MyCRA Specialist Credit Repair Lawyers

Tag: credit repairer

  • How Do Bad Credit Defaults Get Removed

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    How Do Bad Credit Defaults Get Removed…

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_6″ layout=”1_6″ last=”true” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” border_sizes_top=”0px” border_sizes_bottom=”0px” border_sizes_left=”0px” border_sizes_right=”0px” first=”false” spacing_left=”2%” min_height=”” type=”1_6″][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=”” type=”flex” border_sizes_top=”0px” border_sizes_bottom=”0px” border_sizes_left=”0px” border_sizes_right=”0px”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_6″ layout=”1_6″ last=”true” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” border_sizes_top=”0px” border_sizes_bottom=”0px” border_sizes_left=”0px” border_sizes_right=”0px” first=”true” spacing_right=”2%” min_height=”” type=”1_6″][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”2_3″ last=”true” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=”” border_sizes_top=”0px” border_sizes_bottom=”0px” border_sizes_left=”0px” border_sizes_right=”0px” first=”true” spacing_right=”2%” spacing_left=”2%” min_height=”” type=”1_1″][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]How do defaults get removed


    1.)  Firstly, [fusion_popover title=”Tell Us What Really Happened” title_bg_color=”” content=”Tell us what really happened – not what you think will help, or what you think we might want to hear. Why Is This Important?  The more information we have, the better your chances of MyCRA Lawyers legal team finding a reason to remove the bad credit listing.  Also, if you don’t tell us everything, we may formulate an approach based on the information you provide that could turn out to be a waste of your time and your money.  This may also limit your chances at a second approach or attempt.” content_bg_color=”” bordercolor=”” textcolor=”” trigger=”hover” placement=”Right” class=”” id=””]we ask you what really happened[/fusion_popover] so we understand your specific situation.

    2.)  We then confirm the listings on your [fusion_popover title=”Credit Files” title_bg_color=”” content=”There Are Four Main Credit Reporting Bodies In Australia:  Veda Advantage (Veda), Dun & Bradstreet (DnB), Experian and Tasmanian Collection Service.  MyCRA Lawyers routinely removes defaults, Court Judgments and other bad credit listings from your Veda and DnB credit reports.  MyCRA Lawyers can help you get a copy of both your Veda and your DnB credit files while you’re on the phone with us.” content_bg_color=”” bordercolor=”” textcolor=”” trigger=”hover” placement=”Right” class=”” id=”credit-files”]Credit Files[/fusion_popover] to further assess your specific situation.

    3.)  You are then advised the most appropriate course of action, [fusion_popover title=”Not All Defaults Need To Be Investigated” title_bg_color=”” content=”Once we have had a look at your full credit file, we can advise you on the best options available to you.  This may include an alternative action that you can do yourself at no charge, or sometimes to do nothing at all.  Doing nothing may be the best option if for example, the default listing has almost run it’s course and is about to be automatically deleted by the credit reporting body due to the passage of time.” content_bg_color=”” bordercolor=”” textcolor=”” trigger=”hover” placement=”Right” class=”” id=””]including which defaults Do NOT need to be investigated[/fusion_popover].

    4.)  Then we request from your creditor(s), a list of [fusion_popover title=”Specific Documents” title_bg_color=”” content=”The specific documents requested are those that relate to notices sent to you, information on your file, when specific actions were taken, histories of the account, histories of the payment and missed payments etc.  Your creditor is required to have copies of these documents.” content_bg_color=”” bordercolor=”” textcolor=”” trigger=”hover” placement=”Right” class=”” id=””]specific documents[/fusion_popover] and information about your file and history with them.

    5.)  We then review the information provided by both you and your creditor, and compare that with up to approximately 8000 pages of legislation, looking for [fusion_popover title=”Legislative Breaches” title_bg_color=”” content=”Legislative or Compliance Breaches may deem the credit file listing unlawful and require it’s immediate removal.” content_bg_color=”” bordercolor=”” textcolor=”” trigger=”hover” placement=”Right” class=”” id=””]legislative and/or compliance breaches[/fusion_popover].

    6.)  We then uncover those legislative or compliance breaches and advise your creditor that the default listing has been placed unlawfully and needs to be removed immediately. [fusion_popover title=”Australia’s Only Audited Success Rate” title_bg_color=”” content=”We know you’ve probably heard all the horror stories about the dodgy ‘credit repair companies’ ripping people off and making unsubstantiated claims, so we decided to have the same Auditor that does our annual Law Firm Trust Account Audits (As required by The Queensland Law Society) take a look at, and formally Audit or Successful Removal Resolution Results.  The Auditor came back with the Audit Certificate confirming MyCRA Lawyers is successful in achieving a removal resolution in 91.6% of matters fully investigated.  (The certificate is available on our website if you’d like even more assurance that MyCRA Lawyers is the only safe choice in investigating the validity of listings on your credit rating.)” content_bg_color=”” bordercolor=”” textcolor=”” trigger=”hover” placement=”Right” class=”” id=””]This happens in 91.6% of cases.[/fusion_popover].

    7.)  You are then advised of the successful default removal resolution.  29.6% of the successful removal resolutions are achieved in seven days or less.

    8.)  Once your creditor has acknowledged the removal request, the default is normally permanently removed from your credit file(s) in just 10 business days.

    You can then go on to apply for your home loan or finance and move in to your very own family home.

    To get started, Pick up your phone now and call MyCRA Lawyers now on 1300-667-218 for a 100% confidential, no obligation free chat.

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    If you’d like more information
    or just want to chat about your situation, please call 1300-667-218 and speak confidentially with one of our friendly, helpful team.  There is no cost and no obligation.

    [/fusion_text][fusion_button link=”” color=”default” size=”medium” stretch=”” type=”3d” target=”_self” title=”Arrange a call back” button_gradient_top_color=”” button_gradient_bottom_color=”” button_gradient_top_color_hover=”” button_gradient_bottom_color_hover=”” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”” icon=”fa-phone-square” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” modal=”call_back” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”1″ animation_offset=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=”” border_radius=”25″]No Time Now? – Click To Arrange A Call Back[/fusion_button][fusion_modal name=”call_back” title=”We Can Call You Back” size=”large” background=”#ffffff” border_color=”#c4c4c4″ show_footer=”no” class=”” id=””][contact-form-7 id=”6642″ title=”Online Enquiry”][/fusion_modal][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • One Week MyCRA Lawyers Mega Sale – 3rd to 11th September 2015 ONLY

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    Are You One Of The Up To ¹91.7% Of People We Can Help To Erase Your Bad Credit Rating So You Can Get Lower Interest Rates And Better Finance Offers – Keep Reading To Find Out How You Qualify…

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none” last=”no” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all”][fusion_text]

    For the first time ever, you can now get your credit rating repaired from the mega low price of just
    ²$EXPIRED all up – Fixed Fee ³No More To Pay!

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ layout=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=”” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ align=”right” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”right” animation_speed=”0.1″ hide_on_mobile=”no”] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ layout=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=”” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text]

    • And you get it done by a Law Firm specialising in Credit reporting Legislation.
    • ³And you get your credit rating cleaned in as little as 18 minutes.
    • And because you have chosen this incredible ²$EXPIRED FIXED FEE – If the process takes a little longer – you pay nothing more.

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=”” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text]If you know you have a bad credit rating, and you know you want the embarrassment over so you can move on with your life, then you know now is the right time to choose MyCRA Lawyers to fix your credit rating now so you can apply for your finance now.

    [/fusion_text][fusion_text]

    .

    Call Now To Ask If You Qualify

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    Pick up the phone right now and call MyCRA Expert Credit Repair Lawyers on 1300-667-218 before time runs out!

    This Strictly Limited Offer ENDS 5pm QLD time on Friday the 11th of September 2015

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    Pick up the phone right now and call MyCRA Expert Credit Repair Lawyers on 1300-667-218 before time runs out!

    This Strictly Limited Offer ENDS 5pm QLD time on Friday the 11th of September 2015

    [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=”” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text]

    Call Now To Ask If You Qualify

    [/fusion_text][fusion_text]

    ²$EXPIRED per listing that qualifies  – call MyCRA Lawyers on 1300-667-218 to discover if you qualify.
    ¹Up to 91.7% success is based on consumer default listings and past results are no indication of future performance.
    ³Conditions Apply – call for details – Not available on all products or on all default types or creditors -must stay within the scope for that particular default as included with our client agreement – can not be combined with any other offer without prior written consent.

