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I need to rent an apartment a.s.a.p.,I have bad credit,& I have contacted credit repair agencies.?

First of all,does credit repair work?(If only long enough for me to get a place,that's o.k.) And will it help me get an apartment by Oct.I don't have the time or patience to do the credit repair myself w/ the companies.I have an appointment w/ a company on friday & am afraid to get scammed.What are the red flags that the credit repair company is a scam? Can someone in another state co-sign an apartment for me?

Public Comments

  1. I have not heard of those companies before and I doubt they can fix your credit in one month. I suggest you get someone to co-sign your lease for you.
  2. Unfortunately, I can't help you with your credit question - but I have a suggestion to help with getting the apartment... Assuming you can make regular rent payments, you can usually secure an GUARANTOR (also called a Surety) - someone who will co-sign the rental agreement with you. The following two notes are taken from the links below: "A surety is a person who agrees to be responsible for the debt or obligation of another. " "The act of co-signing involves a promise to pay another person's debt arising out of contract if that person fails to do so. Many realtors and landlords require a cosigner for college students, people with bad credit or people whose income is less than a certain, low multiple of the amount of rent" So if you know someone who has good credit - and you can trust (family is the best bet) - then THIS should help you secure your rental agreement :):):)
  3. Please listen you can do it your self...It take time no matter how you go about it. If you MUST go with a credit repair company if they ask you for money down "RED FLAG" I had super bad credit and had a very hard time getting a apartment until I found a apartment that the owner him self was renting not a management company. I simply explained to him why my credit was low..I showed him my check stubs..He did not care I did not make 3 times the amount of rent he only wanted to see if I could pay the rent and the lights and gas to the apartment.I only at the time was making $1250.00 every two weeks and the rent was $ 1,400.00 a month.He let me rent I have been there 5 years 2 rent raises later and never a day late on the rent. With in those 5 years I repaired my own credit 711 now
  4. DEBT MANAGEMENT programs are good for getting creditors off your back. But, overall, your credit will NOT improve over a short amount of time. The only way you will be able to resolve your credit issues is with time... If you've got a job, with a good job history (time that you've worked there, showing up for scheduled shifts, etc.) you could try to get a loan from a bank, consolidating your debt and getting you a monthly amount you can afford (Certain banks WILL work with you to resolve your credit issues). However, it's still going to show on your credit report that you've had recent outstanding debt. As far as CREDIT REPAIR COMPANIES- they ARE a scam (If they weren't, everyone would have perfect credit. Just remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!) The best way to get an apartment is to show good rental history over the past year- and if all else fails, you may be able to use a co-signer on your lease. Like I said, in this case, you're going to have to be patient. Hope this helps. Good luck!
  5. I cleaned my own credit. So I can help you. I did seek out a credit counseling agency but after a while I could not afford them either. So I let it go. You have to get the collection company to "validate" your debt. Under the FDCPA, you are allowed to validate this debt, and the creditor (in this case, the collection agency) must show you proof that you owe the debt to the collection agency (not to the original creditor.) The specific section of the FDCPA: FDCPA Section 809. Validation of debts [15 USC 1692g] (b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector. What that means is they have to prove you owe THEM the money. Since they buy the debt from the Original Creditor - they don't validate it. And if in 30 days they don't validate it. (Ask that they send you the Original Contract you signed...they have to take it off your credit report. ) It works 40 to 50% of the time. The rest of your credit blemishes, you have to pay off, that looks better than just leaving it unpaid. But be sure the collection is noted as "Settled" on your credit report and get EVERYTHING IN WRITING. Here is a good place to start with those letters: http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebuild/debt_validation.shtml I know you can do it - -good luck.
  6. Only time can repair your credit. NO company can work that fast, and almost all of the credit repair companies are scams. Recommend that if your credit is that bad, that you take the money you would have paid the credit repair company (for nothing, I might add) and use it to increase your security deposit. It may not help, it may. Depends on the landlord. I would have accepted less then perfect credit with double the security, depending on other factors of course. (income, time at present job, etc...)
  7. ".I don't have the time or patience to do the credit repair myself w/ the companies." That is the same mentality that got you to the point of not being able to rent an Apt. on your own. Grow up and get responsible instead of wanting an INSTANT fix!
  8. Few will rent to someone with a history of unpaid bills, its too risky. Your best bet is to rent by the month, in cash. Most Leeses require a credit check, consider giving a larger security deposit plus first & last months rent in advance & hope they will accept. Show a couple of current payroll stubbs to show you have been employed for a least 6 months to a year locally. Finally, don't be late with any rent payments or your next apartment search will be a most unpleasant experience. Good credit history takes time to build & this is a way to start working on it. Good Luck.
  9. I have been to "many" different credit repair sites on the web. Some were pretty good and some were pretty bad. I refuse to use a website<!--that requires a fee to get their credit repair info when there is great free sites on the web.. I'm listing the best site that I've ever been to. http://badcredits.awardspace.com/repaircredit.htm It is a "free" do it yourself credit repair site. I have learned so much by reading and asking questions on that site. And, I have seen "significant" improvement on my credit reports after learning-->my rights and using them.Don't pay for information that you can find for free.
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