which appears on the consumers credit card billing statement( 8* the address does not match that o* the credit card billing statement the transaction will automatically be declined( 8n other words i* someone gets your credit card number e@pirations date and C-- code $the three digit code on the back o* the card' the only way a transaction can be authoriMed online is i* the merchandise i* shipped to the "24, address that your credit card billing statement is currently sent to( This is what makes credit hiKacking so dangerous( :hen a
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

10

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

criminal hiKacks your credit they call up the banks $posing as you' and change your address on your credit cards with your personal in*ormation $i(e( last *or o* ""3 and mothers maiden name' as i* you were mo+ing( They then proceed to order thousands o* dollars in merchandise $online or o+er the phone' to be shipped to the !new# address( Because they changed !your address# on your credit cards they will bypass the 2-" security *rom online merchants and the charges will be appro+ed( The only real de*ense against credit hiKacking is to establish a personal security code with all your bank accounts and credit cards( This is a *orm o* security which goes beyond your ""3 Fip Code 5ate o* Birth or 4others 4aiden 3ame to gi+e you a whole new tier o* personal security( This is a uniAue number or group o* letters and numbers which you create and gi+e to e+ery credit card pro+ider you ha+e( )or e@ample( The number could be as simple as !?2C0B2D01# which is a combination o* your best *riend as child and the numerical address o* the home you li+ed in growing up( By establishing this au@iliary passcode with all your credit card pro+iders no one will be granted access to your accounts without it pro+iding it to them( "ince you are the only one who knows it and it is non public it is truly secure( 8 ha+e yet to *ind a credit card company which will not allow you to create a such a passcode and added layer o* security( Summ$ry "o now with the initial *raud alert established on your credit reports $and later e@tended' as well as the personal security code set up with all your bank and credit card accounts you are +irtually identity the*t proo* in under C0 minutes *or *ree( "ure someone can always !steal# your identity but the real Koke will be on them( 8* they try to open a new credit account anywhere in the country the creditor is going to ha+e to call /06 at the phone number listed on your report in be*ore it can be appro+ed and itPs G24, 0-,.( 8* they try to hiKack your credit by changing the address on your credit accounts they will be asked *or not only the last *our digits o* your ""3 and mother maiden name but also your personal security code which they will
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

11

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

30T know and again itPs G24, 0-,.( 8t9s a good thing to be in control o* your *inancial identity and your credit( /ou can learn more about how to do this in the 0**icial Credit "ecrets Bible( Please understand that this article deals only with the topic o* !*inancial# identity the*t which is by *ar the most pre+alent today( 1owe+er you should be aware you also ha+e the *ollowing !> 42?0.# identities in computers across the nation which are yourE 1(' 5ri+ing .ecordsL1istory $54- 5atabases'( 2(' 4edical .ecordsL1istory $4edical 8n*ormation Bureau 5atabase'( G(' "ocial "ecurity .ecordsL1istory $""2 5atabase'( &(' 8nsurance ClaimsL1istory $C(7(6(,( 5atabase'( >(' Criminal 7egal and Public .ecord databases *rom birth records and real estate deeds to corporations trusts and court cases( /es we are in the in*ormation age but all in*ormation is stored in databases( 8 think we are now li+ing in the database age( %) E*"r$ +&in$nci$l, I#en"i"y Pro"ec"ion Ti!s 1( ;eep a list o* all credit card and bank account numbers with bank phone numbers so in case o* loss or the*t they can be noti*ied immediately( 2( 6se only one credit card *or personal e@penses and one card *or business e@penses and monitor accounts online weekly( G( 2lways send or recei+e mail only through secure and locked mail bo@es( &( 3e+er gi+e out any sensiti+e in*ormation $""3 2cct H Pin H Password ,tc' +ia an email solicitation( 2lways type in and +isit the website directly( >( 7imit the in*ormation on your checks to your *irst initial last name and address $nothing more'( C( 0n all credit cards instead o* signing your name write !Check 85S#( 7( 3e+er use a debit card or -isaL4aster Check card as reco+ering *raudulently accessed *unds *rom these accounts can be e@tremely di**icult( D( "tore all credit cards bank statements and passports etc in a secure and locked place(
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

%( 3e+er gi+e out your "ocial "ecurity 3umber 5ri+ers 7icense 3umber or 5ate 0* Birth unless they ha+e Kust cause and really need it( 10( )or details about establishing and initial *raud alert on your credit reports +isitE www(e@perian(com www(eAui*a@(com www(transunion(com :ant to get an edge on your *inancial *utureI This mini-book only scratches the sur*ace( To get the *ull story get The 0**icial Credit "ecrets Bible T4 at the Credit "ecrets Bible website( The Credit "ecrets Bible will gi+e you the upper hand in dealing with your credit( 7earn the secrets that your creditors don9t want you to knowS

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

1G

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Ch$!"er Fa*ts "onsu+ers !hould (now Before ,sinRe.air "o+.any "redit

1a+e you e+er wondered about those ads you see *rom companies and law *irms which o**er to *i@ your credit *or a low monthly *eeI People with credit problems o*ten ask me when it comes to impro+ing their credit score whether they should hire a credit repair company or do it themsel+esI 6n*ortunately there is no simple or uni+ersal answer to this Auestion( 1owe+er 8 will shed some light on the subKect i* youPre in need o* a little enlightenment( 2ccording to the )ederal Trade Commission $)TC' !,+erything a credit repair clinic can do *or you legally you can do *or yoursel* at little or no cost#( :hile 8 agree with the )TC 8 also understand some consumers do not ha+e the time patience $or knowledge' to do the work themsel+es and the thought o* !dri+e-thru-we-do-it-all-*or-you-credit-repair# becomes +ery appealing( 2*ter all e+erything a mobile oil change ser+ice can do *or me 8 can also do mysel* at little or no cost $but you wonPt *ind me changing the oil in my car this weekendS'(
Thin-s To "onsider

2lthough some things are better done yoursel* only you can determine i* doing your own credit restoration work will be one o* them( This is why understanding both the ad+antages and limitations o* a credit repair company and the structure *rom which it operates are -,./ important(
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

RE&ERENCES.