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  • Correcting your credit report

    correcting credit reportsSignificant changes to Australian credit reporting have been implemented with amendments to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). There is new information available to some Credit Providers on Australian credit reports, and with this has also come an increased obligation for all Credit Providers to provide accurate, up-to-date and fair information on credit reports. There have been changes in the area of correction of credit reports which will make it easier for some Australians to correct inconsistencies. We look at the extensive information out there for consumers about the amended laws, and explain where your rights are enhanced, and where there still may be limitations to correcting some credit reports.

    By Graham Doessel, Non-Legal Director of MyCRA Lawyers www.mycralawyers.com.au.

    There are some changes with the new Privacy Laws which will make it easier for consumers to correct their credit report.

    Four significant changes include:

    1. The requirement of the Credit Provider to provide an individual with written notice if it refuses to correct the personal information as requested by the individual. The written notice must set out:

    • the reason for refusal (unless this would be unreasonable);

    • the mechanisms available to complain about the refusal; and

    • any other matter prescribed by regulation.

    2. The requirement of timeliness in answering a request to correct a credit report, so that a credit provider must respond to a request for correction within a reasonable period.

    3. The right of the consumer to request that if an organisation refuses to make a correction, and an individual requests that a statement be attached to the record stating that the information is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading, the organisation generally needs to attach this statement in a way that will make the statement apparent to users of the information.

    4. The requirement for any Credit Provider or Credit Reporting Bureau to correct a credit report, regardless of whether they are the entity which holds or is responsible for the information on your credit report.

    To read more on our Privacy Laws, you may wish to see our recent post on Repayment History

    Should I use a credit repairer?

    You should be careful of ‘cheap and nasty’ credit repairers who promise to correct your credit report for a small fee, and who are not skilled paid advocates.

    It’s important to know, that your Credit Provider will only make corrections in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). The information on your credit report must be inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete or irrelevant or misleading to be removed from your credit report.

    A skilled paid credit reporting advocate would offer much more to the individual than what they could do for themselves. But to get the best result, the company must spend the time to do it right. Often there is only one chance at getting that credit listing removed.

    There are reports of people paying $1,000 for credit repair and being sent a ‘do it yourself’ kit. Spending hours on their own case when they thought they’d employed someone skilled in advocating for them. You can access information on how to address credit inconsistencies yourself, and each credit provider should also have a readily accessible correction policy on their website.

    There are also reports of companies charging thousands of dollars who are not skilled paid advocates. These companies are doing nothing but referring the client’s case to the relevant industry Ombudsman. This is also something you can do yourself for free.

    So if you can’t afford to employ a skilled credit reporting advocate, don’t go for ‘cheap and nasty’ credit repair. You should look at what you can do for yourself for free.

    Why might I need or want a skilled paid advocate?

    In our experience, there have been some limitations to consumers correcting their own credit report within the credit reporting system.

    Here are a handful of reasons why you may find it necessary to employ an advocate to help correct your credit report:

    • You may not have the time or patience to dispute your own case (on average we would devote about 28 working hours to each case of dispute).

    • The case could be complicated and require someone more skilled.

    • You may require an advocate to investigate your case more extensively before making a claim for dispute.

    • Better knowledge of Privacy Law may be required in order to make the case clearly.

    • You may not wish to deal directly with the Credit Provider or Credit Reporting Bureau – particularly where you believe the credit listing has been placed unfairly or is misleading, or where there is an ongoing dispute involved.

    • Access to more avenues of investigation and dispute may be required than what an industry Ombudsman (as an impartial Body) can provide.

    • You may simply want to ensure the most chance of success at getting your credit listing removed (especially since in many cases there is only one chance at correction).

    • You may also feel you need or require a lawyer to advocate for you, especially if you are not eligible to use a credit legal centre. A lawyer can: Act in court processes including the removal of Judgment and Writ services, a non-lawyer cannot act in these proceedings; identify legal issues and give advice on these; prepare binding agreements, conduct formal negotiations and then follow through with enforcement where necessary; make formal recommendations to Credit Providers making reference to the law, and making representations on their client’s behalf.

    Unfortunately when clients have already used another company or have done some of the work themselves, it can also place limitations on their case.

    For instance, if you have already engaged the Ombudsman, it is virtually impossible for an advocate to then re-open your case with a different avenue of dispute or by including extra legislative proof to strengthen the case.

    Some inferior companies can also leave an imprint on your credit file after they have done the work. This can be detrimental especially if you intend to apply for finance.

    So what will be the future for credit reporting correction? Despite a set of better laws, we believe consumers will continue to need advocates focused on credit reporting law within the credit landscape, well into the future. Skilled paid advocates in the credit arena will be watching these new laws unfold, ready to put their hand up for consumers and test the new legislation for its effectiveness and fairness as it should be tested.

    MyCRA Lawyers is a firm focused on credit file consultancy and credit disputes. MyCRA Lawyers mean business when it comes to helping those disadvantaged by credit rating mistakes.

    Image: digitalart/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

  • New credit laws: journo tells it like it really is

    black mark credit reporting rulesAs consumer advocates interested in accurate credit reporting, rarely would we consider the press to have a great grasp of credit reporting and the issues consumers face, and even less so with the wider coverage of comprehensive credit reporting that has occurred to date. It’s not their fault really – but their views and ideas about fairness, and which are frequently conveyed to the general public are often shaped by players who have had a vested interest in this legislation. Sometimes what we read is not the whole picture of what’s really going on. That’s why it was refreshing to recently read columnist Jenna Price’s piece for the Canberra Times, titled Big black mark for new credit reporting rules. I have included it in this post in its entirety.

    By Graham Doessel, Non-Legal Director of MyCRA Lawyers www.mycralawyers.com.au.

    Big black mark for new credit reporting rules.

    By Jenna Price. Canberra Times.

    Hey. Your last credit card bill. Do you remember when you paid it? Did you check the date it was due? Or did you just pay it when you had the spare cash?

    And the one before that, say, the one that was due in December when you were busy spending and not paying bills?

    Okay, final question. What about the credit card bill you received in January last year. You know you were busy trying to reshuffle your finances after the mayhem of Christmas and New Year – but did you pay that bill on time?

    I only ask because from next month any time you are five days late on a bill from a licensed credit provider, that late payment will go as a little mark into your credit history file. A little black mark.

    Every. Single. Time.

    This new legislation sits in the Privacy Act (loosely named, really, since we don’t have any). From March there will be extensive changes to the credit reporting rules in that act and there will also be an accompanying code of practice, drawn up by the Australian Retail Credit Association.

    The association drafted the code but it will not be responsible for it. That’s the job of the regulator, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Of course, both bodies called for submissions and consultations. And, of course, they ignored the majority of the input of consumer advocates with decades of experience.

    Credit card payments. Mortgage payments. Car loans. Personal loans. If you have a loan from a bank or mutual bank – or any other providers licensed to give you money – and you are just five days late, it will go straight to your repayment history. That history will be available for any lender to check out if you ever need money again.

    These dramatic changes are taking place and no one is telling us about them. There are no advertising campaigns. There is no education process. Just a daggy little website called Credit Smart run by ARCA, the peak body for those same lenders that will be running surveillance on your records. The animations. The script. Cringeworthy.

    When did ARCA launch the website? The press release says late January.

    What’s worse is that the scheme is retrospective. So it’s not as if you can decide to be meticulous from this very moment. Nope. From December 2012, if you were late it can be uploaded to your file.

    Nor do the banks or mutuals have to make a song and dance about it. Nope. They can just send you one of those bland terms and conditions emails or letters and you will not even recognise that you are about to be watched with an auditor’s eye.

    The way it’s been promoted by some is that this will mean those of us who pay on time will be able to get discounts.

    But Kat Lane, the experienced consumer credit advocate at the Consumer Credit Legal Centre NSW, said that overseas experience reveals punctual payers may not get benefits. Instead, the information will be used to target those who pay late. You can imagine, can’t you? There are lenders who will go after vulnerable consumers and charge them accordingly.

    Lane said consumers would certainly be able to use external dispute resolution if they want to challenge what is held on their files – but that may take months. The Financial Services Ombudsman is already a very busy agency.

    The fact is, this is all about the convenience and protection of lenders and not about the safety and security of consumers.

