MyCRA Specialist Credit Repair Lawyers

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  • The identity theft victim’s guide to recovery

    Have you been locked out of your Facebook account? Fallen for a request to give over personal details to a fraudster? Or had that horrible sinking feeling when you realise someone has been taking money out of your bank accounts? Or perhaps as was recently the case in W.A., you may have had a property sold from underneath you while overseas?

    These are all forms of identity theft in varying degrees. Someone steals your personal information in order to set up a fake identity for the purposes of using your good name, your financial identity, and possibly your credit rating for their own purposes.

    You are not alone, and you should not be too embarrassed to take action against this crime, however sheepish you may feel. It is an ever-growing problem – the fastest growing crime in Australia. A recent survey commissioned by the Attorney-General’s office shows 1 in 6 people in this country currently have been victims of identity theft, or know someone who has had their identity misused.

    Some instances of identity theft are relatively easy to recover from, others are a major source of heartache and disruption to people’s lives.

    The Attorney-General has produced an Identity Theft booklet which includes the steps you need to take as soon as you discover you may be an identity theft victim:

    •Immediately inform the police. All incidents of identity theft should be reported to your local police even if only small sums are involved. Ask for a copy of the police report—most banks or other financial institutions will ask you for a copy.

    •Close all unauthorised accounts. Contact the credit providers and businesses with whom any unauthorised accounts have been opened in your name. Remember this includes phone and other utility providers, department stores and financial institutions. Inform them that you have been a victim of identity theft and ask them to close the fraudulent accounts.

    •Alert your bank or financial institution. Contact your bank or financial institution immediately and cancel all cards and accounts that may have been breached. Ask for new cards and accounts with new Personal  Numbers (PINs).

    •Get a copy of your credit report. Inform the credit reporting agencies that you are a victim of identity theft. Ask that an alert be placed on your file that advises this. This should stop additional fraudulent accounts being opened in your name.

    •Review your credit report carefully. Ensure you can authenticate all ‘inquiries’ made into your credit history. Contact all companies and organisations that have made inquiries under your name that you did not authorise.

    •Keep all documentation. Take notes that include dates, names, contact details and what was said during your contact with those agencies. Follow up all conversations and requests in writing, and send these by certified mail if you need to post them. Keep copies of all forms and correspondence.

    •Report loss or theft of documents to the relevant government or private sector agencies. Contact the relevant government and private sector agencies if you have lost specific documents or items, or had them stolen.

    •Contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner if you feel your privacy has been breached. If you feel that your privacy has been breached because of identity theft, or an agency or organisation is being difficult about rectifying privacy matters, then you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Their Enquiries Line is available to help you work out if a privacy breach may have occurred. However, it is important that if you intend to lodge a complaint, that you first try and resolve matters with the agency or organisation concerned.

    Government-assisted Recovery

    Recovery from identity theft can be assisted in some instances if you are eligible to apply for a Victims of Commonwealth Identity Crime Certificate. Generally Police will advise you if the crime against you falls under this jurisdiction. It can improve the chances of recover greatly by having this certificate to provide to Government agencies, and financial institutions in which a Commonwealth indictable offence was committed against you.

    The Attorney General’s website says a Commonwealth identity crime occurs where a person makes, supplies or uses identification information (yours, or a third party’s). They do this intending that either they or someone else will pretend to be you or another person (who is living, dead, real or fictitious), and the act of pretending would be done to commit or help commit a Commonwealth indictable offence.

    But the instances in which an actual Commonwealth indictable offence is committed may be less common.

    Examples of victims of Commonwealth identity crime are:

    ■your birth certificate was used by someone else to falsely claim a payment from Centrelink in your name
    ■a person pretended to be you by using your identification details to have your Medicare rebates redirected to their bank account
    ■a person used your credit card without your permission to purchase and import illegal substances
    ■a person established a false business in your name to fraudulently claim GST, and
    ■a person used your passport or citizenship details to pass themselves off as you and travel overseas.

    The common identity theft victim who has had their personal details stolen and fraudsters have taken out credit cards in their name, it seems would not be eligible for the Commonwealth Victims of Crime certificate.

    For other very common type of identity theft through scams that were initiated outside Australia where victims have provided personal details and money – the Government’s SCAMwatch website warns victims recovery and restitution may also be difficult for victims:

    “due to the ‘fly by night’ nature of many scammers, it is extremely difficult to track them down and take action against them. Though it depends on the circumstances of each case, the ACCC may not be able to take action or enforce Australian Court orders against the many scammers that are based outside of
    Australia.” the SCAMWatch website explains.

    Identity theft and credit ratings

    If your bank accounts have been skimmed, the bank may have insurance to cover your loss due to this fraud. But if your credit rating has been damaged, and there are defaults, writs and Judgments on your credit file that should not be there, recovery can be a complicated matter. Basically your credit reports show you as owing debts and you are considered unsuitable to lend money to.

    Some identity theft victims find they hit a wall when attempting to recover their credit rating as the laws which govern credit reporting and the listing of negative data on people’s credit files are difficult for them to navigate. Victims say it is up to them to prove the case of identity theft, to prove to creditors they did not initiate the credit and some say this is confusing and frustrating for them.

    Instilling the services of a credit repairer may be helpful to your case, as the credit rating recovery can be enhanced by having a person better skilled at dealing with creditors and with complete knowledge of relevant laws and regulations which would apply to your circumstances.

    The way lending works in Australia, one default makes it just as difficult to get credit as does 3. So even if people can strike a helpful creditor in one or two instances, they may be unsuccessful in removing all negative listings by themselves. Each default remains on a person’s credit file for 5 years, so if you want the best chance of getting a home loan, a car loan or even credit cards and mobile phones over the next 5 years, it could be best to leave it to the professionals.

    For more help with clearing a credit rating following identity theft, contact MyCRA Credit Repairs Tollfree 1300 667 218 or visit our main website www.mycra.com.au.