2ny legitimate company or indi+idual doing credit restoration work *or consumers will be able to pro+ide you with at least hal* a doMen re*erences( 8* the company or person is local you should be able to call these re*erences( This is without Auestion the most important point o* consideration when hiring a pro*essional to do the work *or you( 8* possible 8 suggest you ask *riends *amily relati+es and pro*essional contacts i* they know o* someone who does credit restoration work as a side business( By *ar the highest percentage o* success*ul stories 8 hear *rom consumers are those which come *rom those who *ound a credit consultant +ia personal re*erral( 8 cannot stress this enough( 8tPs the di**erence between going on a +acation with a close *riend instead o* a stranger(
CONTR'CT.

6nlike painting a house or putting in a dri+eway credit restoration work $and results' are e@tremely broad( There*ore the use o* a contract is imperati+e( 4ost likely your credit challenges didnPt occur o+ernight and they wonPt be impro+ed o+ernight either( 2 good contract protects you as well as the ser+ice pro+ider( The contract should be easy to understand without an 2ttorney and spell out the actual ser+ices which will be rendered as well as the ser+ice pro+idersP limitations $i(e( they cannot guarantee the remo+al o* any one particular item but can guarantee an o+erall increase in score o+ertime'(
MONTH/0 &EE.

0ne o* the most critical elements which a**ects !how# a credit restoration company operates is determined by itsP payment structure( 0ne o* the most common payment structures o* large companies or law *irms doing credit restoration is that o* the monthly !auto-debit# *ee( 8n this structure the consumer usually pays R&% to R%% up *ront and then a monthly *ee o* RG% to
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

R&% per month( :hile there is an ad+antage to this method $a**ordability' with it comes many disad+antages( 1(' The *irst disad+antage this structure creates is that it gi+es the company absolutely no incenti+e to work Auickly or aggressi+ely on behal* o* the consumer( 8n *act the opposite is true( The longer they take the longer they will continue to collect their monthly *eeS 8n most cases this structure leads to slow results o+er a +ery long period o* time( 7ooking at it logically this shouldnPt come as a surprise( 2(' The other challenge within this structure is the actual amount o* time e**ort and resources which a company or law *irm can reasonably allocate on a consumerPs behal*( .emember any large business has a tremendous amount o* o+erhead which Auickly chews up most o* that monthly *ee( 0ut o* that RG% to R&% there are monthly e@penses including but not limited toE 2d+ertising 0**ice .ent and 6tilities ,mployee Payroll and Ta@es 1ealth 8nsurance Phone "er+ice 0**ice "upplies .e*unds Computer 4aintenance and Programming :ebsite 2dministration 0**ice "upplies and letPs not *orget postage *or mailing letters to creditors collection agencies and credit bureaus( 2 much simpler way to think o* this is by imagining i* you had a client paying you RG% a monthT how much work would you be willing to doI G(' 0ne o* the biggest challenges credit repair companies charging low monthly *ees run into is being *orced to rely on the use o* 2utomated !Boiler Plate# 5ispute and Correspondence 7etters( Boiler Plate 7etters are simple *orm letters which are used *or 277 consumers $one *ormat *its all'( 0nce set up in a computer program with the consumersP in*ormation they are !shot out# automatically on behal* o* the consumers needs $i(e( disputing a late pay charge-o** or Kudgment etc'( The problem here is that when a credit repair company has thousands o* clients they are shooting these *orm letters out *or the creditors collection agencies and credit bureaus can take notice o* these letters being used o+er and o+er and disco+er your correspondence is coming *rom a third party $i(e(
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

credit repair company or law *irm' and in some cases ignore it or $worse yet' mark the dispute *ri+olous and *lag your credit report( 8 spoke with a man recently who was on the inside o* a large credit repair company who in*ormed me they had an archi+e o* o+er 10 000 boiler plate letters on *ile to a+oid this problem( 0* course they charged customers by the month(
NON-DISC/OS1RE O& METHODS.

0ne o* the most troubling issues with %>N o* large credit repair *irms $especially law *irms' is their non-disclosure o* dispute tactics and methods( 2s a consumer it is +ital that you are made aware o* the methods they are using in dealing with your creditors collections and the credit bureaus( 8* the organiMation or law *irm +iolates laws or makes errors $8 ha+e witnessed both' you could be held liable *or their negligence( 8n addition this can actually make your credit worse and create problems which are +ery di**icult to clean up( 2nyone doing credit restoration *or you should disclose !what# they are doing since you are paying *or a ser+ice( 8* they wonPt you better run the other way as they could be pouring gas on a blaMing camp *ire(
/OC'TED IN HOME ST'TE.

This is one o* the most o+erlooked keys to success*ul third party credit restoration which consumers miss( 8t is absolutely +ital when ha+ing someone else do your credit restoration work *or you that they operate within your home state( 1erePs whyE i* a credit repair company or law *irm mails dispute letters or correspondence on your behal* *rom another state that mail will be postmarked *rom that state( 8* the credit bureau catches this they can $and in many cases will' mark the dispute as *ri+olous and *lag your credit *ile( 8t is known that many Credit .epair Companies and 7aw )irms will resort to or create some kind o* method to get around this in order to get disputes postmarked *rom the consumersP home state $potentially more nondisclosure'( )or e@ample( 8* they are in 3/ and you are in C2 they will *irst ha+e to mail your dispute letters inside an en+elope *rom 3/ to C2(
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

17

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

0nce in C2 someone opens the en+elope and then mails your dispute letters *rom C2 so they postmarked *rom your home state( 8 am not an e@pert on postal regulations but had a postal employee tell me the concept sounded e@tremely shady at best(
C1STOMI2'TION.