    Last year, the Australian Retail Credit Association conducted a survey on what Australians thought about credit reporting. Not much – in fact 60 per cent of us had no idea what that term meant. And those of us who did know something, thought of credit reporting as negative.

    Damian Paull is CEO of ARCA, which is charged with educating people on these changes. I asked him if he’d ever paid a bill late.

    He said: “I’m far more conscious now of tracking when my bills are due … my behaviour has changed and my consciousness has changed since I’ve become more aware.”

    Which is lucky for him, with plenty of notice and a wealth of understanding from years in the industry.

    The rest of us aren’t so lucky. And it won’t be long before utilities bills join home loans and credit card payments. I fear it will be telco bills. Telcos argued hard for repayment history.

    And I predict our – so far – safe and successful lending system will be riddled with the damage done to people persecuted by lenders with no hearts and no discernment, just their little black credit records.

    Bravo Ms Price, finally someone has seen these changes for what they really are…the certainty of MORE NEGATIVE for consumers, with a very vague promise of positives. And like Ms Price I agree that there has not been enough done to educate consumers about these changes before they were implemented. I too imagine a day when telcos and energy companies are able to report repayment history information and cringe at the ramifications this could bring to consumers.

    While the new Privacy amendments as a whole have some merits for consumers, I would consider it is not the fool-proof system that consumers are being led to believe – particularly in their application.

    Being involved in many credit dispute cases on behalf of consumers in the past has meant we have seen first-hand what consumers should be worried about within the framework of credit reporting.

    Credit providers make mistakes, and in other cases they try to ‘get away’ with not doing what they should be doing to protect consumer rights. This can affect thousands of consumers.

    And as mentioned by Kat Lane in the above article, it can take months to challenge a listing via an EDR scheme like an Ombudsman Service. In some cases in the past we have also found that Ombudsmen haven’t investigated cases fully for the consumer – due to points of law being out of their scope of investigation. We have found this can be detrimental to successful dispute resolution.

    In the area of correction, consumers are being told if they have a problem with a credit listing, they can fix it themselves. This is across the board on many websites – including the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and ARCA. Consumers have been urged to “watch out for” credit repair companies, and told if there are errors on their credit file, they don’t have to pay anyone to fix them.

    In my opinion it is dangerous to tell consumers with little to no knowledge of Privacy legislation that the only way to dispute their credit listing is through the internal systems. Certainly, we would not deter anyone from fixing their own credit listing if they chose to do so – indeed, it would be preferable for them to try it themselves rather than engage with a ‘dodgy’ company performing credit repair.

    On the other hand, consumers should not be entirely discouraged from seeking advice on their own behalf in a dispute matter which results in them engaging with a reputable credit repairer or a good lawyer well-versed in credit law. We liken it in some ways to doing your tax returns. You can do your own – certainly yes. But you can also pay your accountant to complete it for you. Both are valid options. The difference is – the ATO is not telling consumers they can’t use an accountant to complete their tax return.

    Image: stockimages/www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

  • Is your preferred credit repairer a lawyer? If not, here’s why they should be.

    credit lawMyCRA Lawyers has been established. Here at MyCRA Lawyers we feel so passionately that this change is the BEST WAY FORWARD for credit repair. Why? Because individuals need strong advocates when disputing their credit reporting issues, but those advocates need to be held accountable. In the absence of any formal regulation of the credit repair industry, the Director of MyCRA has made the significant decision to incorporate a Law firm operating under the overarching framework of an Incorporated Legal Practice, under the Legal Profession Act 2007. The fact is, credit repair is really necessary –but it is not formally regulated or recognised – and sometimes that can hinder the dispute process. In this post, I outline why one of the pioneer companies in credit repair have taken the industry knowledge and experience and “raised the bar” – and created MyCRA Lawyers, and the benefits for you.

    By Graham Doessel, Non-Legal Director of MyCRA Lawyers.

    There are so many reports of shonks and cowboys operating in credit repair. The stories out there in the press can horrify, and ultimately they can hurt the industry.  But what those criticisms shouldn’t be doing is overshadowing the importance of consumer advocates as players in credit reporting. And make no mistake, consumers need advocates in the credit reporting process as the system currently stands, and in my opinion even more so coming into comprehensive credit reporting with further changes in March next year.

    The benefits of your credit repairer being a lawyer

    I discuss the added benefits a lawyer can bring to credit repair as guest blogger for The Adviser magazine – a publication for mortgage and finance brokers. You can read the full post, titled ‘Why your preferred credit repairer needs to be a lawyer’ on The Adviser website.

    Below is an excerpt from this post:

    Apart from offering a framework for regulation, it also offers significant benefits for credit repair:

    •    A lawyer can act in court processes including the removal of Judgment and Writ services, a non-lawyer cannot act in these proceedings;
    •    A lawyer can identify legal issues and give your client advice on these;
    •    A lawyer can prepare binding agreements, conduct formal negotiations and then follow through with enforcement where necessary;
    •    A lawyer can make formal recommendations to Credit Providers making reference to the law, and making representations on the client’s behalf.

    Those credit repairers currently performing the above tasks without a practising certificate may be treading dangerous ground.

    •    A submission from a lawyer to a Credit Provider will be taken seriously. If requests are ignored real consequences can be deployed.

    You can check if a credit repair firm is an Incorporated Legal Practice with the relevant Law Society (there’s one in each State).

    Why we’ll continue to advocate for accurate credit reporting

    We mean business when it comes to helping those disadvantaged by credit rating mistakes.

    People all over the country are suffering at the hands of credit reporting mistakes, errors and ommissions. The result is five years of bad credit. Five years being locked out of finance – unable to get a home loan, or even a mobile phone plan.

    It doesn’t have to be a big amount which the Credit Provider claims is owed to create that default, nor does it need to be a serial offence.

    There are many more ordinary Australians who are being punished with that credit death-sentence due to one-time oversights; Credit Provider errors; and unsettled disputes. Even accounts of $100 can see them locked out of credit.

    A recent survey by credit reporting agency Veda Advantage revealed 80% of Australians have never checked their credit file. We have certainly found this survey to be a pretty accurate reflection of credit file awareness. Most people are simply not checking whether their credit file is accurate or fair and if it contains mistakes, they don’t even know about it until they apply for credit and are refused.

    Myself and Legal Practitioner Director MaryAnn Armstrong – Principal Solicitor see it as being vitally important to continue to promote credit reporting awareness in the community, and continue to act as that voice of advocacy in matters of credit reporting as they affect consumers. And in the process, we will also be using the arm of the law to affect change on a case by case basis in areas of credit reporting inconsistency.

    How we can help you

    MyCRA Lawyers are offering a free credit check to readers who have never checked their credit rating. Visit http://freecreditrating.com.au/.

    If you are currently experiencing credit issues, a more in-depth Credit File Analysis can also be obtained – call MyCRA Lawyers on 1300 667 218 for more details. If you need our credit dispute services, MyCRA Lawyers’s pricing model comes at a fraction of the cost of many other legal services.

    Image: Salvatore Vuono/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Two Australians arrested for ID Theft

    Police StationAustralian Federal Police announced late last week they had arrested two men producing fake identity material and committing credit card fraud. We look at the details of this arrest (which was a joint operation by the Identity Security Strike Team), and the recommendations Police make to ensure YOU lessen your chances of falling victim to identity theft and having your ability to obtain credit impacted by defaults.

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

    Police report the operation began in January when intelligence gathered in previous operations identified a 52-year-old Beverly Hills man suspected of manufacturing fake identification and credit cards. Here is an excerpt from their media statement last week:

    Following investigative activities over the past eight months, search warrants were executed at a number of locations on Tuesday, including a Riverwood premises where police will allege that the 52-year-old man manufactured false documents, including driver licences, Medicare cards and credit cards. A 47-year-old Burwood man was identified as sourcing the identification information and supplying the completed false identification documents to others.

    A substantial amount of cash was also seized during Tuesday’s search warrants. The alleged criminal activity used high-end printing and manufacturing equipment to produce cards that were strong versions of officially-issued items.

    NSW Police Force Serious Crime Director Peter Cotter commended investigators for their efforts dismantling the group.

    “They had a well-resourced set-up and were capable of quickly reproducing a range of fraudulent identification documents which appeared to be the genuine article, making them particularly difficult to detect in our community,” Detective Chief Superintendent Cotter said.

