INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1
HOW THE CREDIT REPORTING SYSTEM "WORKS"

• Benefits?!? Of Consumer Credit Reporting?
• Out Of The Loop
• Rampant Myths About Credit Reporting
• Big changes In 1998: New Laws And New Players
• More New Law: "Credit Repair Scams-Say 'Good Bye' To This FTC Whipping Post"
• The Truth About File Segregation

CHAPTER 2
GETTING A COPY OF YOUR REPORTS

• What's In Your Credit File
• Method 1
• Method 2
• "NEW" Methods
• Contacting The Big Three

CHAPTER 3
ANALYZING YOUR REPORTS

• Red Flags
• Statutes of Limitation
• Mental Preparation
• Organization and Planning
• Common Mistakes That Can Derail Your Efforts (Read this before doing a thing!)

CHAPTER 4
TIER ONE DEFENSE - A SMART START

• Legal Brief
• Grounds For Reinvestigation
• Saved By The Bill
• Steps To Initiating A Reinvestigation
• Possible Outcomes
• If You're Not Satisfied With The Results
• The Subject of Inquiries

CHAPTER 5
TIER TWO DEFENSE - NEGOTIATING WITH CREDITORS

• Vital Assessment Of Your Position
• Effective Strategy
• A Typical Negotiation Using "Incremental Notification"
• Insider Methods To Change Or Delete A Credit Item From Your History
• If Negotiations Stall--Breaking The Stalemate
• Don't Forget State Statutes of Limitations

CHAPTER 6
TIER THREE DEFENSE - PLAYING HARDBALL WITH AGGRESIVE LEGAL TACTICS

• Know Your Rights
• Battling The Credit Bureau

CHAPTER 7
TIER FOUR - IF ALL ELSE FAILS

• Adding Your Side Of The Story
• Considerations That Deserve A Second Thought

CHAPTER 8
STUDENT LOAN SOLUTIONS

• Student Loans
• GSLs -vs- Other Consumer Debt
• Preventing Default
• Fixing Your Student Loan: Reinstatement & Rehabilitation
• Actual Stories

CHAPTER 9
DIVORCE AND CREDIT

• Beware "Good" Advice That Can Kill You
• Preparing For The Divorce
• After the Fact - Damage Control

CHAPTER 10
OTHER SPECIAL SITUATIONS

• Bankruptcy
• Judgments
• Negative Paid Accounts
• Old Delinquent Accounts (EXTREMELY important)
• Credit Fraud

CHAPTER 11
REESTBLISHING YOUR CREDIT

• The Other Side Of The Coin

CHAPTER 12
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE LAW

• Shifting Sands

APPENDIX SECTION

• Appendix A: 4-tier defense flow chart
• Appendix B: Letter requesting credit report (For Payment)
• Appendix C: Letter requesting credit report (Credit, Insurance or Employment Denied)
• Appendix D: Letter to bureau deleting an unauthorized inquiry
• Appendix E: Letter to creditor deleting an unauthorized inquiry
• Appendix F: Letter requesting reinvestigation
• Appendix G: Follow-up letter regarding reinvestigation
• Appendix H: Letter to remove old item from your file
• Appendix I: Letter to creditor closing account due to divorce
• Appendix J: Letter to creditor to remove damaging information from former spouse
• Appendix K: Letter requesting form to file a complaint with FTC
• Appendix L: Sample letter adding a consumer statement
• Appendix M: Sample letter to settle account with creditor
• Appendix N: Sample letter requesting moratorium and reduced payments
• Appendix O: Sample letter requesting reduced payments
• Appendix P: Judge's Ruling against TRW
• Appendix Q: Judge's Ruling against Trans Union
• Appendix R: FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT OF 1996
• Appendix S: THE TRUTH IN LENDING ACT
• Appendix T: FAIR CREDIT BILLING ACT