    Image: graur razvan ionut/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Bad credit ratings forcing people out on the fringe

    If people need access to money – and quickly – there are a number of options. Whilst many people may not be able to walk in to a bank and withdraw from their savings, they could use their credit card, extend their mortgage or take out a personal loan to cover that unexpected expense. But what about the over 3.47 million Australians (Veda Advantage – 2009) who are living with a negative listing on their credit file – also known as a ‘bad credit rating’?

    When times get tough, many of these people are left with very few choices. Negative listings are recorded on a person’s credit file for between 5 and 7 years, depending on the type of listing. How many people would NOT have surprise expenses during that period? Not many.

    People with adverse listings can be the lepers of the finance world. Particularly those people with a significant number of negative listings on their credit file. No one wants to touch them. No one that is, except for those ‘informal’ finance companies such as pay-day lenders and pawnbrokers.

    Last Friday, the Sydney Morning Herald ran a story titled ‘Finding favour on the fringes’ in which Bina Brown writes of the fine line between meeting a legitimate market demand and preying on desperate people. The SMH reports that 500,000 people a year access $800 million in short-term credit facilities. Pay-day loans are typically considered to be loans taken for less than $500 for two to four weeks.

    The article quotes a report ‘Measuring Financial Exclusion in Australia’ prepared by the Centre for Social Impact (sponsored by NAB). The Centre looked in to the growing demand for this ‘fringe’ credit market, and the rapidly expanding network of companies willing to supply it.

    The report says “Financial exclusion exists where individuals lack access to appropriate and affordable financial services and products – the key services and products are a transaction account, general insurance and a moderate amount of credit.”

    How the fringe credit market works

    “Lender fees vary, but $25 to $30 per $100 advanced would be typical. A loan of $1000 for three months might attract a fee of about $450, or ultimately $111 a week for 13 weeks in scheduled repayments.

    While many consumer groups are against this type of lending since it is often vulnerable people who access the loans, industry proponents argue anyone can find themselves short of cash and short-term credit can make a considerable difference to people’s lives.

    Both sides admit there are rogue players in the industry, such as those who charge an upfront fee of $30 on a $100 loan plus the interest rate which is capped at 48 per cent a year.

    They then set a two-week period to repay the loan (which the broader industry believes to be too short a time period).

    If the loan can’t be repaid after two weeks or the next pay date, they charge another $30 and give them another two weeks and so on. If the client defaults on the loan they charge $75.” SMH reports.

    Reforms to legislation

    Under the Consumer Credit and Corporations Legislation Amendment (Enhancements) Bill 2011 before Federal Parliament the most a person borrowing $100 can be charged is $100, although this would exclude any default fees.

    The proposed reforms have also included a cap on the upfront fee that can be charged on small amount loans (loans for $2000 or less for less than two years) of 10 per cent of the loan amount, plus an interest rate of 2 per cent a month. A parliamentary committee reviewing the legislation is due to report by November 14.

    These reforms would be welcomed, to ensure that those people who don’t have access to standard credit are not digging an even bigger hole for themselves by being forced to pay exorbitant fees and interest charges when they are obviously in desperate need of a break.

    If not fringe credit, then what are the options for those who are financially excluded due to a bad credit rating?

    Well, it depends on what a person’s credit file reads like.  If the person has entered into a debt agreement or bankruptcy – the options are unfortunately limited, access to these types of loans may be necessary. An alternative could also be found in Government assistance.

    In many other cases, there may be no need for people to be disadvantaged in this way by a bad credit rating. Particularly if their credit file shows defaults, writs or Judgments which they believe are inaccurate, unjust or just should not be there.

    Credit repair allows the consumer to have the black mark/s completely removed from their credit rating. This gives them the lending options that they would have had prior to the blemishes on their credit file.

    So, they can borrow at a lower interest rate with the lender of their choice (provided they meet all other criteria of course). This can potentially save them thousands of dollars in interest alone.

    Credit repair is the best solution for those potentially hundreds of thousands of Australians who may be living with a bad credit rating and who are completely capable of repaying a loan. It was bad luck or creditor error that instigated the adverse listing in the first place.

    Many people are victims of simple and sometimes complicated errors with billing procedures from creditors, are victims of identity theft, have had joint lending situations go wrong (such as divorce, guarantors etc) or have had the default listed incorrectly. Despite all of these very fair complaints many consumers have been unable to settle the account themselves with the creditor and unable to remove the offending default, writ or Judgment from their credit file.

    How likely would it be that a credit file would contain errors?

    It is astounding how common credit file errors may be, considering the debilitating effects for the credit file holder once they have a negative listing on their file.

    The possible volume of errors on Australian credit files was exposed by a small scale study conducted in 2004 by the Australian Consumer Association (now Choice Magazine). It revealed about 30% of credit files were likely to contain errors.

    “In our view, there are serious, systematic flaws which are leaving an increasing number of Australian consumers vulnerable to defamation, mis-matching and harassment,” the ACA report said.

    Transferring those figures from the Choice study to the number of credit files in Australia today, could mean potentially 4 million errors currently exist on credit files in Australia.

    Recently Channel 7’s Today Tonight interviewed Veda Advantage’s Head of External Relations, Chris Gration on the possible number of errors on credit reports. He admitted errors within their system alone amounted to 1%.

    “We give out about 250,000 credit reports to consumers every year. But only in 1 per cent of cases is there a material error on the file, so a default or an enquiry that’s incorrect,” Mr Gration told Today Tonight.

    Even if as little as 1 per cent of those 14 million credit files contained errors, that would still currently leave 140,000 credit files in Australia containing errors that just shouldn’t be there.

    So rather than allowing their credit file to continue to plague them, navigating the world of ‘bad credit history’ finance, or the ‘fringe credit market’ which can sometimes leave them with more problems than when they started, people should be educated on the possibility that their good name can be restored.

    So if people know anyone, or are in the situation themselves where they do have a bad credit rating which shouldn’t be there – it could be good advice to get them to seek out a reputable credit repairer to review their credit file and help them back to financial freedom.

    Contact MyCRA Credit Repairs tollfree on 1300 667 218 or click here to find out the 6 simple steps to credit repair.