8tPs *or this reason that some o* the most ad+anced *orms o* credit restoration are done completely customiMed *or the client and e+en $in many cases' by hand( The best credit restoration companies 8P+e seen are usually run by one person or a small number o* people and are e@tremely customiMed *or each client( The is the most e**ecti+e but with e**ecti+eness comes cost( ,+ery one o* these ser+ices 8 ha+e seen charges a +ery large up*ront *ee and works entirely o** o* re*errals( This type o* ser+ice is simply impossible to per*orm *or RG% or e+en R&% a month(
I"3s 4or5, Bu" I" P$ys 4ell

6n*ortunately i* you are unable to *ind someone in your area $pre*erably an indi+idual' by way o* re*erral through a *riend relati+e or pro*essional contact then 8 recommend you take matters into your own hands and do it yoursel*( 8 realiMe most consumers do not want to hear this but the good news is that it will almost always turn out to be the highest paid work you will e+er do in your li*e( 1ow highI 1ow does R>00 to R2>00 an hour soundI 8 understand itPs a bold claim but not one 8 am unable to back up( The Credit "ecrets Bible is a great source to help you out with the di**icult situations you9ll come across while trying to repair your credit( 8t is the ultimate helper *or those who choose !do it yoursel*# credit repair( 8* youPre e+er going to *inance a *irst or second home $which e+eryone e+entually should *or the ta@ breaks' the di**erence between good credit and poor credit will a**ect your interest rate( 8* you secure a R200 000 mortgage on a G0 year term and your interest rate is only 2N lower because o* a high credit score that 2N will sa+e you R%C %G&(11 o+er the course o* the loan
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

1D

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

$Kust because you had better credit'( Take that R%C %G&(11 and di+ide it by the G0 to >0 hours you may spend working on your credit situation and youPll Auickly realiMe credit restoration when done properly does not cost U it paysS The best in+estment you can make towards better credit is purchasing the Credit "ecrets Bible *rom the Credit "ecrets Bible website( The Credit "ecrets Bible is the ultimate guide to getting and keeping e@cellent credit( /ou9ll get a complete guide to walk you through the process o* impro+ing your credit( - goldmine of information is aiting for you in the Credit Secrets Bible.

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Ch$!"er 6
Fi/e Thin-s $/ery Married !hould (now Before !i-ninny "redit ..li*ation
1a+e you e+er wondered i* banks ha+e a tendency to appro+e credit cards and loans *or one se@ more than the otherI 8* you are married $or plan to be' 8 will share with you *i+e +ital keys e+ery married person should know be*ore signing any credit application( 7IT'/ KE0 8%. 2ccording to the )ederal ,Aual Credit 0pportunity 2ct $),C02' creditors cannot deny consumers access to credit because o* their se@( 1owe+er on a+erage $in sur+eys' itPs reported that women earn less money than men( .egardless o* what the ),C02 states the relationship o* credit to income is +ery strong( 8n our society i* you make less money you will get less credit period( The sad *act is that women on there own ha+e less access to credit( 8tPs *or this reason $8 belie+e' it is imperati+e that women learn and acAuire more knowledge about credit than men( ;nowledge is powerT and in the world o* credit that knowledge will o*ten times pro+e to be priceless especially *or women( The Credit "ecrets Bible is a great way to gain knowledge on how to impro+e your credit score ((( whether or not you ha+e bad credit or not( 7IT'/ KE0 8-. 8* you are a married woman with ?083T credit $meaning all your credit
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

accounts are Kointly held with your husband' you ha+e 30 C.,58T yoursel*( 4any women in 2merica *ind this out the hard way e+ery year when they get di+orced and lose all their credit pri+ileges since all their accounts were Kointly held with their spouse( 8* you are a woman in this position you can greatly bene*it by beginning to build your own credit in your own name starting todayS The bene*its are two *old( 1(' 8* your spouse has *inancial di**iculties $*or any reason' and is *orced to *ile bankruptcy or their credit becomes derogatory you and your spouse will ha+e your credit in reser+e to sur+i+e on( 2(' 8* you e+er get di+orced down the road $o+er >0N do and 7CN in the state o* Cali*ornia' you will 30T end up in *inancial hardship due to no credit andLor derogatory credit( 8nstead you will ha+e your credit to transition to and $belie+e me' this can be the di**erence between sailing o** in the sunset or drowning in a storm( 7IT'/ KE0 86. 8* you are currently married $with some credit or no credit' to a spouse who has e@cellent credit you can le+erage their credit to build credit in your own name much *aster than i* you had to build it by yoursel*( 7ater once you ha+e established enough accounts on your own you may choose to cancel accounts that were held Kointly with your spouse( 7IT'/ KE0 89. 8* you are a single woman with e@cellent credit and are getting married you may want to think twice about adding your new lo+er to all your credit accounts( 8* he messes up or you end up in di+orce down the road your credit will end up taking the beating $regardless o* how many years you diligently spent building it up'( )or this reason 8 strongly suggest married couples keep their credit separate( :hyI 8n most cases spouses ha+e *ar more to lose than to gain( 3aturally some
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

credit will ha+e to be Koint no matter what you do( 8* you purchase a home $which may reAuire both incomes to Auali*y' this will appear as a Koint account on the credit report( 1owe+er the potential abuse with a home mortgage is almost non e@istent as opposed to Credit Cards( 7IT'/ KE0 8:. "pouses ha+e more to gain by each building strong indi+idual credit reports rather than Koining all accounts and building one Koint report( )or ob+ious reasons banks and credit card companies lo+e the !credit ignorance# o* spouses who Koin all their credit accounts upon marriage( 1erePs whyE 8* you take >00 000 couples with credit be*ore they got married those >00 000 couples actually represent one million credit accounts and liabilities *or the banks and lenders( :hen those couples got married those one million credit liabilities were instantly were cut in hal* *rom one million to only >00 000( )or banks this is a +ery ad+antageous situation( )or the couples getting married $i* they ha+e *inancial trouble' the deal is a little raw( 8* they ha+e trouble although they are two people they are represented by only one credit report( The bank now has the right to go a*ter two di**erent people *or one account $regardless o* who was *inancially negligent'( )or moment letPs play out the same scenario with a couple which is *inancially sa++y $noteE theyPre both on the same !team# but *inancially sa++y'( 8n this scenario the couple gets married but instead o* Koining account each builds their indi+idual credit reports( 3ow this couple $team' has not one credit report representing them but two( 4etaphorically i* the per*ect storm $*inancially' is to rise this is the di**erence between the couple being in the ocean with two ships instead o* one( 8* the one ship starts to sink the couple can always !Kump ship# to the second( :hile some may criticiMe this thinking it is no di**erent than buying any kind o* insurance( /ou buy insurance not because you plan on a problem( /ou buy insurance because you are thinking ahead( This type o* thinking is
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

