Table of Contents
Preface xi
Common Words, Acronyms, and Abbreviations xiii
Chapter 1 Who Is "The Debt Assassin"? 1
Chapter 2 DIY Credit Rehabilitation and Restoration 7
Chapter 3 How to Establish Credit 17
Chapter 4 Reestablishing Credit After Bankruptcy 23
Chapter 5 Increase Your Credit Score 37
Chapter 6 Removing Negative Information: Disputes Will Repair Your Credit Report 41
Chapter 7 What's a Credit Score and How Does It Differ from a Credit Report? 61
Chapter 8 How Long Does Bad Credit Stay on Your Record? Judgments, Bankruptcy, Delinquencies, and More 65
Chapter 9 Obtaining Reports and Scores 69
Chapter 10 Understanding Your Credit Report 73
Chapter 11 Common Questions Concerning Credit Reports 79
Chapter 12 Consumer Protection Laws 83
Chapter 13 Medical Bills-What You Know and When You Know It Makes All the Difference 87
Chapter 14 Bureaus That Track Prescription Drugs, Employment History, Insurance Claims, Gambling Habits, and More 93
Chapter 15 Authorized User 95
Chapter 16 The HOA Nightmare 97
Chapter 17 The Student Loan Horror Story 99
Chapter 18 Now You Can't Say, "If I Only Knew." 101
Chapter 19 How to Start a Lawsuit on Your Own: Filing a Complaint Then Serving the Summons 111
Chapter 20 Repossessions and Some Other Things to Consider 115
Chapter 21 Collection Agencies 125
Chapter 22 Different Types of Collection Agencies (CAs), Different Types of Settlements, How and When to Negotiate a Settlement 129
Appendix 131
More PROOF: What, How, and Why I Did It 131
Big Brother Is Watching-Three Credit Bureaus You Know, and Forty You Probably Never Heard Of 140
Cheat Sheet for Common FDCPA Violations 145
Instructions for Using the Letters 146
Dispute Letter to Be Sent to Credit Bureaus 149
Follow-Up Dispute Letter to the Credit Bureau 151
Incorrect Address Removal 152
Authorized User Removal 153
Public Record Removal Including but Not Limited to Judgments and Tax Liens 154
ChexSystems 155
Removal Foreclosure and Short Sale (First Letter) 156
Removal Foreclosure and Short Sale (Second Letter) 157
Fraudulent Account Removal with the Credit Bureau 158
Fraudulent Account Removal with the Original Creditor 159
Public Records Judgment / Tax Lien / Bankruptcy 160
Medical Billing Dispute to Be Sent to the Hospital and/or Doctor 161
Medical Billing Dispute to Be Sent to the Credit Bureau or Collection Agency 162
Original Creditor Billing Error 163
Too Old to Be Reported: They Must Remove This 164
Wrong Social Security Number or Commingling of Your Accounts with Another Person 165
Student Loan Removal Letter 166
Student Loan Removal Second Letter 167
Debt Validation Letter (Referred to as DVL) 168