    Image: Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Gen Y could be hazardous to their parents’ credit health

    Media Release
    4 August 2011

    Parents who piggy back their children into the property market are not only risking their financial health by doing so, but their good credit rating, a national credit repairer warns.

    Director of MyCRA Credit Repairs, Graham Doessel says the trend of placing the family home as collateral to assist kids into the property market could easily see people up against credit problems if loan repayments aren’t met.

    “There is no doubt it is very difficult for Gen Y to break into the property market, but it is essential that parents understand the risks involved in going guarantor on their child’s home loan. The decision can affect their finances and their ability to obtain credit in the future if things go bad,” Mr Doessel says.

    This comes as the Herald Sun revealed on Sunday Gen Y is using any means possible to break into the property market – one method of which is to use their parent’s property as collateral for their purchase in what is known as a ‘Family Equity Loan.’

    “Aussie Carnegie mortgage broker Mark Daly said family equity loans, which can allow applicants to borrow the entire value of a home and avoid costly mortgage insurance, were becoming more popular with younger cash-strapped buyers,” the article says.

    But Mr Doessel says the risks are often very high on this type of loan. The guarantor is liable for repayments should they not be met, plus all interest, fees and charges, so if the child fails to make repayments, the family home and the parent’s credit file could be put at risk.

    “In instances where repayments are not met, the creditor can place a default on both credit files. Often parents are not made aware the repayments are late until they find the default on their credit file. By then it is too late for their credit rating, and they face being blacklisted from obtaining credit in the future,” Mr Doessel says.

    He says defaults remain on a person’s credit file for 5 years.

    “So for 5 years both parties are unable to obtain further credit and often unable to take out even a mobile phone plan. Parents who may have been close to financial freedom are now facing debt, and a shaky retirement,” he says.

    He says the situation is amplified if the guarantor is unable to cover the repayments.

    “The bank begins to use the property the guarantor put forward as collateral, to recover lost debts. There is a danger the guarantor can lose their home.”

    “By far the most important question parents need to be asking is ‘could we make the repayments on this loan should our child be unable to?’ If there is any doubt of this don’t go guarantor,” Mr Doessel says.

    The Sydney Morning Herald’s Personal Loans Smart Guide provides some other points to consider when making the decision whether or not to go guarantor on a home loan:

    •How much is being borrowed?
    •How responsible is the borrower?
    •How stable is their employment?
    •Does the borrower have any other means of repaying the loan should he or she fall ill, be injured or become unemployed?
    •Can I afford to repay the total sum of the loan?

    Mr Doessel recommends parents seek third party and or legal advice before proceeding. He also recommends a few other policies be put in place:

    1. Insist children have adequate insurance to cover anything that may go wrong during the term of the loan, such as life insurance and income protection insurance.
    3. Set a specific amount that will be guaranteed, and ensure there is an ending to the time period of the guarantee –otherwise the guarantor could be liable for the loan for years to come.
    4. Ask that a copy of all bank statements be provided during the course of the guarantee, so that parents are aware of any late payments. This way, payment problems can be addressed while the parent’s good credit rating is still intact.
    5. If the need for a guarantor is purely due to black marks on the child’s credit file, they may still be able to access credit on their own terms. If the credit file contains a default listing which has errors, is unjust or simply should not be there, under current legislation they do have the right to have that inconsistency removed. This would result in a clear credit file and negate the need for a guarantor.  People can contact www.mycra.com.au for more information.

    /ENDS

    Please contact:
    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations    Mob: 0450 554 007 media@mycra.com.au
    Graham Doessel  – Director   Office Ph: 07 3124 7133

    http://www.mycra.com.au/ 246 Stafford Road, STAFFORD QLD.

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

    Links:
    http://www.heraldsun.com.au/money/young-bank-on-family-home-for-loan-security/story-e6frfh5f-1226133621971
    http://www.smh.com.au/money/tools-and-guides/step-4-going-guarantor-20100529-wmcd.html

    Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

     

  • New recommendations to protect Telco customers welcomed

    Media Release
    12 September

    Changes recommended by The Australian Communications and Media Authority in its final report into the telecommunications industry should finally see Telcos held accountable for poor customer service and complaints handling, according to a national credit repairer.

    Director of MyCRA Credit Repairs, Graham Doessel says if the ACMA’S changes are implemented swiftly across the industry, customers should reap the rewards.

    “A shake up in the Telco industry is long overdue. Australians have been caught out time and again with botched bills and unresolved disputes with their Telco providers and their credit files have been damaged as a result,” Mr Doessel says.

    He says about one third of his credit repair clients have had issues with their Telco provider which has left them out of pocket or facing black marks on their credit rating.

    “Our clients have suffered greatly for the inadequate policies and procedures of many of the Telco providers in this country. We send out far too many complaints every day to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) requesting investigations into errors that have found their way onto customer’s credit files,” he says.

    The ACMA is formally inviting the industry to incorporate the following changes to its Telecommunications Consumer Protection (TCP) Code by February 2012:

    1.Clearer pricing information in advertisements allowing consumers to more easily compare services.
    2.Improved and more consistent pre-sale information about plans.
    3.Developing meaningful performance metrics which allow consumers to compare providers.
    4.Tools for consumers to monitor usage and expenditure.
    5.Better complaints-handling by providers.

    “We have closely consulted on these outcomes with consumers and industry and the overwhelming response has been that improvements are both urgent and necessary,” ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman says.

    The ACMA says if the Telecommunications industry fails to develop a code that addresses these concerns, the ACMA will mandate the changes through direct regulation.

    The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman recently revealed its findings on the extent of discontent within the industry in a report released last month from a survey of more than 500 Telco customers who had lodged complaints between July and August 2010.

    The survey revealed more than half of consumers reported contact with their service providers five or more times before ringing the TIO. It also revealed most consumers reported spending three hours or more unsuccessfully trying to solve their complaint, with one in 5 saying they spent more than nine hours.

    “Consumers who come to the TIO report spending substantial time and effort solving their complaints,” said Ombudsman Simon Cohen. “They report being transferred from department to department, not being transferred to supervisors and, perhaps most frustratingly, getting no solution or a broken promise for their efforts. They are – by any measure – resilient consumers.”