    “This is a great example of how powerful law enforcement is when we work collaboratively to combat crime. The arrests serve as a warning for others who choose to engage in this type of criminal behavior.”

    NSW Roads and Maritime Services Director of Customer and Compliance Peter Wells said improved links with other identity issuing agencies was continuing to ensure identity thieves were apprehended.

    Identity theft is the curse of the 21st Century and that is becoming more evident in our industry of credit rating repair. There are more and more people needing help with repairing their credit file due to having their identity misrepresented in some way.

    Often the first time we are aware of identity theft is when we apply for credit and are flatly refused due to defaults on our credit file that are not ours.

    Credit file defaults are difficult for the individual to remove and generally people are told by creditors they remain on our file for 5 years, regardless of how they got there.

    Although it seemed so easy for the fraudster to use your good name in the first place, you are now faced with proving the case of identity theft with copious amounts of documentary evidence.

    If you have neither the time nor the knowledge of our credit reporting system that you may need to fight your case yourself, you can seek the help of a credit repairer. A credit repairer can help you to clear your credit file and restore the financial freedom you rightly deserve.

    The reason a credit repairer is usually so successful in removing your credit file defaults, is their relationships with creditors, and their knowledge of current legislation.

    If you have just found out you are a victim, we recommend you also contact the Police. Don’t be embarrassed – it is only through identity theft being reported that data gets collected and appropriate preventative measures eventually get put in place.

    Police offer some “red flags” which may show your identity security has been compromised. Top of their list, was your credit report. Checking your credit report regularly is essential to ensure your information is accurate. Your personal details on your credit report should also be checked to ensure they have not been altered by identity thieves. You can check your credit report free once per year. Click here to find out more

    POLICE TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR IDENTITY:

    •Check your credit report every year. If you find that you have been marked as having unpaid accounts, for example, that you have never heard of, you might have become the victim of an identity theft.

    •If you are on the phone, confirm that the persons you are making contact with are who you think they are.

    •Lock postal mailboxes to deter theft of mail.

    •Always store any personal or financial documents in a safe place.

    •Do not provide your tax file numbers or other identifying information to people who don’t have a requirement to know.

    •Destroy old documents and cards before disposing of them, otherwise your rubbish could become someone else’s means to stealing your identity.

    •Keep your credit and debit cards secure and never let them leave your sight when paying for something, for example the bill at a restaurant.

    •Report missing or stolen passports to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    •Report missing or stolen driver licenses to your state/territory roads and traffic authority.

    •Report missing or stolen credit/debit cards to your bank or other financial institution.

    •Report missing or stolen mobile phones to your telecommunication provider.

    •Ensure that your personal computer has up to date software and antivirus software installed.

    •Be aware of phishing emails through which criminals will try to elicit your personal information (including credit card numbers).

    If you would like to know more about identity theft and your credit file, visit this link http://www.mycra.com.au/identity-theft/.

  • Have Bad Credit? A bad credit loan is not your only option.

    bad creditFor someone who is locked out of mainstream credit because of their credit rating, their finance options become limited. But there are options, and in Australia, it may not always be entering into a “bad credit” loan. There are alternatives, depending on whether the credit file holder has grounds to dispute the bad credit tarnishing their credit file. We examine the ins and outs of bad credit loans in Australia, and the instances where it may be both fairer and cheaper to examine compliance with a credit repairer instead.

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

    A bad credit report is a deal breaker with most mainstream Credit Providers. Bad credit can include defaults, writs, Judgments, Bankruptcies and even excess credit enquiries. From March 2014 it will also include payments more than 5 days late to licenced Credit Providers (loans, credit cards etc).

    [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

    Graham Doessel
    Graham Doessel
    Founder & CEO
    MyCRA Credit Repairs &
    www.ADSLAW.com.au

    Bad credit impacts most people for between 5 and 7 years – and 2 years for repayment history. Most mainstream Credit Providers will refuse credit – particularly in the current economic climate. Often people can’t even get a mobile phone plan.

    Despite this, many alternative loans are available out there for people who are on the outer due to bad credit defaults and other credit listings. But these bad credit (non-conforming) loans generally come at a much higher interest rate, which can cost people tens of thousands more in interest just over the first three years of the loan.  This is in order to cover the risks associated with taking on someone with bad credit. For example, on a loan of say $300,000, the difference in 2% from the standard variable rate of say 7% to a bad credit loan rate of say 9% could mean a family is paying as much as $15,046.57 more over those first three years just in interest.

    Prior to branching out into credit repair, I ran a successful non-conforming brokerage helping people who were refused mainstream credit. But with many people – when I heard about the circumstances around their bad credit – I often felt they had been dealt an unfair blow – forced to pay thousands more in interest when the bad credit possibly shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

    This is why, the first port of call when someone is faced with bad credit, should be to determine the accuracy of the credit listing.

    Savingsguide.com.au published a great article on bad credit loans in Australia, titled A Guide To Loans For People With Bad Credit.

    It features some pertinent advice about choosing a loan after being refused credit with a mainstream lender. It goes through the steps you may need to take to secure finance in Australia, and includes some final tips for securing a loan. The central tip is, prior to committing to a loan attempt to fix your bad credit issues first.

    “Loans for people with bad credit should really be a last resort, as opposed to the only option. See what you can do to repair your credit rating beforehand and hopefully begin looking for loans just as anyone else would,” Savingsguide.com.au’s Alex Wilson says.

    Australians should not put up with bad credit if it shouldn’t be there. Any credit listings which the individuals believe are inconsistent, unfair, or incorrect should be disputed.  Credit rating errors could be anything from the credit listing placed by the Credit Provider on the wrong credit file; to the basis of the credit listing being unfounded; to incorrect notices being provided; right through to system errors and incorrect spelling, to name a few examples.

    Creditors are bound by a large volume of legislation and codes of conduct to do with placing information on consumer credit files. These laws are in place to protect consumers from unfair and damaging credit reporting.

    Credit repair is a lengthy process, involving the review of all documentation from an individual – including the credit file and all the circumstances surrounding the default, writ or Judgment.

    The credit repairer will conduct an audit-like investigation of the circumstances surrounding the credit listing, noting any compliance issues which would deem the credit listing unlawful and require its removal from the credit file. If the credit listing has been placed unlawfully, then it should be removed.

    When an inconsistent credit listing is removed, it generally means the consumer is able to apply for mainstream credit – provided bad credit was the only item preventing finance approval.

    If you would like an assessment for your suitability for credit repair, talk to a consultant at MyCRA Credit Rating Repair on 1300 667 218 – they can assess how you might fare in removing bad credit before you commit to any bad credit loan in Australia. Do bear in mind – there are some credit listings which MyCRA cannot remove from your credit file, including Bankruptcies.

    Image: Stuart Miles/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • Your Credit Rating – How to Get a Free Credit Check and What to Do if Your Credit Report Comes Back with Defaults

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    check credit fileWe recently read a comprehensive article on getting a free copy of your credit report written by Alex Wilson over at online savings website – www.Savingsguide.com.au.

    From the long list of comments on this issue, we can see just how many people in Australia still remain in the dark about how to even simply get a copy of their credit rating, let alone dispute any bad credit which they believe should not be there. We take you through some important points from this article and look in more depth at what you should do if you have something like a default or Judgment or other credit listings on your credit report that you feel is incorrect, inaccurate or unfair.

     

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Lawyers and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

    In the article How To Do A Credit Check – Check Your Credit Rating & Credit Report For FREE – you will learn how to perform a credit check to obtain a copy of your credit report. The importance of checking your credit rating – particularly prior to applying for a home loan, or other significant credit – cannot be overstated.

    In this day and age, everything works on credit so you need to have a clear credit rating to be able to function well in society. If you cop a default on your credit file – you will be refused credit with mainstream lenders (at affordable interest rates). If you do get a loan, often the interest rate is much higher. You may also find you can’t get credit cards or mobile phones on a plan. But there are many people who don’t know they have a default on their credit file until they apply for credit and the bank does a credit check on them. To be one step ahead, it is better to check your credit file first – and give yourself a chance to dispute any bad credit history and have incorrect listings removed prior to applying for credit.

    “I was worried about my credit report

    If you are anything like me, you have probably missed a few phone bills, perhaps missed a mortgage repayment by accident or even worse – gone overseas and been missing in action for a few months with banks frantically trying to get in touch with you.