no di**erent( 1owe+er i* you want to be ahead o* the pack that you need to think ahead o* the pack( 8 cannot tell you how many times 8 ha+e talked to lo+ing married couples in *inancial trouble who only :8"1,5 they would ha+e known about these *i+e +ital keys be*ore they got into *inancial trouble( Take them study them apply them to your li*e( 2s 8 heard one woman put it !8n business and in li*e 8P+e learned to e@pect the best but plan *or the worst#( 8 thought her words were brilliant( 1owe+er 8 ha+e *ound that when 8 e@pect the bestJ many times 8 tend to get itS Take these *i+e +ital keys( "tudy them( 2pply them( Then pass them on to someone else who can bene*it *rom them( ,+en i* you didn9t get o** on the right *oot with credit or you9+e had some bumps along the way you can still drastically impro+e your credit situation $and your score' with the secrets included in The Credit "ecrets Bible T4( To learn more about the Credit "ecrets Bible go to the Credit "ecrets Bible website(

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Ch$!"er 9
The Truth 0out "reatin- n lternate "redit File

Too

oo# To Be True;

:hat i* 8 told you there was a way you could sol+e all your bad credit problems o+ernight by creating a brand new credit *ile in 2&hrs - would you be interestedI 2nd what i* 8 told you this program was 100N legal and e+en backed by the *ederal go+ernment - would that sound too good to be trueI :ellJ youPre right( 8t is too good to be true but these types o* ads are now sur*acing again a*ter the )ederal Trade Commission launched !0peration 3ew 85 Bad 8dea# o+er D years ago( This operation targeted $and took down' o+er >0 credit repair organiMations and companies selling consumers both pamphlets and ser+ices gi+ing them a brand new credit *ile under the pretense it was 100N legal and in some cases e+en claimed it to be a !go+ernment sponsored# programS The con was simple( Companies would target consumers with bad credit and o**er to create a brand new credit *ile *or them by substituting an ,mployer 8denti*ication 3umber $,83' *or their "ocial "ecurity 3umber $""3' along with a new address( ,83Ps were obtained *rom the 8nternal .e+enue "er+ice on behal* o* the consumer( :ith the ,83 and a new address the companies would either ha+e the consumer apply *or credit with the !new in*ormation# or the company would apply *or them( :hen the creditor would run the application it would automatically create a new credit *ile because the computer would be unable to *ind the consumer in the
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

database due to the new address and ""3( :hile there is some dispute among pri+acy e@perts as to whether or not this is legal the )TCPs actions at the time were not up *or debate( Companies were ad+ertising and luring in consumers in order to ha+e them *alsi*y credit applications by pro+iding new in*ormation such as their address and ""3 in order to obtain credit( This was a direct +iolation o* the Truth in 7ending 2ct $T872' and worse yet the companies were ad+ertising to consumers that this was 100N legal and in some cases claiming it was a go+ernment sponsored program( 2s youPll hear me say o*ten !8n reality nothing could be *urther *rom the truth#(
IM&ORTANT NOTE' Creatin an alternate !redit (ile with an EIN IS A FELON)*

Pri+acy e@perts will argue that using an ,83 or % digit P83 $simply a made up number' in place o* onesP ""3 is completely legal since creditors are on shaky ground asking *or your ""3 in the *irst place( 8n regards to the truth in lending act they will argue that one has to e@hibit !an intent to de*raud# a creditor( 4y Auestion !8s concealing onesP ad+erse credit history intent in itsel*I# :hile 8 am not an 2ttorney on the matter o* credit law 8 can conclude that i* a consumer was to create an alternate credit *ile using the ,83 or P83 method they better be darn sure they ne+er ha+e a problem paying their bills( 8* they do they most likely would *ind themsel+es in a courtroom with a case in+ol+ing credit *raud( :hich brings me to my ne@t topic( Ho< To Cre$"e 'n 'l"ern$"e Cre#i" &ile /eg$lly 4ost consumers are unaware that in addition to consumer credit reports both ,@perian and ,Aui*a@ own and operate business credit reporting ser+ices( By creating a business credit pro*ile a consumer can now create an alternate credit *ile legally( :hile some creditors such as residential utility companies will not allow you to use business credit in place o* personal credit we ha+e had numerous clients who ha+e success*ully used business
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

credit to obtain credit cards automoti+e leases and loans( This techniAue $although contro+ersial' can be +ery e**ecti+e when done properly(
IM&ORTANT NOTE' Creatin an alternate !redit (ile with an EIN IS A FELON)*

The basics o* building business credit in+ol+eE 1(' "etting up the proper structure *or your business $i(e( Corporation 77C etc(' 2(' 0btaining an ,83 as well as a 563" number $5unn and Bradstreet'( G(' Borrow andLor buy products and ser+ices *rom +endors who reports to business credit reporting agencies such as ,@perian ,Aui*a@ and 5unn V Bradstreet( :hile building business credit reAuires time Kust like personal credit donPt get discouraged( .emember when you set out to begin building your business credit you are starting with a clean slate( This is when it becomes imperati+e that one learn *rom the mistakes o* their past( .emember in the credit world those who do not learn *rom their past are $ine+itably' doomed to repeat it(

Need !redit re#air ad+i!e that you !an trust, The Credit "ecrets Bible has been in print since 1%%& and is literally packed *ull with real credit repair in*ormation( To learn more about the credit secrets bible +isit the Credit "ecrets Bible website(