    Mr Doessel says when disputing bills with the Telco industry, many people are unfairly penalised with a bad credit rating when the matter could have been dealt with better by the Telco in the first place.

    “It is astounding the number of Telco credit file listings which contain errors, or have been put there unjustly or unfairly. Under current legislation, people do have the right to have credit file discrepancies resolved. But unfortunately it can be difficult for customers if they are not aware of the appropriate legislation and don’t have time to negotiate with creditors,” he says.

    Under current legislation, an account which is more than 60 days in arrears can be listed by the creditor as being unpaid on the customer’s credit file. This ‘default’ is generally listed on a person’s credit file regardless of whether they believe there are errors in the details of the bill or with the payment amount.

    “Defaults remain on a person’s credit file for 5 years. Currently, defaults – even those that are marked as ‘paid’, will prevent people from obtaining a home loan with most lenders. In fact, even having a few too many credit enquiries can be enough for an automatic decline” he says.

    Mr Doessel is hoping the ACMA’s recommendations are taken on board swiftly to ensure a more transparent industry.

    “Hopefully the changes will result in less confusion and complaints in general amongst Telco customers and fewer people who have their good name destroyed unnecessarily due to credit file defaults which should not be there,” he says.

    /ENDS

    Please contact:
    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations   Mob: 0450 554 007 media@mycra.com.au
    Graham Doessel – (07) 3124 7133  www.mycra.com.au/ www.mycra.com.au/blog

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

    Links:
    http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_410157
    http://www.tio.com.au/media_statements/RELEASES/2011/08_12_Resilient_Consumers_Report.html

    Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Australian PlayStation users given free identity theft protection for a year

    Finally Sony has recognised the possible threat that was made to the personal information of its 1.5 million Australian PlayStation users. After one of the world’s biggest data breaches occurred on the PlayStation Network in April, Sony has come to the party with an offer of free identity protection for the year.

    The Sydney Morning Herald reports about this in its story ‘Sony offers free ID theft protection to Aussies.’

    The package includes “CyberAgent Internet Surveillance”, whereby CS Identity’s technology scours the internet for unauthorised use of your identity. The firm conducts 24/7 monitoring of criminal web pages, chat rooms, bulletin boards and file sharing sites to identify trading or selling of customers’ personal information.

    Identity restoration is also included, which involves the firm helping customers restore their identity after becoming the victim of identity theft.
    The data stolen during the breach includes names, gender, addresses, email addresses, birthdays and login passwords for Sony’s PlayStation Network and its Qriocity music streaming service.

    All up 1,560,791 Australian accounts were affected – 280,000 of which had credit card details. This is a fraction of the 77 million total accounts exposed worldwide.

    Security experts have warned that even without credit card details, hackers could use the other stolen details to construct highly targeted and believable attacks designed to steal more personal information and/or infect computers.

    The SMH says the Australian Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, has been investigating the breach, and they say it is still ongoing. In May we blogged about Australia’s Privacy Laws, as they relate to data breaches.

    The Government is set to introduce tougher Privacy Laws following this data breach. One of which will be mandatory notification laws, helping to protect Australians from identity theft following any future data breaches, and another which will allow victims of identity theft following a data breach to be able to obtain some kind of compensation for any loss they may receive.

    The Sydney Morning Herald recently reported one in 10 Australians who use the internet have lost money to online identity fraud over the past year, according to VeriSign Authentification Services. We recently blogged that these fraud figures have doubled since 2007. The cost of this is estimated to be $1.286 billion during the past year.

    But the real cost of identity theft comes when a person’s credit file is impaired. When identity theft affects people’s credit files there is no reimbursement for losing the money they could borrow. But victims often lose their dream home, can’t borrow for their business and can’t get the new car they wanted.

    Often victims don’t know about the fraud until they apply for credit and are refused because they have a bad credit rating.

    Image: Arvin Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Australia’s new credit reporting laws: what they mean for home buyers

    MEDIA RELEASE:

    14 July 2011

    Proposed changes to Australia’s credit reporting laws will give those home buyers who would otherwise not have been approved due to minor credit defaults more chances for finance, according to a national credit rating repairer.

    Director of MyCRA Credit Repairs, Graham Doessel says the ‘comprehensive credit reporting’ changes currently under review by the Senate Finance and Public Administration should help lenders gain a clearer picture of a home buyer’s suitability for finance, and should help to alleviate unfair ‘knock-backs.’

    “The problem with the information currently recorded on people’s credit reports, is that only negative data is displayed. There is no data showing any positive repayment history, the type of debt, or the outstanding amount. So utilities bills are treated the same as mortgage defaults. Currently we have hundreds of clients who are unable to secure a home loan due to being in default on phone bills – some for as little as $100,” Mr Doessel says.

    He says the future of credit reporting will allow lenders to make a decision for home loan suitability based on more extensive history of the borrower. The proposed ‘comprehensive reporting’ scheme would include:

    -the type of each current credit account opened (for example, mortgage, personal loan, credit card);

    -the date on which each current credit account was opened;

    -the limit of each current credit account (for example, initial advance, amount of credit approved, approved limit); and

    -the date on which each credit account was closed.

    This follows new legislation released by the Government early this year requiring lenders to prove the suitability of borrowers to make repayments before allowing access to further credit.

    Mr Doessel says on the other hand there will be some buyers who are disadvantaged by the changes, particularly those who have a tendency to over-inflate their suitability.

    “It will require home buyers to be truthful about the current credit they have taken out, and the limits on each account. The new system may reveal some people are considered to be over-extending themselves and are rejected where they normally would have been approved. But in my line of work, many buyers are absolutely suitable to service a home loan, but have small-time defaults which hold them back.”

    “The other group that will be disadvantaged are those who are late with their payments for major credit. Under the new laws, late payments to a regulated NCCP credit provider such as a bank can be recorded as such, regardless of whether the late payment gets to default stage. Utility providers are not regulated in the same way, so normal rules for defaults will apply,” Mr Doessel says.