    It made me wonder whether these oversights would affect my credit history and in turn my ability to borrow money come time for a home loan,” Alex writes in the article.

    On a side note, oversights like forgetting a credit card bill, a mortgage repayment or any type of payment to a licenced Creditor will see a late payment notation added to your credit file now – and that will be visible from March 2014.

    Just what impact this will have on your ability to obtain credit is still up in the air – but having too many late payments, or even just one, could mean you are refused credit, or offered credit at a higher interest rate in the future.

    How to Check Your Credit Rating For Free

    You can contact us at any stage to do the work for you to obtain a free copy of your credit file  or alternatively, here is a run-down of how Alex checked his credit rating for free:

    The first credit rating provider I am going to use is called ‘My Credit File’ – they are part of Veda Advantage, one of Australia’s largest credit reporting agencies.

    Like many credit rating providers, they offer both a paid and free service. I am of course opting for the free service. All this means is I have to wait a little longer for it to arrive I am told. Not a huge deal.

    How to do a free credit check with Veda/MyCreditFile [Now Equifax]

    1.)  I went to www.mycreditfile.com.au 2.)  I then went to the ‘personal’ tab 3.)  Scrolled down to find the button stating ‘Free – Find out more’ 4.)  Loaded the page called ‘Free Credit File’ which tells you all the details you need to fill out 5.)  I then downloaded this form to request a free copy of my credit report 6.)  I attached a scanned copy of my drivers license (or passport) and also a copy of my utility bill proving my name and residential address. 7.)  Done

    I have to say, it was all rather easy. I now just have to wait 10 working days for my credit report to arrive.

    Why do they offer a paid version of your credit rating report?

    If you are wondering what the difference is with the paid version from MyCreditFile – please note that the only difference is that you pay $99.95 and it in turn comes to you via post, email or fax within 1 working day. E.g. you save 9 days. Still the same report.

    Dun and Bradstreet credit rating reportCredit Report

    Like Veda[Equifax], Dun and Bradstreet are one of the big players in credit ratings. They are used by many companies as the source of reporting on credit.

    They by law have to offer you a free credit report and free copy of your credit history as discussed earlier. Here is how to get it.

    How to get a copy of your credit report from DNB 1.)  Go to https://www.dnbcreditreport.com.au/ 2.)  Look to click on ‘standard credit report’ or similar – e.g. not fast tracked. 3.)  On the standard request page you then fill out the online form (takes around 3minutes) 4.)  Attach copies of your identification 5.)  Submit/mail it 6.)  You’re done.

    Much easier than the MyCreditFile.com.au website – it’s as if the previous site was trying to hide the free report (well they certainly made it hard to find).

    A bit about the Credit Score

    If the bank does a credit check on you, they will obtain your credit score. But you are not privy to this number if you order a copy of your credit report – paid or otherwise.

    People often ask ‘what is a good credit score?’ – however these credit scoring metrics are often kept confidential with the lenders and credit reporting agencies.

    They are a metric that lets them give you an assigned score based on how much debt you currently have, how many credit applications you have filled out recently and more. It is more for the lenders to use to easily categorise people, so it isn’t often you get to find out your exact credit score – which in turn can make it hard to improve your credit score.

    In my opinion, everyone should have access to their credit score, and the method used to calculate it.

    How do I fix my bad credit?

    If you have bad credit – you have two options….

    1. You can attempt to remove the default or other credit listing yourself, and there are processes to do this – OR

    2. You can use a professional credit repair service.

    The benefit in fixing your own bad credit is that it’s cheap. You may have very little costs associated with disputing your own credit listing. But similarly to defending yourself in Court – the cheap option may not be the best one for you.

    Credit rating errors are quite common, and the onus of ensuring the accuracy of your credit file rests with you. But how do you know if a listing has been placed accurately on your credit file, or if it should be there in the first place?

    There are strict codes of conduct and legislation which must be adhered to when your Credit Provider is placing a default or other credit listing on your credit file. These laws are in place to protect consumers from unfair and damaging credit reporting. Creditors are largely aware of this legislation (yet may not have adhered to it), but there are very few consumers who are well-versed in credit reporting and industry legislation.

    In order to dispute a credit listing which you believe shouldn’t be there, you must identify where the Creditor has not adhered to current legislation when placing the notation on your credit file. There is a whole barrage of points which need to be met in order to constitute a valid listing, and if you have not been made aware of all the avenues for dispute, then you could be doing yourself and your case a disservice.

    A reputable credit repair Lawyer should dig deeper to conduct an audit-like investigation of your credit complaint to uncover errors or non-compliance.

    For more information on credit repair, visit our website www.mycralawyers.com.au or contact a Credit Repair Advisor on 1300 667 218.

    Image: Ambro/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • Help to reduce your risk of identity theft

    Identity theft“Identity is one of our most valuable assets – if it is stolen, the stress and financial costs can last for years,” says Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC. According to the Attorney-General, identity theft is currently at 7% and rising (up from 5 per cent in the previous year)* – and so a new booklet has been formulated to give Australians practical advice on guarding their identity and what to do if they think it’s been stolen. We offer a link to this booklet and encourage all of our readers to download it, and even print it out and give it to someone you know who you think may be at risk. It just may save your bank accounts, your identity and your credit file from misuse.

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair, and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

    The booklet ‘Protecting Your Identity’ was launched by the Attorney-General last week. For anyone who is not so familiar with the workings of identity theft, it is a comprehensive document on the how’s and whys of identity theft. We found this page to be particularly relevant:

    Why Should I Be Concerned About Identity Theft?

    Once your identity has been stolen it can be almost impossible to recover. You may have problems for years to come. Some of the things that criminals may be able to do with your identity include:

    • tricking your bank or financial institution into giving them access to your money and other accounts

    • opening new accounts and accumulating large debts in your name which will ruin your credit rating and good name

    • taking control of your accounts including by changing the address on your credit card or other accounts so you don’t receive statements and don’t realise there is a problem

    • opening a phone, internet or other service account in your name

    • claiming government benefits in your name

    • lodging fraudulent claims for tax refunds in your name and preventing you from being able to lodge your legitimate return

    • using your name to plan or commit criminal activity, and

    • pretending to be you to embarrass or misrepresent you, such as through social media.

    Identity theft is the curse of the 21st Century and that is becoming more evident in our industry of credit rating repair. There are more and more people needing help with repairing their credit file due to having their identity misrepresented in some way.

    Often the first time we are aware of identity theft is when we apply for credit and are flatly refused due to defaults on our credit file that are not ours.

    Credit file defaults are difficult for the individual to remove and generally people are told by creditors they remain on our file for 5 years, regardless of how they got there.

    Although it seemed so easy for the fraudster to use your good name in the first place, you are now faced with proving the case of identity theft with copious amounts of documentary evidence.

    If you have neither the time nor the knowledge of our credit reporting system that you may need to fight your case yourself, you can seek the help of a credit repairer. A credit repairer can help you to clear your credit rating and restore the financial freedom you rightly deserve.

    The reason a credit repairer is usually so successful in removing your credit file defaults, is their relationships with creditors, and their knowledge of current legislation.

    If you have just found out you are a victim, we recommend you also contact the Police. Don’t be embarrassed – it is only through identity theft being reported that data gets collected and appropriate preventative measures eventually get put in place.

    Top Tips for Preventing Identity Theft

    In a statement to the media last week, Mr Dreyfus also outlined some simple steps Australians can take to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of identity theft:

    • Secure your mailbox with a lock and, when you move, redirect your mail.

    • Be cautious about using social media, and limit the amount of personal information you publish online.

    • Secure your computer and mobile phone with security software and strong passwords, and avoid using public computers for sensitive activities.

    • Secure your personal documents at home and when travelling.

    • Learn how to avoid common scams at www.scamwatch.gov.au.

    • Be cautious about requests for your personal information over the internet or phone and in person in case it is a scam.

    • Investigate the arrival of new credit cards you haven’t requested or bills for goods and services you have not purchased.

    • Be alert for any unusual bank transactions or missing mail.

    • If you are a victim of identity theft, report it to the police and any relevant organisations.

    • Order a free copy of your credit report from a credit reporting agency on a regular basis, particularly if your identity has been stolen.

    * Last year a survey commissioned by the Attorney‑General’s Department found 7 per cent of respondents had been victims of identity crime in the previous six months – up from 5 per cent the previous year.

