FREEZE These 4 “Secret” Credit Bureaus to Boost Your Dispute Results You’ve probably heard of Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion… But did you know there are other credit bureaus feeding them info behind the scenes? These are called secondary credit bureaus, and freezing them can block debt collectors and CRAs from verifying info during disputes. Here’s how to freeze them — 100% free. ⸻ 🧊 1. LexisNexis This one tracks public records, bankruptcies, evictions, and more. ✅ Freeze here FIRST. 👉 Freeze Link: https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/freeze ⸻ 🧊 2. SageStream (aka Vantage by LexisNexis) Used for risk scores by lenders and collectors. ✅ Blocking this can help reduce false verifications. 👉 Freeze Link: https://www.vantagescore.com/freeze ⸻ 🧊 3. CoreLogic Tracks rental history, evictions, and fraud prevention data. ✅ Especially useful if you’ve had housing-related debt or issues. 👉 Freeze Link: https://www.corelogic.com/privacy-center/ ⸻ 🧊 4. Innovis The “4th credit bureau” — most people don’t know about it. ✅ It shares info with lenders and collectors. 👉 Freeze Link: https://www.innovis.com/personal/securityFreeze ⸻ 📌 What Freezing Does: ❌ Stops debt collectors from pulling your data ❌ Makes it harder for bureaus to auto-verify bad info ✅ Increases the chance of successful disputes

Welcome to the DIY Credit Repair in 5 Days mini-course! This is a free step-by-step system you can follow to take real action and start cleaning up your credit — without being overwhelmed. Each day, you’ll have a quick mission to complete that moves the needle forward. Let’s GO. 🧠🔥 📅 DAY 1: Pull + Review Your Reports ✅ Visit 👉 https://www.annualcreditreport.com 📌 Download your reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion Look for: - Accounts you don’t recognize - Late payments - Collections - Charge-offs - Inaccurate personal info 💬 Drop a comment when done: “Day 1 complete ✅” 📅 DAY 2: Clean Up Personal Information 🧹 This step increases dispute success later. ✅ Use the Personal Info Correction Letter (from earlier post or request again) Remove: - Wrong addresses - Employers you never worked for - Misspelled names - Duplicate records 📬 Send it to all 3 bureaus. 📅 DAY 3: Identify Dispute Opportunities 🕵️ Highlight 2–3 negative items that are: - Inaccurate - Not yours - Outdated - Duplicate - Missing info Don’t dispute everything at once! ✅ Use the General Dispute Letter (from Post #7) Mail certified with ID + proof of address 📅 DAY 4: Freeze Secondary Bureaus (Advanced) 🧊 Freeze: - LexisNexis - SageStream - CoreLogic - Innovis This blocks third-party verification and gives YOU more control. ✅ comment “need freeze links.” 📅 DAY 5: Start a Credit Rebuild Plan Now that you’re cleaning things up, it’s time to rebuild: Options: - Become an Authorized User (Post #5) - Use credit builder loans (Self, Chime, CreditStrong) - Apply for a secured card (OpenSky, Discover, Capital One) - Keep balances under 10% + set up autopay 💡 Use the Credit Score Tracker to log progress

How to Remove a CHARGE-OFF Step-by-Step (Yes, It’s Possible) Charge-offs are one of the worst negative items you can have. But with the right strategy, they can be disputed, removed, or negotiated off your report. Let me break it down for you 👇 ⚠️ What is a Charge-Off? When a creditor gives up trying to collect and marks the account as a loss. BUT — you still legally owe the money unless they forgive it. It damages: - Payment history - Amount owed - Overall score 🔄 STEP-BY-STEP STRATEGY ✅ STEP 1: Pull All 3 Reports Look for: - Date of charge-off - Balance listed - Last payment date - Whether it’s been sold to collections If it’s older than 7 years — it must be REMOVED by law. ✉️ STEP 2: Dispute the Charge-Off Check for: - Incorrect balance - Wrong dates - Duplicate reporting - No original agreement Use this Dispute Reason: “This account is inaccurately reporting. The balance and date of last activity do not match my records. Please verify and correct or remove.” ✅ Mail to all 3 bureaus with ID + proof of address. 🧾 STEP 3: Negotiate a Pay-for-Delete If it’s valid, try to settle: - Ask for a Pay-for-Delete in writing - Offer 30–50% of balance if possible - Get it removed from the bureaus once paid Use the Pay-for-Delete letter from Post #10 📬 STEP 4: Follow-Up or Escalate If they verify but don’t provide real documentation, escalate: - Send a Method of Verification request - File a complaint with the CFPB or your state AG’s office

Has this happened to you? You file a legit dispute with the credit bureau — and within days, they come back saying: “We’ve verified this information is accurate.” …but they don’t show how they verified it. 😒 That’s where the Method of Verification (MOV) Letter comes in. You have a right under the FCRA Section 611 (15 U.S.C. § 1681i) to demand how they investigated and verified your dispute. 💼 What This Letter Does: ✅ Forces credit bureaus to show: - Who they contacted - What documents they received - How they verified the info ✅ If they fail to provide it within 15 days, you may be able to demand deletion or escalate to the CFPB. ✉️ COPY + PASTE METHOD OF VERIFICATION LETTER: [Your Full Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP Code] [Date] [Credit Bureau Name] [Address – Experian / Equifax / TransUnion] Subject: Request for Method of Verification – FCRA § 611 To Whom It May Concern: I recently disputed the following account on my credit report: Creditor Name: [Insert Creditor Name] Account Number: [Insert Account Number] Dispute Date: [Insert Date of Original Dispute] I received a response from your office stating that the account was “verified as accurate.” However, I was not provided with any information on how this verification was conducted. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Section 611, I am requesting a detailed **Method of Verification**, including: 1. The name and contact information of the party you contacted to verify the information 2. The method used to verify the account 3. Copies of any documents or records that were used to support the verification Please respond within 15 days as required by law. If you are unable to provide this information, I request that the account be deleted from my credit report. Sincerely, [Your Full Name] [Last 4 of SSN] [Phone Number] What to Do Next: • Mail via certified mail with return receipt • Wait for their response • If they don’t respond or refuse to disclose info → escalate to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB.gov)

If you’ve had a late payment on an account that’s now paid off or closed, there’s a powerful strategy you can use: It’s called a Goodwill Adjustment Request. ❤️📉 This is where you ask the lender to remove the late payment out of goodwill — especially if: You’ve been a good customer overall The late payment was a one-time issue The account is paid off or in good standing now ✉️ COPY + PASTE THIS TEMPLATE: [Your Full Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP Code] [Email Address] [Date] [Creditor’s Name] [Creditor’s Address] Subject: Request for Goodwill Adjustment – Account #[Your Account Number] To Whom It May Concern: I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to request a goodwill adjustment regarding a late payment that occurred on my account #[Insert Account Number] in [Insert Month/Year]. At the time, I [briefly explain reason – e.g., experienced a temporary financial hardship, lost my job, moved, etc.], but I have since taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again. I have been a loyal customer and have consistently made timely payments outside of this isolated incident. I kindly ask that you consider removing the late payment from my credit report as a gesture of goodwill. I appreciate your time and consideration, and I hope to continue maintaining a positive relationship with your company. Sincerely, [Your Full Name] [Last 4 of SSN] [Phone Number] ✅ Tips for Success: Only send this for accounts in good standing or paid off Use polite language — no demands or legal threats Send via email and mail (with proof of delivery) Follow up in 2 weeks if no response