    He says the new laws will mean it is more important than ever for people to request regular updates on their credit report.

    “With all the new data available, there will be more opportunity for errors to occur. People should obtain a free copy of their credit report every 12 months from one or more of the credit reporting agencies in Australia, to ensure their file does not contain any inconsistencies,” he says.

    Mr Doessel says if people find information listed on their credit file which they believe is in error, is unjust or just shouldn’t be there, they do have the right to have that information rectified. He does say however, that it that can be a difficult process for the individual.

    “Navigating credit reporting legislation and negotiating with creditors is not easy. Unfortunately in most cases, if people attempt to remove the default themselves they can do more harm than good by not understanding the process fully, almost like trying to defend themselves in court. They might do OK, but they only get one shot at it and if they don’t get it 100% right, they will be unsuccessful. There is no appeal in most cases,” he says.

    Contact www.mycra.com.au for more help with obtaining a credit report and credit repair.

    /ENDS.

    Please contact:

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations

    0450 554 007  media@mycra.com.au

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

    Link:

    http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/55.%20More 20Comprehensive%20Credit%20Reporting/models-more comprehensive-credit-reporting

    Image: Danilo Rizzuiti/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • End of financial year best time to check our credit file

    Media Release: The end of the financial year is an opportune time for people to check their credit rating and get it in order, according to a national credit repairer.

    Director of MyCRA Credit Repairs, Graham Doessel says if people are reviewing their yearly phone records, bank statements, and credit card statements for tax time, it can be a good idea for them to request a credit report as well from credit reporting agencies,to cross-check any adverse listings which may have been placed on their credit file.

    “The problem with credit reporting in Australia is that many people are unaware of how the system works, and what their rights are. It is important for people to know they can apply for a copy of their credit file for free every year and the end of financial year is a great time to do this, because people already have their paperwork out,” Mr Doessel says.

    He says it is essential for people to know what is said about them on their credit report – as there is opportunity for errors to occur when creditors apply listings to credit files. Even if people believe they have a good payment history, their credit report may still contain errors.

    “Many of my clients have impeccable repayment histories and would have never dreamed they would end up with a default. Let me tell you mistakes do often happen. Sometimes simple human error by the creditor leads to adverse listings put there incorrectly,” he says.

    A small scale study conducted by the Australian Consumer Association (now Choice Magazine) in 2004, revealed a staggering 30% of credit files were likely to contain errors.

    “In our view, there are serious, systematic flaws which are leaving an increasing number of Australian consumers vulnerable to defamation, mis-matching and harassment,” the report said.

    A credit file exists for anyone who has ever been ‘credit active’ and is used by creditors to assess the risk and borrowing capacity of potential borrowers.

    The most common type of adverse listing is a default. Defaults are put there by creditors when accounts have remained unpaid for more than 60 days.

    Defaults remain on a person’s credit file for 5 years from the date of listing, and have the potential to severely impact a person’s ability to obtain credit.

    “Currently, any default can be enough for an automatic decline with most of the major banks. Many lenders are even rejecting loans for excess enquiries such as two in thirty days or six within the year. Some people nmay even be unable to take out a mobile phone plan in their name if they have defaults on their credit file.”

    “It also affects the type of home loan people may be eligible for, the interest rate they are offered and price of establishing the loan. The lending options become more expensive and limited” Mr Doessel says.

    People can contact Veda Advantage, Dun and Bradstreet and Tasmanian Collection Services (if they live in Tasmanoia) to request their free report. A creditor may have listed defaults with one or all of these credit reporting agencies.

    If people find errors, or feel a listing is unjust or shouldn’t be there, they do have the right to have incorrect information rectified.

    Mr Doessel says if people are in a hurry or it seems too difficult, they can use a credit repairer who can work on their behalf.

    “A credit repairer should be able to completely remove offending blemishes from someone’s credit file,” he says.

    Contact www.mycra.com.au for more details on how to check and repair credit files.

    /ENDS

    Please contact

    Lisa Brewster – Media Relations

    Ph: 3124 7133  Mob: 0450 554 007  media@mycra.com.au

    Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Government brings in new laws in war against cyber-crime and identity theft

    The Australian Government yesterday made some swift changes to its laws in a bid to accelerate its effectiveness in fighting the worldwide cyber-crime phenomenon.

    The Attorney-General, Robert McLelland introduced the The Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 into the House of Representatives, which lays down the laws which will include Australia in what is the only binding international treaty on cybercrime.

    Two criminal Acts (the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 and the Criminal Code Act 1995) and two telecommunications Acts (the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 and the Telecommunications Act 1997) will be amended, to allow Australia to comply with the treaty.

    Australia will be joining the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, of which more than 40 nations have already signed or become a party to the Convention, including the USA, UK, Canada, Japan and South Africa.

    The Convention allows countries to co-operate in investigations to deal with international crimes committed on computer networks, such as online fraud or child pornography offences.

    The Bill will also give Australian police greater powers to force internet service providers to retain data of customers who are suspected to have committed a cybercrime while the matter is being investigated.

    “The increasing cyber threat means that no nation alone can effectively overcome this problem and international cooperation is essential,” Mr McLelland says.

    The speed of the changes follows a wave of recent cyber-attacks on networks around the globe.

    “In the last six months alone, Australia’s Computer Emergency Response Team has alerted Australian business to more than a quarter of a million pieces of stolen information such as passwords and account details, allowing them to rectify and protect against potential attacks,” Mr McLelland says.

    Other noteworthy cyber-attacks which have occurred just over the last few months include attacks on Sony, Dell Computers, the CIA, and the Australian Government.

    What affect will these changes have on the frequency of identity theft in this country, and consequently the instances our credit rating is destroyed due to cyber-crime?

    Some of the internet-generated identity theft is not initiated on Australian shores. The worldwide web provides easy international access, meaning elaborate schemes intended to commit fraud can be generated from any country and impact ordinary Australians.

    Now that Australia is part of the international treaty, our police will have greater powers to access information which may assist in prosecutions or in detection of
    cyber-crime that has come from other countries which are part of the Convention.