    Image: Victor Habbick/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • The Top 5 Reasons You’re Still In Debt

    debtToday we feature a Savingsguide.com.au Australia article on the hang-ups you might have with money that could be stopping you from recovering from debt issues.

    This article is posted in its entirety in aid of our ‘Make Credit Work For You’ section, helping you to stay credit savvy, and giving you the best chance to prevent credit rating defaults and have your credit file looking its best.

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

    Below is Savingguide’s article about why it is you might still be in debt:

    The Top 5 Reasons You Are Still In Debt

    By Alex Wilson, Savingsguide.com.au

    Have you ever wondered why it is you are always in debt? I have. It’s much like trying to lose weight, you always find yourself secretly knowing what you are doing wrong but never wanting to admit it.

    This is what led me to start thinking about some of the reasons we as consumers remain in constant debt. While we probably know that we are doing these things, it’s not until someone calls us up on it that we realise we need to fix it.

    So here are the top 5 reasons that you continue to have a credit card debt, personal debt or any other kind of debt.

    Tell me if you agree or not at the end as I would love to know your thoughts on this.

     

    5. You earn X per day, but spend Y

    I did the simplest thing the other day. I got my monthly salary, divided it by the number of working days in the month and found out how much money I make, on a daily basis, after tax.

    What astounded me was that it wasn’t a whole heap when you factor in that each day I buy train tickets, coffees, food and the odd magazine or gift.

    One of the biggest reasons we as consumers remain in debt is that we end up living to work, instead of working to live. Do you really want to spend all that money on a work day when it’s bit by bit taking away from your daily earnings?

    Do the math – figure out your daily rate and then do a rough calculation of how much you spend on any given day. It’s scary.

     

    4. You focus on what you want, not what you have

    Another reason you are still in debt is that you forever focus on the things you want, not the things you already have.

    Stop desiring over clothes, cars, fast food and other easy ways to spend. Start focusing on the clothes you already have, the car you already own and the food you already have in the cupboard.

    Consider reading about how to stop buying stuff to solve problems – it might give you some ideas on how to make do or assess whether you really need something.

     

    3. You swipe credit, delaying your rational thinking

    Swiping a credit card obviously puts you in debt. Another thing it does is disconnect you from the reality of your finances. Money becomes a play thing.

    Try and reconnect with your money, use only cash for a while. It gives you a better sense of what you are spending. Parting with a $50 note is much harder than swiping a card.

    This mentality of delaying your rational money saving thinking is partly to blame for why you remain in debt. Always opt for cash where possible.

     

    2. You have no clue about expenses, their amount and their due date

    You know you pay the mortgage, phone bill, Foxtel bill and more – though you don’t really know how much they all cost as a whole.

    Yes the phone bill is only $29, but when you add it onto the list of other expenses that recur every month, it quickly gets out of control.

    Learn the total of your expenses by setting up a direct debit account that is solely for recurring expenses. After a month or so you will quickly see the stand alone expense transactions and it will help you calculate what you pay on any given month.

    From there, open up your work PC or home PC and make a calendar in Outlook or Google Calendar. Make recurring appointments on the days these debits come out of your account. This means you will always know in advance what expenses you have coming up.

    I even set mine to alert me on my phone 24 hours before they are due. It keeps me in charge of my expenses and fully understanding of just how much I am spending.

     

    1. You have no budget and no focus on repaying debt

    Another reason you remain in debt is because you are not proactive enough. Having a budget is one thing, but what you really need is a budget that focuses on finding spending leaks that can be repaired and used to fund extra debt repayments.

    Read more about budgeting to get out of debt here or alternatively, check out the Savings Guide Budget Spreadsheet here.

    A MyCRA Credit Rating Repair tip to stay credit savvy…

    If you are educated on credit reporting in Australia, you will save money. Know what the rules are around credit reporting in Australia, and know what your credit file says about you. If you discover inaccuracies on your credit file you can save yourself money by having them removed.

    If you have neither the time, nor knowledge of legislation that is required to deal with Credit Providers, a credit repairer can advocate for you to make the case for removal of inaccurate defaults from your credit rating on your behalf.

    Image: artur84/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

  • How To Spot the Difference Between Needs and Wants

    wants and needsIn our “Make Credit Work For You” post this week, we have a great article from Savingsguide Australia. Just subscribing to this blog alone will give you some invaluable tips you can use to help you rise to greatness with your finance goals. The article today is “How To Spot the Difference Between Needs and Wants.” If you have decided to live a life of frugality and perhaps have heard of the concept of Affluenza (when too much is never enough), then you will know a bit about the distinction of wants and needs. We may need to eat, but we might only want the big screen TV. Making the decision which is which is an ongoing battle. Thinking wants are needs causes many of us to buy more than we can afford, and we find ourselves struggling to pay back credit. Too many runs of this, and we end up defaulting on our repayments and a Credit Provider somewhere penalises us with bad credit that takes 5 years to shake off. Education and awareness is the key to changing this kind of behaviour – which is natural in all of us. So have a read of this article, and hopefully it helps you spot the difference.

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.

    How To Spot the Difference Between Needs and Wants

    By Fran Sidoti

    I’m always the worst when it comes to thinking of how many needs I have. I need an expensive haircut. I need clothes with a more expensive price tag. I need, need, need. Life becomes a much simpler business when I realise that, in fact, these are wants, not needs and they are not essential to my well-being.

     What do I need? Enough food to not feel hungry, a warm place to sleep at night, a couple of goals to chase and people who love me to surround myself. Beyond those things, I probably don’t need much.

    This new Zen me is a little bit inspired by Adam Baker’s guest post on Get Rich Slowly, discussing his wants and needs. Returning from their nomadic lifestyle, Baker and his wife decided to look for a rental with three bedrooms, not the absolutely necessary two bedrooms, so Baker would have a space to work.

    The house they eventually settled on had flaws, but Baker suggests that by concentrating on the fact that three bedrooms was, in itself, a luxury, the flaws of the house tended to lose their importance.

    So, how can we start to fulfill our needs and appreciate our wants for what they are?

     Write it down  

    The best way to understand your own psyche is, sometimes, to write it all down. Construct two tables and write down your needs and your wants. Have a look at the list. Are there things that are under ‘needs’ and are really more things you want? Write down the list again, this time with a bit more self-reflection, and see what that reveals.  

    Ask yourself if you really need this  

    Before you buy anything, repeat the shopaholics’ mantra- do I need this? You’ll end up saving a lot of money that you might otherwise spend on unnecessary purchases. Sometimes it turns out you neither need it or, deep down, want it all that much. So many of my purchases are due to boredom or a mild inclination. Don’t buy things you’ll never really wear or use. Save the purchases for something you’ll really love.  

    Fund your needs  

    Ever spent all your money on entertainment, only to discover you’re short on rent, bills and will be reduced to eating baked beans for a fortnight? Fund your needs first, then fund your savings, and then spend some money on your wants, You might think that constant partying is the thing that makes you happiest but, in the end, the anxiety that accompanies constant money problems is probably not helping you get the best night’s sleep.  

    Know your important wants  

    In all of this, it’s easy to lose sight of how to enjoy life. Don’t cut every single want from your life. Don’t become a martyr to the savings cause. If you cut out all the little wants from your life, you’ll end up with the money to spend on the important wants- like travel, or a renovation. Use your spare cash on special things, and appreciate them for what they are. I don’t need an expensive haircut, but I know how good it makes me feel about myself and how much I love the whole ritual of a good haircut, so I’m willing to wear cheap clothes and have nights with friends at home so I can spoil myself once in a while. An odd want, but there you have it.

    AffluenzaThis concept can be easily applied to credit. Just because you use credit, shouldn’t give you a licence to buy whatever, whenever. Understand just because you don’t pay now doesn’t mean you won’t pay at some point for the credit you use. Save your credit for your important wants, and appreciate them all the more for their rarity.

    Maybe throw that long sought after holiday on the credit card and take the family away. Or take out repayments on an educational course that will change your working life forever. Or perhaps buy a home, but after years of good saving. One that fits all the requirements of what you need, rather than what you want. A home you don’t have to work 24/7 to pay off because it is priced within your means.

    What you shouldn’t do is spend money you don’t have, on things you don’t need, and ultimately find yourself with what you don’t want – debt, unhappiness and a bad credit history.