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

2C

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Ch$!"er :
Fa*ts "onsu+ers !hould (now Before "onsiderin- "redit "ounselin- or #e0t "onsolidation
There is one topic which e+ery time 8 write about it seems to generate some hate mail while at the same time spawning a *lurry o* wonder*ul praise *rom consumers( 0* course the hate mail is always *rom a *ew people that happen to own these !certain types# o* businesses 8 discussed and those businesses o* course are Credit Counseling or 5ebt Consolidation companiesT o* which many !claim# to be non-pro*it organiMations( /ouPd almost ha+e to be an ostrich with your head stuck in the sand to not see or hear at least one ad+ertisement a day *rom a Credit Counseling or 5ebt Consolidation Company( 1owe+er you can e@pect this to change and change soon( "ince this is a topic which tends to !stir up# the owners o* these businesses 8 am going to take a di**erent approach by 30T sharing my opinion but rather the opinion o* others( 8 will start with the news media and the 8nternal .e+enue "er+iceE ()/0 )e s, May 12, 3445#$ The +nternal 0evenue Service is revoking the ta, e,em!t status of some of the largest credit counseling agencies in the country$ -n +0S investigation disclosed that the firms solicited business from !eo!le seriously in debt and that they didn6t !rovide counseling or consumer education, as re7uired$ /rodded in !art by a congressional oversight committee and consumer advocates, the +0S began investigating do8ens of credit counseling agencies -- most holding non-!rofit status -- t o years
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

27

The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

ago$ +0S Commissioner Mark 9verson says the com!anies :!oisoned an entire sector of the charitable community$: 9verson says in many instances, com!anies ere organi8ed merely to funnel business to loosely affiliated for-!rofit com!anies$ Many of the firms s!end millions of dollars on commercials that urge anyone ith debt to call them to solve their financial oes$ -nd because ta,e,em!t organi8ations are not bound by the federal do-not call list, the firms ere able to randomly call consumers, !itching their services under the guise of a non-!rofit counseling service$ The +0S investigations are also likely to affect consumers, thanks to a ne bankru!tcy la that re7uires consumers considering bankru!tcy to get counseling before they are allo ed to file$ The +0S ants to ensure that only legitimate non-!rofit agencies are doing the counseling$ +n addition to the actions announced Monday, the +0S is sending more than ;44 com!liance letters to the rest of the credit counseling industry (9)<#$ "ince almost all Credit Counseling and 5ebt Consolidation companies claim a non-pro*it status 8 *eel most consumers are easily sucked in with their skepticism and de*enses at bay( 2*ter all when most o* us hear the word !non-pro*it# the *irst thing we usually think o* is a church or homeless shelter( )rom the 3P. article and the actions o* the 8." 8 think itPs *air to assume that many o* these !non-pro*it# organiMations ha+e been operating under a scenario similar to that o* a wol* guarding a hen house( 1owe+er this doesnPt mean all credit counseling and debt consolidation companies are bad butJ you do need to know the truth about how they operate and their limitations( The *irst thing you want to understand is these companies are 277 more interested in making money o** you than they are in preser+ing your credit rating( The bottom line with either credit counseling or debt consolidation is
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

that it absolutely ruins your credit( 8 can Kust hear the companies arguing this with a consumer right now telling them nonsense like !8t helps your credit since it tells creditors that youPre working on your situation and not Kust running away *rom it(# 7istenJ i* one these places tells you that than watch out( :hyI Because they will lie to you about other things as wellS 0ne o* the *irst actions these programs usually reAuires you to do is *or you to C70", all your re+ol+ing credit accounts( /ou then make payments to the organiMation and they take care o* e+erything *or you( :hat this says to all your creditors $as well as anyone considering gi+ing you credit' is that you are so out o* control with your *inances that you canPt e+en manage paying e+eryone back on your own( There*ore youPre hiring someone else to do it *or youS %%N o* the time these companies will claim they can negotiate with your creditors and get interest rates reduced thereby sa+ing you money( :hile this is true whatPs also true is you can easily negotiate these same rates as well as they can by Kust calling your creditors yoursel*( /ouPd be amaMed at how many o* your creditors would lo+e to hear *rom you $especially when the chips are downS'( 3ot too mention any money the counseling company was to sa+e you would more than likely be sucked back up by their monthly *ees $usually around R>00 to R1 000 per year'( This brings us into a whole other dynamic o* their business model( Because these companies always make their money o** o* monthly *ees paid by the consumer the longer they can keep those monthly *ees coming in the more pro*itable their business will be( 8tPs *or this reason that most consumers who sign up with these companies usually *ind themsel+es on payment plans with the lowest monthly payment possible $which turns out to also be the 703G,"T payment plan as well'( 3ot surprising is itI 2m 8 against Credit Counseling and 5ebt Consolidation companiesI 2bsolutely not( 2*ter all there are millions o* people in 2merica who will ne+er be able to manage their *inances( Credit to them is a destructi+e addiction much like alcohol or drugs and they will ne+er be able to control
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

it( 8nstead it will always control them( :eP+e all seen these people( ,+ery time they are e@tended credit shortly therea*ter they are in *inancial trouble $usually blaming it on some e@ternal *actor'( )or these people 8 think these credit and debt counseling programs can be a good thing $as a ruined credit report is not a hindrance to them but actually an asset'( 8t keeps them out o* *uture *inancial trouble by *orcing them to li+e their li+es on a !cash and carry# basisT which is ultimately conduci+e to a better standard o* li+ing down the road( 0n the other hand( 8* youPre good with your *inances and ha+e control with credit but went through some type o* hardship beyond your control in the past $i(e( di+orce Kob loss etc'T then the ser+ices o* these companies will ne+er be *or you( /ou will do *ar better and preser+e your credit rating by taking matters into your own hands using a tool like The Credit "ecrets Bible( .eason being is that you understand your credit rating is a power*ul tool that can help you mo+e ahead *aster help others and help yoursel* as well as create the li*e you want( 8t all comes down to sel* management( :e all know that those who cannot manage themsel+es will ultimately be managed by others( Credit is no di**erent( :hen you learn to manage it well you are the master and it is the ser+ant( 8* you care about your credit and want to bene*it *rom it in the *uture then you will ne+er rely on a credit or debt counseling ser+ice to help you get out o* any trouble you *ind yoursel* in( 8nstead youPll look inward and get yoursel* out while preser+ing your credit rating the best you can( Credit and debt counseling is *or people who are !ok# with throwing their credit rating in the trash so they can ha+e !someone else# manage their payments *or them $since they are unable to manage them themsel+es'( 2nd again as *ar as negotiating interest rates you can do Kust as good as them or better( 8* you donPt belie+e me Kust call any o* your creditors and straight out tell them your situation( /ou will Auickly *ind you donPt need to be a*raid o* them( They Kust want to get paid like the rest o* us(