    Nationally, the changes made to our Telecommunications laws should benefit in prosecution for identity theft, by allowing the Police to have access to phone and text messages that they previously were not required to be kept by Telcos.

    The new laws also change a bit of the fine print in terms of what are computer offences, which could potentially ensure criminals who previously may not have been prosecuted due to loopholes in the legislation could now be brought to answer.

    Unfortunately, when it comes to our credit rating, prevention is better than cure. When fraudsters use our good name to obtain credit, the bills which come with that credit that go undetected for greater than 60 days generate defaults on our credit file.

    Hopefully this legislation helps to act as a deterrent for cyber-criminals to initiate fraud. But after fraud has occurred, a great deal of work will still need to be done by us on our credit file to clear our good name, regardless of prosecution.

    What can we do to protect ourselves from identity theft right now?

    The Government has a website ‘Stay Smart Online’, which goes through the things individuals can do to ensure they do not become part of these growing statistics.

    The most important messages we should take in are:

    * Keep our virus software up to date, and run regular scans.  We should set it to automatic updates!
    * Keep our personal information as private as possible.
    * Think before we click on links and attachments.
    * Talk about online safety, and educate ourselves and our family about the risks of
    identity fraud.

    If we protect our identity from cyber-criminals, we protect our good name and our financial future.

    We should also make regular checks to our credit file. We are entitled to a free copy of our credit file every year. We should request this file every year to ensure our good name is not tarnished in any way.

    For advice on identity theft and how it can impact our credit file, Contact MyCRA Credit Repairs. We can completely remove defaults from credit files.

     

    Image: Tom Curtis/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    Image: jscreationzs/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos

  • Identity Theft News: The Latest Warnings and Recommendations

    In this post, we take a snapshot look at the current issues around identity theft crime. If you are new to our blog, the reason we are so passionate about identity theft, is because in Australia and indeed many other countries in the world, it has the potential to destroy our credit rating.

    In Australia, if we are the victims of identity fraud, unpaid debts we have not initiated can mount up in our name and if they remain unpaid more than 60 days they can result in ‘defaults’ being listed on our credit file. Often it is not until we attempt to obtain credit and are knocked back do we realise we have been victims.

    Here’s a look at recent news on this issue:

    The Future for Worldwide Identity Theft Prevention?

    Following the AusCERT Conference late last month held on Queensland’s Gold Coast, there came about a number of recommendations for improving security of our personal information.

    Recently we featured comedian Bennett Arron, who spoke at AusCERT about his experience with identity theft and how it can affect our financial future, and indeed our credit file. This was a great example of the issues individuals currently face when they are victims of identity theft.

    Another noteworthy recommendation to come out of the AusCERT Conference, was featured in a story in online IT publication The Register, and was put forward by Eugene Kapersky, founder of Kapersky Lab.

    Kapersky Lab operates a worldwide IT security company. He advised the conference the world needs an internet ‘Interpol’ – “a global,borderless cybercrime unit that would exist with the support [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”][and] cooperation of international law enforcement agencies.”

    He also advised in the future we could be holders of internet passports as online ID. The security software millionaire said an international online identification system could help in the fight against identity theft and the illicit theft of passport documents online.

    Read more about this story ‘Kaspersky wants Interpol for the web’ published in The Register.

    Identity crime is certainly a global problem. Scams coming out of many countries personally affect ordinary Australians every day via the internet.

    It will be interesting to see what recommendations the Government puts forward after the publication of its first ever White Paper on cyber-security in Australia, and whether it will include a plan to lay down some sort of foundation for international cyber-crime law.

    High Profile Company Directors not Immune to IdentityTheft

    Last week it was reported that the Australian Institute of Company Directors had a computer stolen from its offices which contained the personal data of many thousands of its high profile directors and clients.

    Consequently all were warned to be on the lookout for signs of identity fraud.

    Fortunately, according to the AICD, the data on the computer didn’t contain any credit card numbers, bank details or passwords.

    They did warn those involved to be on the lookout for suspicious phone calls or other communications as they did believe the theft was an attempt at identity fraud on its members via the stolen database.

    Read more about this story ‘AICD’s membership data stolen’ published in IT Wire.

    Sometimes, as with the case above, identity thieves don’t necessarily need access to bank account numbers to gain access to our good name. All fraudsters need is perhaps an email address or telephone number and a bit of basic information about us to attempt to then elicit further information from us (known as phishing scams). They can also use the basic information they have to attempt to set up fake accounts, or to request ‘replacement’ copies of ID in our name.

    To keep up to date with the latest scams, visit the government’s SCAM watch website.

    Police warn of new fraud targeting Australian SuperAccounts

    NSW Police have advised of a current scam targeting Super Accounts, where fraudsters are stealing enough information from unsuspecting victims to transfer their Super into self-managed funds which can then be easily accessed by the criminals.

    Fraud Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Col Dyson says “Superannuation fraud…works well because no-one checks their super…victims rarely notice account changes, making it easy for criminals to change mailing addresses.”

    Unfortunately, unlike bank fraud, there is no obligation for superannuation funds to reimburse victims.

    Read more on this story ‘Crooks siphon super funds,’ on CRN Australia’s website.

    This is just another example of how difficult it can be for laws, individuals and institutions to keep up with what the Australian Crime Commission calls the fastest growing crime in Australia.

    This new fraud may not directly impact our credit file, but when there is no reimbursement for the fraud, it can financially cripple us.

    If we are victims of identity theft, we should always report it to the Police no matter how small the fraud. It is only through reporting this crime that real statistics start to be measured.

    We should also check our credit file, and have any black marks that should not be there dealt with by a professional credit repairer. Contact MyCRA Credit Repairs for more information. We completely remove defaults from
    credit files.

    Image: Salvatore Vuono/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • What We Can Do to Prevent Identity Theft

    So far this year we have posted about many issues that have arisen concerning the security of our personal information in this age of technology, and the possible dangers identity theft poses for our credit file.