    Here’s some extra reading on this concept: http://mycra.com.au/blog/2011/07/caught-affluenza-affect-credit-rating-health/

    What does your credit file say about you?

    Think of your credit file as a mirror on your finances. It can reflect your assets, your good history, but it can also reveal your financial shortcomings. It can be a reflection of your inability to stick with something, your disregard for repayments and it shows the financial potholes we fall into that are sometimes impossible to climb out of.

    A bad credit rating can completely change your financial situation. The black marks placed there by creditors show up on your credit file for 5 years. Bad credit can limit your choices and can perpetuate the debt cycle by leading you to choose loans with higher interest rates and more fees, so the struggle to make repayments can be even harder.

    If you want to try and start again with credit, it may be possible to wipe the slate clean, particularly if your bad credit rating should not be there.  Firstly, obtain a free copy of your credit report from one or more of the credit reporting agencies, Veda Advantage, Dun & Bradstreet and Tasmanian Collection Services (TASCOL). If your credit file contains obvious inconsistencies or even if you’re not sure, you may be a good candidate for credit repair.

    A credit repairer can work with creditors on your behalf to completely clear your credit file of all defaults, clear-outs, writs and Judgments which contain errors, are unjust or just should not be there. This means we you longer have a bad credit rating, but a completely clear credit file, giving you the financial freedom to use credit whenever we need to.

    The rest is up to you.

    Image: David Castillo Dominici/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    Image 2: graur razvan ionut/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • First Home Buyer Figures Take a Dip: ABS Housing Finance October 2012

    After the promising figures from August and September’s Housing Finance Statistics which seemed to indicate First Home Buyers were making their way back to the market – figures from October record a drop. Is the recent interest rate cut going to be enough to tempt First Home Buyers back to the housing market – or are we out for the near future? What does this mean for those people with bad credit?

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO Of MyCRA Credit Rating Repair and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au.  https://www.facebook.com/FixMyBadCredit.com.au.

    OCTOBER KEY POINTS

    VALUE OF DWELLING COMMITMENTS

    October 2012 compared with September 2012:

     The trend estimate for the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions rose 1.1%. Investment housing commitments rose 2.2% and owner occupied housing commitments rose 0.5%.

     In seasonally adjusted terms, the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions rose 1.8%.
    NUMBER OF DWELLING COMMITMENTS

    October 2012 compared with September 2012:

     In trend terms, the number of commitments for owner occupied housing finance rose 0.6%.

     In trend terms, the number of commitments for the purchase of new dwellings rose 4.0%, the number of commitments for the purchase of established dwellings rose 0.5%, while the number of commitments for the construction of dwellings fell 0.9%.

     In original terms, the number of first home buyer commitments as a percentage of total owner occupied housing finance commitments fell to 18.7% in October 2012 from 19.4% in September 2012.

    With experts predicting a rise of at least 3%, October’s rise of only 0.1% has meant many are predicting further cuts will be needed. The RBA cut the cash rate to three per cent at its December board meeting last week.

    Australian Broker reports more on this:

    “The Reserve Bank is relying on the housing sector to pick up in 2013, following an expected peak in mining investment. But economists are now saying they may need to cut the cash rate further in order to stimulate growth the housing sector,” their recent story said.

    Macquarie chief economist Richard Gibbs said weakness in the number of home loans indicated a continued lack of confidence among would-be homeowners.

    “This data is a lot more spotty than we had expected,” he was reported as saying in Business Spectator yesterday.

    “While the value of lending commitments is up, the number of loans remains weak, reflecting a wider lack of consumer confidence in Australia.”

    However, investors seem more confident with the market – the value of investment home loans rose 14 per cent over September and October.

    CommSec chief economist Craig James said in Business Spectator there were a number of factors boosting investor confidence – reportedly the strongest back-to-back gains in more than five years.

    “Investors conclude that migration is rising, rental markets are tight and home prices are rising – a compelling mix of factors pointing to higher property returns,” he said.

    Buyer confidence and bad credit

    When lending criteria is tight, what happens to people who have bad credit? When they are refused a mainstream loan because of bad credit, but market confidence is high – when it is moving up – they may want to get into a loan at a higher interest rate in order to take advantage of an increasing market. This comes at a price though – a whopping $15,046.57 or more in additional home loan repayments over the first three years of their loan. But if the market is going up rapidly – they may see it as a viable option.

    When confidence is low, when the market is static, they may not be so keen – they may simply choose not to buy.

    Some reports suggest as many as 3 million Australians are living with bad credit. How many of these people would like to buy a home in the next 5 years? Many of the people that currently have negative listings on their credit file may be living with bad credit history unnecessarily. Rather than miss the opportunity to buy because there is no urgency to buy, because they would rather save that $15,000 – there is another option – to actually assess whether they would be suitable to repair their credit rating.

    To find out how more people can remove their bad credit history – opening doors to lenders that were previously unavailable – contact MyCRA Credit Rating Repair.

    Click on the link to this short video to find out how a professional credit repairer can help you or if you are a broker, your clients:

    Image: Idea go/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

     

  • Stay safe this Christmas: Scam victims should be worried about 5 year blacklisting on their credit rating

    Media Release

    Stay safe this Christmas: Scam victims should be worried about 5 year blacklisting on their credit rating

    As more Christmas scams come to the fore, a consumer advocate for accurate credit reporting is warning consumers that scammers are not just after the money in their bank accounts, but are after much more – their financial identity.

    CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs, Graham Doessel says consumers need to be wary of the opportunities fraudsters may take to misuse their personal information.

    “Scams and other fraud attempts are becoming much more sophisticated as profits get more lucrative. Many fraudsters are into building a profile of their victim – extracting layers of information which allows them to access credit in the victim’s name – including loans and even properties.”

    “The difficulty for recovery when someone has tapped in to your credit rating is that generally you have unpaid debts in your name, which are placed in default – which basically means for 5 years your own ability to obtain credit is ruined,” Mr Doessel says.

    This warning comes as the Australian Banker’s Association (ABA) last week announced reports of a telephone scam where fraudsters were impersonating them and offering instructions on how to obtain a ‘refund’ for overcharged bank fees.[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][i]

    The ABA said criminals asked customers to proceed to a post office to receive the so-called ‘refund’ – ranging from $5 000 – $7 000.

    Victims are then asked to wire money via Western Union for costs associated with the ‘refund’.

    But in addition, scammers also tacked on a request for personal details, which signifies an attempt to misuse those details in the future, possibly for identity theft purposes.

    Fraudsters asked these questions:

    – With whom do you bank?
    – For how long?
    – What is your credit card number?
    – What is your driver’s licence number?

    Mr Doessel says fraudsters are attempting to gather extra information from their victims over and above what they might already have in front of them.

    “If they have your full name plus who you bank with, and your driver’s licence number – they have the basic building blocks for an identity theft attempt. They can call the bank and have some kind of identity information on which to proceed with accessing bank accounts AND accessing further credit in your name,” he says.

    The bank refund phone scam has been added to a long list of scam attempts running over the past few months, and many more could emerge as Christmas approaches.

    Mr Doessel says sometimes people don’t know they have been a victim until after they apply for credit and are refused.

    “By that time, it is such a struggle to recover your good name. For an identity theft victim to have a chance at removing bad credit history, you must prove you didn’t initiate the credit in the first place. This can be difficult if the scam happened months or years before,” he says.

    What to do if you suspect you have fallen for a scam

    1. Contact the Police immediately. Don’t be embarrassed or dismiss it because you don’t think the amount was significant enough. It is only through identity theft being reported that data gets collected and appropriate preventative measures eventually get put in place.

    2. Contact your Bank. They should be able to flag your accounts so that no credit can be obtained in your name.

    3. Contact the credit reporting agencies that hold your credit file. In Australia, this is Veda Advantage, Dun and Bradstreet and TASCOL (if in Tasmania). You should inform them that you may be at risk of identity theft and they may have a plan of action for protecting your credit file.

    4. At this time, you should also order a copy of your credit report. If there are any inconsistencies on your credit report – change of address, strange credit enquiries and instances of credit you don’t believe you’ve access, then you may already be a victim – and should do all that’s possible to follow up on each account so as not to accrue defaults on your credit file that should not be there.

    5. If you find you have defaults that shouldn’t be there, take steps to remove them. Although it seemed so easy for the fraudster to use your good name in the first place, you are now faced with proving the case of identity theft with copious amounts of documentary evidence in order to get the credit listings removed from your credit file.

