There are several steps involved in correcting credit errors.

1). Order your credit file from each of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion), not through a reseller. If you order your credit file from a reseller, you will not be able to initiate a dispute. It is important that you request your credit file from each bureau as they do not share information and your account information will likely differ from bureau to bureau. Make sure you go directly to their respective websites (Experian.com, Equifax.com, Transunion.com)

2) Check all of the accounts listed for accuracy and errors. Are all the accounts yours? Have any accounts been closed that are still being reported open? What about balancesare they correct? What about the payment history? Do you have any paid collections that still show an owed balance? These are all things that can be disputed easily.

3) After you have highlighted everything that needs to be corrected on EACH credit report, you can begin the dispute process. You can start this process online, at their respective websites. Normally you will find a dispute information link somewhere within your account, while you are viewing your report. Disputed information that can't be verified MUST be removed, by law, within 30 days.

4) Accurate information, even if it is negative information, cant be removed if it is verified as such. However some people utilize a loop hole that allows some negative information to be removed: If the creditor simply fails to respond to the dispute within the time allotted, the account will be completely deleted from your credit file.

5) Finally, the best way to build and repair bad credit is to obtain credit! Use credit wisely, and try to stay below about 35% of your available balance. Using too much credit raises a red flag. But if you consistently have high available balances and pay what you owe on time, you will get a higher rating.

The credit monitoring and repair task is tedious. It takes a while to see incorrect information being removed. It takes even longer to see your credit scores start to rise. Dont expect amazing results overnight. Just remember that you can do for yourself what any company will do for you (and in probably less time since you only have to worry about younot hundreds of other clients). If you have plans for large purchases down the road, such as buy a house, or car, you need to act now. Make sure a lender will view you as credit worthy when the time comes.