 TITLE: How to Repair Your Credit CONTENT: What Is Credit Repair?\n----------------------\nA quick Google search for \"credit repair\" may convince you there's a company out there that can help you repair your credit in no time. Despite what you may hear about credit repair companies that supposedly make negative information on your credit report magically disappear, they can't do anything you couldn't do for free yourself to clean up your credit file.\nIn addition, credit repair scams are rampant, targeting distressed consumers who are lured in by false promises and who often end up worse off than they were before.\nCredit repair companies charge consumers to review their credit reports and dispute negative information that appears there. Often, you'll pay several fees, such as an ongoing monthly fee or a fee each time information is removed from one of your credit reports.\nOver time, working with a credit repair company could wind up costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars for actions you can take on your own for free. And keep in mind, credit repair companies cannot remove accurate, legitimate information from your credit report. END