​In this type of scam, a company requests an up-front fee for which the company promises to "repair" the customer's credit report. However, there is little, if anything, such a business can do to "repair" a customer's poor credit track record. And by law, anyone may request a copy of their own credit report for free once every 12 months, from each of the three national credit reporting agencies. Further, if someone has actually been denied credit based on information in their credit report, they are entitled to a free copy of their personal credit report.

​Credit Repair Ads

​Be wary of advertisements that say "Erase Bad Credit! 100% Guaranteed!" Or "remove bankruptcy and liens from your credit file." There are no quick or easy cures for a poor credit history based on accurate information.  See Credit Report​ and Dealing with Debt Problems​ for more information.  To obtain a free credit report visit, AnnualCreditReport.com​.