1. Trying to fix everything at once!! You want to work on as many disputes as possible, so that when you send them in you can see a BIG return around the same time. The more the disputes the better the results. Your credit improves faster when you focus and have order. 2. Ignoring balances while chasing deletions you want to focus on the balance and not so much on the negative things. Utilization matters every month so keep utilization under 30%. 3. Checking scores too often instead of reports!! Your report is more important than the number. 4. Closing old accounts too soon can shorten your credit history and raise your utilization. Credit history is just as important as your utilization. 5. Expecting immediate results!! Credit moves in cycles not in days. Understanding your credit cycles and knowing when things are due attached to your credit report. Reading your credit report and understanding what's on it. When you know what's on your credit report, you know what to work towards. Does checking your credit report affects your credit score? NO, it does not! You want to check your credit score regularly to make sure it is accurate.

“When reviewing credit reports, what are the most common accuracy issues you see with student loans, especially during deferment, forbearance, or in-school status?” “As beginners learning credit repair, what should we focus on first when checking student loan accounts for accuracy on a credit report?” “How do we determine whether a student loan issue is an accuracy error that can be disputed versus a legitimate negative item that needs a different strategy?” “What are the compliance best practices when disputing student loan inaccuracies so we’re educating clients correctly and staying within the law?” “What indicators on a credit report suggest a student loan may be inaccurately reported, and how do you teach students to spot those red flags early?”

Why we don’t start by removing the oldest credit first Even though it sounds logical, removing old accounts can actually hurt your credit instead of helping it. Here’s why 👇🏽 1. Length of Credit History matters Your score looks at how long you’ve been using credit. Older accounts = longer history Longer history = better score 👉🏽 Removing old accounts can shorten your credit age, which can drop your score. 2. Old accounts often help utilization Credit utilization = how much credit you’re using vs. how much you have. Old accounts usually have higher limits Higher limits help keep utilization low 👉🏽 Removing them can increase utilization, hurting your score. 3. Age ≠ negative Just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s bad. Old positive accounts are gold Old negative items may fall off on their own (usually 7–7.5 years) So what SHOULD we start with first? ✅ This is the smart order ⬇️ 1️⃣ Errors & Inaccurate Information Start with anything that is: Wrong balance Wrong dates Duplicate accounts Not yours (identity theft) Incorrect late payments 👉🏽 These are easiest to remove and legally disputable. 2️⃣ Collections & Charge-Offs Especially: Medical collections Small balances Paid collections still reporting incorrectly 👉🏽 These hurt scores the most. 3️⃣ High Credit Utilization Focus on: Cards over 30% usage Maxed-out cards 👉🏽 Paying these down can boost scores fast. 4️⃣ Recent Late Payments Late payments in the last 24 months matter more than older ones. Goodwill letters work best here. 5️⃣ Build Positive Credit While cleaning: Secured cards Credit builder loans Authorized user accounts (done correctly) 👉🏽 Credit repair is clean + build, not just remove. Simple way to remember it 🧠 Don’t delete your history — correct it. Fix what’s wrong, not what’s old. If

Yes — here are a few important credit basics that go hand-in-hand with the 5 C’s, kept simple and straight to the point 👇🏽✨ 💡 Other Credit Things You Need to Know 1. Credit is a marathon, not a sprint 2. Payment history & utilization matter most 3. Collections don’t disappear when paid 4. Not all scores are the same 5. Disputes must be accurate 6. Hard vs. soft inquiries 7. Old accounts are gold 8. Credit doesn’t equal wealth ✨ Golden Rule of Credit: Pay on time. Keep balances low. Don’t rush the process.

💳 The 5 C’s of Credit (Simply Explained) 1. Character – Do you pay your bills on time? 2. Capacity – Can you afford to repay the loan? 3. Capital – How much money do you have saved or invested? 4. Collateral – What can you offer if you don’t pay (car, house, etc.)? 5. Conditions – Why do you need the loan and what’s going on financially? Easy way to remember:👉 Trust, Income, Money, Backup, Reason The 5 C’s of Credit are used by lenders to decide whether to approve you for credit and on what terms. Here’s a clear, easy-to-remember breakdown 👇🏽✨ 💳 The 5 C’s of Credit 1️⃣ Character - Your trustworthiness as a borrower - Based on: Payment history Credit report behavior Public records (collections, bankruptcies, etc.) - Lenders ask: Do you pay your bills on time? 2️⃣ Capacity - Your ability to repay the debt - Based on: Income Employment stability Debt-to-Income ratio (DTI) - Lenders ask: Can you afford this loan? 3️⃣ Capital - Your financial stake in the deal - Includes: Savings Down payment Assets - Lenders ask: How much of your own money are you putting in? 4️⃣ Collateral - Assets used to secure the loan - Examples: Car (auto loan) Home (mortgage) - Reduces lender risk if you default 5️⃣ Conditions - The purpose of the loan and external factors - Includes: Loan type Economic conditions Interest rates - Lenders ask: Why do you need the loan, and is now a good time? 💡 Simple Way to Remember: Character = TrustCapacity = IncomeCapital = Skin in the gameCollateral = BackupConditions = The “why & when” If you want, I can: - Turn this into a credit class slide - Make it a social media post - Create a client-friendly flyer - Simplify it for beginners