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

:ant to know the insider secrets that are the key to sa+ing your creditI Check out the Credit "ecrets Bible T4 atE the Credit "ecrets Bible website

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Ch$!"er =
Insider Te*hni1ues To Raise Your "redit !*ore Fast
8* there is one Auestion 8Pm asked by consumers more than any other about credit itPs this !:hatPs the *astest way to raise my credit scoreI#( 4y response is always the same !1ow much do you want to raise itI# 8* you wish to increase your score *rom >D0 to C>0 then your strategy will be +ery di**erent *rom someone wanting to go *rom C70 to 72>( :hyI Because you starting point is di**erent which reAuires a di**erent approach( 2lso while the remo+al o* negati+e items *rom a report will almost always lead to an increase in score itPs a basic concept at best( There*ore within this article wePll discuss somewhat inside techniAues known by +ery *ew $since this is what our company specialiMes in publishingOour *lagship product being the Credit "ecrets Bible'( 8n relation to Kust remo+ing negati+e items these are techniAues which you can use e+en i* you ha+e 30 derogatory in*ormation on your credit report( :ePll start with the most o+erlooked strategy *irst and thatPs yourJ DEBT "o CREDIT R'TIO. The most *raudulent belie* 8P+e been hearing *or o+er 1> years is !8 ha+e e@cellent credit 8 pay all my bills o** in *ull e+ery monthS# This is a *alse belie* *or one to buy into and understanding your debt to credit ratio holds the key to getting your !credit mindset# right( /our debt to credit ratio is your ratio o* debt to total a+ailable credit you
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

ha+e been e@tended $re+ol+ing accounts only'( )or e@ample( 8* you ha+e R10 000 in total unsecured re+ol+ing credit accounts and youPre currently in debt R2>00 then your debt to credit ratio is 2>N( "ince the main way lenders make money is by charging interest one o* the elements o* the credit scoring model is dri+en by your ability to maintain balances and pay o+er time( This shows your true $long term' credit worthiness which is most pro*itable to lenders since they make money primarily +ia interest and not annual *ees( 0+er the years weP+e disco+ered without Auestion that carrying the proper debt to credit ratio will boost your score *aster than paying o** your bills in *ull each month( 8 ha+e argued with the Better Business Bureau on this topic and they still disagree $despite my sending them proo* *rom )air 8saacs own website www(4y)ico(com the organiMation which in+ented the credit scoring so*tware used by credit bureaus'( 0* course what do you do i* youPre like most 2mericans and your debt to credit ratio is too highI )or e@ample( /ou ha+e R10 000 in unsecured re+ol+ing accounts but you owe RD>00 thereby gi+ing you an D>N debt to credit ratio( 1ow can you bring it down without selling e+erything you ownI The answer is simple and takes us to the ne@t techniAue which isJ S1B-PRIME MERCH'NDISE C'RDS. The single most cost e**ecti+e $and power*ul' tool *or consumers to increase their high credit limit and decrease their debt to credit ratio is the use o* "ubPrime 4erchandise Cards which report to one o* more o* the maKor credit bureaus( 6n*ortunately despite their immense bene*its these are the most misunderstood cards in the credit industry( 2 large portion o* the misunderstanding is due to marketers misrepresenting the cards and the growing number o* companies promoting them( :hen you learn how they work one Auickly understands why they ha+e been the subKect o* much misrepresentation(
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

2 "ub-Prime 4erchandise Card is nothing more than a card attached to a line o* credit which allows you to buy merchandise *rom a speci*ic +endor $usually the company that sold you the card'( The merchandise $in most cases' will be purchased through a catalog or online mall( :here the problem arises is that the cards are marketed almost e@clusi+ely to the sub prime market +ia email telemarketing and direct mail etc( The reason *or this is they can ad+ertise almost irresistible o**ers like !R> 000 Credit CardJ G62.23T,,5S 3o Credit CheckS 30 CosignerS /ou cannot be turned downS# or !6nsecured R10 000 Credit 7ineS ,+eryone 2ppro+edS#( 8Pm sure you get the ideaJ :hile there are many companies which do this and are a !shady at best# there are a *ew which do it legitimately and itPs the best kept secret to build your credit and build it *ast( 1erePs how it worksE the company appro+es anyone with a pulse $literally' and gi+es them a card *or R2 >00 to R12 >00 with 30 credit check and 30 cosigner( 1owe+er the card is only good *or merchandise through their website or catalogs and the consumer is reAuired to put down a deposit on whate+er they purchase( 2*ter the deposit is paid the remaining balance is *inanced on the card( )or e@ample( 2 person buys R1 000 worth o* merchandise( Their deposit is RG00 so they then *inance R700 on their merchandise card and make payments( "ound like a scamI 8* you say !/es# like most people then youPre missing the pointJ big time( :ith a legitimate "ub-Prime 4erchandise Card your credit line :877 be reported to at least one maKor credit bureau $or more'( This means i* you get a R> 000 card and you *inance R>00 on your credit report it will look like any other credit card and will do three e@tremely important things *or you( 1(' 8t will increase your current !1igh Credit 7imit# by R> 000 almost
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

o+ernight as the account !looks# like any other unsecured re+ol+ing account( 2(' By carrying a small outstanding balance it will positi+ely impact your credit report by building and showing potential lenders your credit worthiness( G(' :ith a good payment history you are +irtually guaranteed to recei+e !legitimate# pre-appro+ed credit o**ers in the *uture due to other lenders renting your name *rom the credit bureaus( This techniAue is hard to beat *or both cost and e**ecti+eness( 0* course the whole key is knowing e@actly which cards report to the credit bureau and o**er the best rates( The only thing more e**ecti+e isJ PI 0B'CKIN .

