- 1). Make an appointment with a nonprofit credit counselor. Examples include counselors affiliated with Consumer Credit Counseling Service and similar agencies. Get a referral for a nonprofit counselor from your bank or credit union. A counselor can access your credit report with your permission and offer legal, ethical advice for repairing your credit. Counselors are trained in money and debt management and budgeting, and also know effective strategies for increasing credit scores. Some counseling agencies charge fees for some services, but initial and follow-up consultations may be free.
- 2). Enroll in free financial literacy classes offered by nonprofit counseling agencies and charitable organizations such as the United Way, the Salvation Army or the Urban League. Most financial literacy classes offer instruction on how to repair your credit. Find out about free classes in your area by contacting a local charitable organization. Or check with a loan officer at a local bank or credit union.
- 3). Attend free credit repair workshops offered in your area by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The workshops are typically designed for people preparing to buy a house, but the credit repair information can help anyone. Find a workshop in your area by calling the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Resource Center at 800-225-5342. The FHA is a division of HUD.
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