    It is no secret that it is essential to take steps to keep our personal information safe. Why? Because regardless of whether our card/s will be reimbursed should we become victims of fraud, there is still the very real ramification of having our credit file tarnished by any identity fraud – and the inability to obtain credit for up to 5 years can be a huge financial loss.

    Events which have transpired recently have made us all feel quite nervous about who has the potential to use our personal details for purposes of stealing our identity.

    Issues such as the Sony PlayStation data breach, the attacks on Google’s U.S. Gmail account holders and the announcement of almost daily attempts at cyber-attack on Australia’s Foregin Affairs Department (just to name a few) have made us realise that identity fraud is indeed a reality for people in this country.

    A positive to come from these issues is that our Government has decided to step in to give advice via a white paper as to how businesses, government and individuals can make some changes to the internet in the interests of the security of its users.

    What do we do in the meantime? What steps can we take NOW to reduce our chances of becoming victims?

    Recently we read some really great articles from ‘Savings Guide.com.au’ on some practical ways we can all stay safe.

    In their article – “Shopping Online, How to Do it Safely” by Francesca Sidoti, she provides some great tips. We like this one:

    “Choose Your Location. Instinct is a funny thing. You have no hard reasons for why something feels off, it just does. And in this scenario, you should let it be your guide. Just as you wouldn’t hand over money to someone who looks dodgy, you should[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”][n’t] enter your details in a site that doesn’t feel right. If something seems amiss, do some research. Google the site, or call the contact number. Be wary as well of clicking on ads. Though they’re usually hosted by legitimate companies, it’s worthwhile keeping a critical eye on everything you are entering personal information into.”

    Francesca also published an article “How to Avoid Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft,” which provides help with how to use your credit card safely. The two tips below are excellent to remember:

    “Don’t’ give your credit card details out over the phone or email. Unless you’ve initiated the conversation. No legit company would ask for those details over the phone/email.

    Don’t sign blank credit card receipts How often do you actually check the receipt you sign? If your answer is ‘not often’, you need to rethink your approach. Blank sections of a receipt can be used to add extra charges, which you will pay for because your signature will be down the bottom.”

    We have compiled a quick list of some other ways we can prevent what has become the fastest growing crime in Australia:

    1. Keep virus software up to date on our computers. Install automatic updates and perform regular virus scans.
    2. Keep our privacy settings secure on all social networking sites.
    3. Keep our passwords and PIN numbers secure. Don’t carry PIN numbers with our credit/debit cards, change passwords regularly and use a variety of passwords for different purposes.
    4. Check all our credit card and bank statements each time they come in.
    5. Cross-shred all personally identifiable information which we no longer need, rather than throwing it straight in the bin.
    6. Buy a safe for our personal information at home.
    7. Do not give any personal information or credit card details to anyone via phone or email unless we are sure the site is secure, and or we can verify the company details.
    8. Be aware of who gets our personal information and for what purposes. What can these people do with the information they are gathering? For instance, is it really necessary for the site we are registering on to have our date of birth?
    9. Keep up to date with the latest scams by subscribing to the government’s ‘SCAM watch’ website.
    10. Check our credit file for free every 12 months. By requesting a copy of our credit file from one or more of the major credit reporting agencies,Veda Advantage, Dun & Bradstreet and Tasmanian Collection Service (TASCOL) we can be aware of any discrepancies which may need to be investigated. Often it is only through a credit check which comes back with defaults on our credit file do we realise we have been victims of identity theft.
    11. Report any incident of identity theft, no matter how small, or even if we have been reimbursed for the damage – to the Police. The more of us who report identity theft, the more effective will be our Government and Police response to it in the future.

    For those of us who are already identity theft victims, it can be difficult to navigate the current credit reporting system to have the offending defaults removed from our credit file.

    MyCRA Credit Repairs can completely remove defaults from credit files that have errors, are unjust or just shouldn’t be there. Contact www.mycra.com.au for more help.

    <p><ahref=”http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=584″>Image: Chris Sharp / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></p>

     

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  • Don’t let a bad credit rating force you into unsuitable finance

    The Age recently reported on a Tribunal hearing involving a well-known finance company.

    The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found that a motor trader who primarily targets people with bad credit history had a leasing process which was seriously flawed and in urgent need of change.

    The customer in the case lived on a low income, had been through a bankruptcy and suffered from chronic depression. The Tribunal found the company used inaccurate financial analysis, unfair tactics and unreasonable pressure to get the client to sign a contract.

    After the hearing the company was ordered to set aside a car lease and compensate its customer.

    Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/money/borrowing/credit-scoring-hammered-20110607-1fpp2.html#ixzz1OvztZSXi

    The above example may not be a true reflection of all transactions with the motor trader in question. But it does highlight the need for people who find themselves in a situation where they cannot use the major lenders to do adequate research before deciding on alternative finance.

    People with a bad credit rating have their options severely limited when it comes to obtaining finance. Most of the major lenders refuse to lend to someone with a bad credit history – often with good reason.

    A person’s credit history shows their ability to repay a debt. Under Australia’s new responsible lending laws, it would not be ethical to offer further credit to someone who already demonstrates problems with repayments.

    The thing is many people with a bad credit rating still need to buy cars, live in houses and use phones.

    What are the options for someone in this situation?

    Well, it depends on what a person’s credit file reads like. In the situation above where the consumer has a bankruptcy on their file – the options are unfortunately limited.

    But a little more research, perhaps leasing a cheaper car and having a trusted adviser help in negotiations with finance companies, or even going away and thinking about it before signing may have helped the customer in this situation.

    In many other cases, people can take the above option, or they can discover whether they may be suitable for credit repair.

    Credit repair is an option for any person who has a default, writ or Judgment on their credit file which they believe is inaccurate, is unjust or just should not be there.

    A successful credit repair allows the consumer to have the black mark/s completely removed from their credit rating.

    This lending options that they would have had prior to the blemishes on their credit file. So, they can borrow at a lower interest rate with the lender of their choice (provided they meet all other criteria of course).

    This can potentially save them thousands of dollars in interest alone.