5espite its +irtually unlimited potential piggybacking is not used by nearly as many consumers as it should be( 8tPs easy e**ecti+e and e@tremely *ast( 6n*ortunately itPs mostly used among parents and siblings while those who can really bene*it stay in the dark( 1ow it works( 2lmost e+ery credit card or credit account will allow the primary account holder to add on $at a later date' whatPs known as an !2uthoriMed 6ser# or !"econdary 2ccount 1older#( 8n most cases when this is done the entire account history $retroacti+ely' gets posted to the authoriMed users credit report regardless o* their current age or credit historyS )or e@ample( 8* itPs a credit card with a R10 000 limit which has been paid as agreed *or the last 10 years then that complete history will be posted to the authoriMed usersP credit report( 8 once saw a clientsP credit report who used this techniAue with his mother( 1e was only 2& at the time and he had a R1> 000 Gold credit card on his report with history going back 11 yearsS 8 laughed as 8 thought to mysel* that this kid would ha+e had to be appro+ed when he was 1G years old *or this account to be hisS 2s you can see this strategy is usually only used by parents and their
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

children and in most cases with no regard to the bene*its the children are reaping credit wiseS 8n *act in recent years due to itsP e**ecti+eness this techniAue has led indi+iduals with e@cellent credit scores to !rent out# authoriMed user accounts on one or e+en multiple credit cards in return *or a *eeS 8 once recall seeing an ad in 6"2 T052/ *or Kust such an opportunity( 7ike most good credit loopholes 8Pm sure this methodsP days are numbered much like what may be the case withJ 'D7'NCED CREDIT PRO&I/IN . This is a strategy while not comple@ can be taken to +ery comple@ le+els( ,+en in itsP most basic *orm itPs taken ad+antage o* by +ery +ery *ew( 8t in+ol+es intentionally building your credit report in a way which creates a !pro*ile# that closely *its the criteria o* most lenders $as well as the o+erall credit scoring system'( 2gain this is a techniAue which can be used in a myriad o* comple@ ways but *or simplicity 8 will e@plain it in itsP most basic *orm( :hile many consumers will boast when they ha+e 10 20 G0 or e+en >0 thousand dollars worth o* credit cards on their report many o* these same people do 30T ha+e e+en one mortgage automoti+e loan or lease eAuipment loan or a e+en a line o* credit with a local bank or credit union( These other *orms o* credit create a much more well rounded credit pro*ile *or the consumer( This is achie+ed by showing greater credit account di+ersity and e@perience with multiple types o* credit due to the +arious lines held( )or e@ample( 2 person with R>0; in credit cards does not represent near the credit e@perience as a person with the same R>0; along with a mortgage an automoti+e loan and an eAuipment lease( :e ha+e clients who ha+e *inanced +ehicles not because they had to $or e+en wanted to' but because they !needed to# in order to create a credit pro*ile that would position them in the *uture to secure the lowest possible rate on a mortgage when they applied and needed it(

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

4ore comple@ *orms o* 2d+ance Credit Pro*iling in+ol+e one subscribing to a**luent or semi-a**luent business and pro*essional publications and organiMations( These would include magaMines newsletters trade Kournals and national associations( The goal is to get ones name into the databases o* these publications and organiMations( :hyI To get on highly targeted lists in order to recei+e select credit o**ers( 4arketers o* credit o**ers ha+e *ound that simply renting names o* consumers *rom the credit bureaus does not pro+ide enough in*ormation about the person as a credit risk anymore( There*ore it is speculated that many will rent a list *rom the credit bureau and then cross-re*erence this list against another list they ha+e secured *rom a consumer source such as an a**luent business or pro*essional publication trade Kournal or organiMation( By crossing the two lists together the marketers *ind the names contained on both lists( This in turn pro+ides them with one highly re*ined and targeted list to mail their o**er to( This results in shortening the process o* securing a new Auality account holder thus lower the o+erall account acAuisition cost o* new accounts( :hen a consumer learns how to intentionally put themsel+es into these databases to wind up on these re*ined lists the credit building process is sped up e@ponentially( 0* course many would call this !highly speculati+e# but we ha+e undeniable e@perience that it works( DEPOSIT /O'N PRO R'MS. This is a techniAue so unbelie+able that 8 mysel* proclaimed it had to be a scam be*ore researching the *acts( 8t allows the consumer $or business' to ha+e a R2> 000 to R2>0 000 loan appear on their credit report as !Paid as 2greed# by way o* +ery creati+e *inancing( This method is e@tremely e**ecti+e and not within the budget o* most $R7>0 to R7 >00 up*ront'( 2lso because this techniAue takes ad+antage o* certain banking laws 8 ha+e reason to belie+e it could be made una+ailable at any time i* those banking laws were to change( This method can be used with consumer credit *iles on
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

""3Ps as well as business and corporate credit *iles done on T83Ps as well as 5unn and Bradstreet( 8n the end all o* us need to remember that today our credit score is more important than it has e+er been in the history o* the credit reporting system( :hile credit miracles donPt happen o+ernight you can create your own credit miracles by applying simple insider strategies consistently o+er time( Be*ore you know it youPre a proud member o* the 700 Club( The !700 Plus Credit "core# club that isS To get the *ull story on how to raise your credit score get the Credit "ecrets Bible T4 at the Credit "ecrets Bible website( The Credit "ecrets Bible is the guide *or repairing your credit and impro+ing your credit score(