    If you have neither the time nor the knowledge of Australia’s credit reporting system and credit legislation that you may need to fight your case yourself, you can seek the help of a professional credit repairer.

    Visit www.mycra.com.au for more information on identity theft and bad credit or call MyCRA on 1300 667 218.

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations media@mycra.com.au

    Graham Doessel – CEO Ph 3124 7133

    Ph 07 3124 7133 www.mycra.com.au www.mycra.com.au/blog 246 Stafford Rd, STAFFORD Qld

    MyCRA Credit Repairs is Australia’s leader in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

     

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    [i] http://www.bankers.asn.au/Media/Media-Releases/Media-Release-2012/Phone-Scam-Alert[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

  • Beware identity theft with latest bank ‘refund’ phone scam

    Identity Theft Warning: Banking phone scammers currently on the prowl in Australia are attempting to not only pilfer easy profits from unsuspecting victims via wire transfer, but it looks like they’re also after crucial identity information which could lead to identity fraud. We look at this scam, and what you should do if you think you’re a victim.

    By Graham Doessel, Founder and CEO of MyCRA Credit Rating Repairs and www.fixmybadcredit.com.au Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/FixMyBadCredit.com.au

    Last week Australian Broker online reported on this alarming banking scam ‘Banker phone scam bamboozles customers’ which involves the Australian Bankers Association (ABA). The report says twenty five people had contacted the ABA in the three days prior to report a telephone scam – and at least two had fallen victim to the scam which involved fraudsters calling customers supposedly on behalf of the organisation offering instructions on how to obtain a ‘refund’ for overcharged fees.

    “They then ask the customer to go to a post office to receive a so-called ‘refund’ – ranging from $5 000 – $7 000. Instructions are given to call the criminals on arrival at a post office, where they try to talk the customer into sending money, via the post or Western Union, claiming it’s a fee for the so-called ‘refund service’.”

    And alarmingly:

    “In several cases, customers have been asked to reveal additional information, including whom they bank with, how long they have been a customer of said bank, what their credit card number is and what their driver’s licence number is,” The Australian Broker report says.

    Steven Münchenberg, ABA chief executive, said in a release to the media, that most customers contacting ABA after receiving the phone calls have been suspicious and have not provided any money or information to the con artists.

    “However, members of my staff did speak to two customers who had sent [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][money] to the criminals – around $300 via Western Union. Unfortunately, there is no hope of retrieving that money and it is lost to fraud,” he says.

    “These criminals are preying on people and we are urging anyone who receives a call with a promise of easy money to hang up.”

    What could fraudsters do with the additional information they are asking for?

    What fraudsters are doing, is attempting to gather extra information from their victim over and above what they might already have in front of them.

    If they have a person’s full name plus who they bank with, and what their driver’s licence number is they have the basic building blocks for an identity theft attempt. They can call the bank and have some kind of identity information on which to proceed with accessing bank accounts AND accessing further credit in the victim’s name.

    What should you do if you suspect too late you’ve fallen for a scam?

    If you have just found out you are a victim, we recommend you contact the Police – as well as your bank – especially if you have given over personal information to fraudsters. Don’t be embarrassed – it is only through identity theft being reported that data gets collected and appropriate preventative measures eventually get put in place.

    Telling your bank also means they can flag your accounts and upgrade security on your account/s.

    You should also contact the credit reporting agencies that hold your credit file and inform them that you may be at risk of identity theft.

    At this time, you should also order a copy of your credit report. If there are any inconsistencies on your credit report – change of address, strange credit enquiries and instances of credit you don’t believe you’ve accessed yourself, then you may already be a victim – and should do all that’s possible to follow up on each account so as not to accrue defaults on your credit file that should not be there.

    Credit file defaults are difficult for the individual to remove and generally people are told by creditors they remain on our file for 5 years, regardless of how they got there. Any negative listing will prevent you from obtaining credit, so it is vitally important that your credit file is clear.

    Although it seemed so easy for the fraudster to use your good name in the first place, you are now faced with proving the case of identity theft with copious amounts of documentary evidence.

    If you have neither the time nor the knowledge of our credit reporting system that you may need to fight your case yourself, you can seek the help of a credit repairer. A credit repairer can help you to clear your credit file and restore the financial freedom you rightly deserve.

    The reason a credit repairer is usually so successful in removing your credit file defaults, is their relationships with creditors, and their knowledge of current legislation.

    Visit www.mycra.com.au for more information on identity theft or how to repair bad credit.

    Image: imagerymajestic/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    Image 2: nuttakit/ www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • What you need to know about the internet to save your teenager’s future credit file

    Media Release

    What you need to know about the internet to save your teenager’s future credit file

    Young Australians are putting their good credit rating at risk every time they post personal information publicly on the internet, even before they are ever credit active, a leading credit repairer warns.

    “The harsh reality is if you’re a teenager in Australia today you are not immune to identity fraud. Even though you are not yet credit active the personal information you make public today could be used against you in the future,” CEO of MyCRA Credit Repairs, Graham Doessel says.

    He says many teenagers do not know the risks of having a public ‘profile’ on sites like Facebook and Twitter, but fraudsters do.

    “With the volume of personal information that is publicly available about our young people on social network sites, what’s to say fraudsters can’t pull that information and use it to build a profile that could allow them to create a fake identity?” he says.

    Late last year, the Australian Federal Police’s national co-ordinator of identity security strike team, Ben McQuillan spoke about the dangers of identity crime at a forum on money laundering and terrorism.

    He warned forum listeners about the new trend of ‘warehousing’ which involves storing data for a time, making it harder for a victim or bank to trace where and when the data was stolen.

    ”If people know your full name, your date of birth, where you went to school and other lifestyle issues, and they were to warehouse that data, there is a prospect that could then be used to take out loans or credit cards or to create a bank account that could then be used to launder money,” Mr McQuillan told the Sydney Morning Herald.

    Mr Doessel says identity theft is not only about the initial loss of monies, but if the fraud amounts to credit accounts in the young victim’s name going undetected and unpaid past 60 days, creditors will issue defaults.

    “It need not be major fraud to have a detrimental effect. Credit file defaults for as little as $100 can stop someone from being able to obtain credit for 5 years. So any misuse of someone’s credit file can be extremely significant,” he says.

    He says the onus is on the victim to prove to creditors they didn’t initiate the credit.

    “The fact that the perpetrator is long gone and the actual act of identity theft happened years earlier will only add to the difficulty for the young person in recovering their good name,” he says.

    Experts recommend parents and young people continue to update their skills on how to be cyber-smart. The government’s ‘stay smart online’ website offers some top tips about using the internet which can be discussed with young people at home and school.

    Top tips

    Make sure your computer is secure-follow the advice in the Secure your computer section of this [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][stay smart online] website.

    Set strong passwords, particularly for important online accounts and change them regularly-consider making a diary entry to remind yourself.

    Stop and think before you share any personal or financial information-about you, your friends or family. Don’t disclose identity information (drivers licence, Medicare No, birth date, address) through email or online unless you have initiated the contact and you know the other person involved.

    Don’t give your email address out without needing to. Think about why you are providing it, what the benefit is for you and whether it will mean you are sent emails you don’t want.

    Be very suspicious of emails from people you don’t know, particularly if they promise you money, good health or a solution to all your problems. The same applies for websites. Remember, anything that looks too good to be true usually is.

    Limit the amount and type of identity information you post on social networking sites. Don’t put sensitive, private or confidential information on your public profile.

    When shopping online use a secure payment method such as PayPal, BPay, or your credit card. Avoid money transfers and direct debit, as these can be open to abuse. Never send your bank or credit card details via email.

    When using a public computer, don’t submit or access any sensitive information online. Public computers may have a keystroke logger installed which can capture your password, credit card number and bank details.

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

    Lisa Brewster: Media Relations media@mycra.com.au Ph 3124 7133

    Graham Doessel: CEO Ph 3124 7133

    246 Stafford Road, STAFFORD QLD.

    MyCRA Credit Repairs is Australia’s leader in credit rating repairs. We permanently remove defaults from credit files.

     

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    http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/News%20Article%20List/2012/01/Connecting%20generations%20and%20educating%20each%20other.aspx http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/police-warn-of-sophisticated-plan-to-steal-identities-20111108-1n5l8.html#ixzz1dB4ctHcT
    http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/teens

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