    Credit repair is not encouraged as an option for a consumer who truly has a problem repaying debt. This person should look at minimising as much credit from their lives as possible, and possibly entering into some financial counselling, so that when they are able to borrow again, they don’t repeat the cycle.

    However, there are a large number of people with a bad credit rating who are not struggling with repayments. They are simply carrying the bad credit rating unfairly.

    Many people are victims of simple and sometimes complicated errors with billing procedures from creditors, are victims of identity theft, have had joint lending situations go wrong (such as divorce, guarantors etc) or have had the default listed incorrectly.

    Despite all of these very fair complaints many consumers have been unable to settle the account themselves with the creditor and unable to remove the offending default, writ or Judgment from their credit file.

    They are then left to navigate the world of ‘bad credit history’ finance, which can sometimes leave them with more problems than when they started, due to the often high interest rates involved.

    So if people know anyone, or are in the situation themselves where they do have a bad credit rating which shouldn’t be there – it could be good advice to get them to seek out a reputable credit repairer to review their credit file and help them back to financial freedom.

    Contact www.mycra.com.au for more information on credit repair.

    <p><a href=”Image” _mce_href=”http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=879″>Image”>http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=879″>Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></p>

  • Identity theft is losing your good name

    Media Release:

    A prominent Welsh comedian has called for governments to insist on stricter checks by creditors to help combat the growing issue of identity theft.

    Bennett Arron, who was a keynote speaker at the AusCert 2011 Information Security Conference Overexposed, says creditors merely reimbursing identity theft victims in lost monies is not an adequate solution to identity fraud, and can still leave victims financially crippled if their credit file has been tarnished.

     “Many companies and banks are too quick to take on clients and say that they will take any consequences themselves. What they don’t understand is that it’s not the money aspect which is the problem it’s the affect it has on [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”][the victim’s] credit rating”, Mr Arron says.

    Arron was a victim of identity theft in the 1990’s in the UK, which left himself and his pregnant wife homeless and penniless.

    “There were thousands of pounds of debts – in my name. So as far as the Credit Companies were concerned, the debts were mine. It took me almost two years to clear my name and regain a good credit rating” he says.

    The fraudster, who had moved into Arron’s old address, received a pre-printed shopping card with Arron’s personal details on it, which he then used to purchase credit in several places. Arron says at the time, if more checks had been carried out the fraudsters may not have gotten away with it.

    “The perpetrator had even used a false date of birth – but no one verified it” he says.

    Arron went on to make a TV documentary, called How to steal an Identity, in which he demonstrated how easy it was to steal an identity in the U.K. He obtained a driver’s licence in the name of the then home secretary, Charles Clark.

    Arron has since been speaking out about his experience with identity theft, in an attempt to raise awareness of the issue globally.

    A national credit repairer says Arron’s case is a pertinent example of how many people can be caught out with identity theft. He says mail getting into the hands of a fraudster is a common way people can become victims of fraud. The effects can be felt for up to 5 years in Australia if someone’s credit file is affected.

    “Unfortunately more and more of our clients are faced with the issue of identity theft. Once the fraud impacts someone’s credit rating, they are often unable to obtain even a mobile phone in their name.  It need not be large-scale fraud to be a massive blow to the victim’s financial future” Graham Doessel, Director of MyCRA says.

    Once an unpaid account goes to default stage, the account may be listed by the creditor as a default on a person’s credit file. Under current legislation, defaults remain on the credit file for a 5 year period.

     “What is not widely known is how difficult credit repair can be – even if the individual has been the victim of identity theft, there is no guarantee the defaults can be removed from their credit file. The onus is on them to prove their case and provide copious amounts of documentary evidence” he says.

    The Australian Crime Commission now sites identity theft as the fastest growing crime in the country, costing upwards of $1billion to the Australian economy, and possibly affecting at least 500,000 Australians per year.

    “Identity theft and its consequences is a red-hot issue right now because we are all feeling vulnerable to it. Recent worldwide data breaches such as from Sony PlayStation have left many of us feeling insecure about who to trust with our personal information, and what power our governments have to protect us should it occur” Mr Doessel says.

    Mr Doessel says the best defence an individual can take against identity theft is to get educated on how their personal information can be put at risk.

    “Register for the government’s Scamwatch alert system, which keeps you updated on the latest scams to be wary of. Also check out the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s website (formerly Privacy Commissioner’s website) which has a host of information on how to maintain the privacy of your personal information when using the internet and mobile phones.”

    “You also have to think like a criminal – ask yourself – what kind of information am I leaving open out there for fraudsters to use? Buy a shredder and cross-shred any personal information at home that you don’t need to keep on file; keep your details secure on social networking sites; and ensure your credit card transactions online are from a secure site and you know who you are transferring money to” he says.

    Education also extends to knowing what is on your credit file.

    “Often credit file discrepancies can be the first sign we have been victims of identity theft. We recommend every person who is credit active obtain a free credit report to ensure that everything on their file is as it should be. That way if there are any problems, they can be rectified while there is no urgency” he says.

    Under current legislation a credit file report can be obtained for free every 12 months from the major credit reporting agencies Veda Advantage, Dun and Bradstreet and Tasmanian Collection Service and is sent to the owner of the credit file within 10 working days.

    For those who are vulnerable to identity theft, they can pay extra with Veda Advantage to have their file on an ‘alert’ system, which tracks any changes to their credit file that may occur within a 12 month period.

    If people find defaults on their credit file after the credit check, they can contact a credit repairer to have them removed.

    “Unfortunately in most cases, attempting to remove the default themselves can do more damage than good by not understanding the process fully, almost like trying to defend themselves in court. They might do OK, but they only get one shot at it and if they don’t get it 100% right, they will be unsuccessful. There is no appeal in most cases” he says.

    “Using a credit repairer usually gives people the best chance of getting defaults, writs and Judgments completely removed from their file if they contain errors, are unjust or just shouldn’t be there. Complete removal gives people back their right to obtain credit in the future,” he says.

    /ENDS

    Quotes:

    FROM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BENNETT ARRON & MY CRA CONDUCTED 20/5/2011

    Links:

    ACCC IDENTITY THEFT REPORT:

    Link1

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