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Ch$!"er >

Is Your "redit !*ore "ostin- You

Fortune2

:hile some sur+eys show that % out o* 10 consumers are unaware what their credit score is 8Pd like to Auickly share with you how your credit score could be costing you a *ortuneJ in more ways than you can imagine( :e spend a lot o* time telling you how the Credit "ecrets Bible can help you raise your score ((( and this is great ((( but it9s also important to know Kust how bad a low score can be( :e all know a low credit score will make e+erything in the world o* *inance more e@pensi+e because o* higher interest rates *rom lenders due to being considered a greater credit risk $i(e( higher interest rates on car homes and credit cards'( :hile this may be considered common knowledge by some itPs truly de+astating e**ects are understood by *ew( )or e@ample( 8* you purchase a R200 000 home on a G0 year *i@ed mortgage at DN interest instead o* CN $because o* your credit score'T that 2N is going to end up costing you a total o* R%C %G&(11 o+er the term o* the loan( 3ow think about how many !e@tra# years youPll ha+e to work to pay o** R%C %G&(11 because o* an e@tra 2N in interestI The part *ew people talk about is all the other areas in li*e where a low score will increase your cost o* li+ing on an annual basis( )or e@ample( 8n addition to paying more *or a car home and credit cards a low credit score will most likely ha+e you paying more *or the *ollowing as well( 1( 26T0 83"6.23C,( 2s many as %2N o* the 100 largest personal
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

automobile insurers use credit in*ormation to underwrite new business according to a 2001 study by Conning V Co( an insuranceresearch and asset-management *irm( 2( 104,0:3,." 83"6.23C,( 8tPs thought many insurance companies see a correlation between low credit scores and increased property insurance claims( There*ore a low score will result in higher rates( G( 78), and 1,27T1 83"6.23C,( Customers who are unable to pay their monthly insurance premium thereby pass along that increased cost to the insurance company whose stuck with the billJ resulting in a loss *or the company( "ince customers who pay without lapse are more pro*itable it is *elt by many that a low credit score now e+en a**ects a monthly li*e andLor health insurance premium negati+ely( 0ne o* the more shocking areas where a low credit score will you cost you is in the area o* employment( 8tPs estimated as many as &2N o* employers now do credit checks on applicants be*ore hiring them $according to a 1%%D sur+ey by the "ociety *or 1uman .esource 4anagement'( :hile many employers claim they only do it to !+eri*y# in*ormation on your application $such as where you li+e and where you ha+e worked etc(' we can both assume they are taking the liberty to !ha+e a peek# at how you handle your *inancial a**airs as well( 2ccording to the Public .esearch 8nterest Group $P8.G' as many as 7%N all credit reports contain errors O 2>N o* which are serious enough to cause the denial o* credit $according to a 200& report'( 2nd that9s all the more troubling in light o* the increasing impact a bad credit report can ha+e says ,d 4ierMwinski director o* P8.G9s consumer program( W8t9s outrageous that the credit bureaus are claiming their scores are accurate enough to take people9s li+es and screw with them like thisW( "a+e money( Change your *uture( 0rder The Credit "ecrets Bible T4 at the Credit "ecrets Bible website(

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

Ch$!"er ?
The TR,TH 0out "redit Re.air3
1a+e you e+er wondered what companies send you when they claim you can erase your bad credit o+ernightI 1ow about those ads that say you can get any maKor credit card 100N Guaranteed regardless o* your creditI 2ds abound almost e+erywhere $online and o**' selling books systems and secrets to help you *i@ your credit in a hurry( 4any o* these programs ha+e claims which read like the co+ers o* supermarket tabloids !8n Ghrs my credit score Kumped *rom >D0 to C7CS#J !,rase bad credit and smash your debts with Kust 2 4agic 7ettersS#( !Create a completely new credit *ile in 2&hrsS# 2re these types o* claims 27:2/" too good to be trueI The answer is !/es andJ no#( :hile many people would lo+e *or you to belie+e that the only thing that can *i@ bad credit is timeT in realityJ nothing could be *urther *rom the truth( The *act is time is only one *actor which will *i@ a credit report $but itPs a *ar cry *rom being the only *actor'( 1ow can 8 back this upI ,asy( 6nder a consumer protection law known as the )air Credit .eporting 2ct $a(k(a( the )C.2' the only negati+e in*ormation which can remain on your credit report is not what is accurateJ but what can be pro+ed as such( :hatPs this mean to youI 8t means any negati+e item on your credit report can only remain there i* it is accurate and C23 B, P.0-,5 2" 2CC6.2T, under the guidelines o* the )C.2( This undisputable *act presents consumers with both good news and bad news( The good news is that through the )C.2 your credit
Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

score can most likely be impro+ed dramatically in a +ery short period o* time with only a modest amount o* e**ort on your part( The bad news is that while the actual !work# will take +ery little o* your time it is +ital that you ha+e good in*ormation on !how# to go about it( This is the bad newsT % out o* 10 courses on restoring your credit will do nothing more than lead you into a snake pit( This is because they pro+ide you with out-dated !Boiler Plate# dispute letters which are rarely e**ecti+e( These are nothing more than *orm letters andJ Auite *rankly $more bad news' the Credit Bureaus and Creditors will laugh at you i* you try to use them( :hile 8 agree with the )ederal Trade Commission $)TC' that !2nything a Credit .epair Clinic can do *or you legally you can do *or yoursel* at little or not cost#J the key element you need *or success is the latest inside techniAues and procedures to get the results you want( These in+ol+e strategies known as !Proo* o* Contract# !Constructi+e 3otice# !Challenge o* Procedure# or !.estricti+e ,ndorsement# and many others( 2ll these terms may !sound# impressi+e but they are really Auite simple( 8n the end it is nothing more than a method o* communication which e@ercises your consumer protection rights gets the results you want and raises your credit score( ,+en more impressi+e once you learn how simple it can be by doing it *or yoursel* you will *ind there is a *ortune to be made doing it *or othersS ,ither way it all starts by reAuesting a *ree copy o* your credit report by calling the 2nnual Credit .eport "er+ice at 1-D77-G22D22D(

This mini-book was created by Consumer Publishing Group which publishes the !Credit "ecrets Bible# $in print since 1%%&'( )or more in*ormation +isit The Credit "ecrets Bible :ebsite $Permission is granted to share and reproduce this ebook pro+ided the website addresses and links are kept intact(' Copyright 2007 Consumer Publishing Group Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group
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The Credit Secrets Mini-Book, From The Makers Of The Official Credit Secrets Bible

This mini-guide was brought to you by Consumer Publishing Group, publishers of...

The O((ici$l Cre#i" Secre"s Bible @TMA

In #rint sin!e -../0 the !redit is the $ost !o$#rehensi+e !redit re#air $anual on the $arket% 1ET )OUR CO&) TODA)* 2isit the Credit Se!rets 3ible website

Copyright 2007 By Consumer Publishing Group

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