Frequently Asked Questions
Credit Repair FAQ
Honest, straight answers to the questions we hear most at Maximum FICO Score — about credit repair, your rights under federal law, credit scores, and how our process works. If your question isn't here, call (661) 505-8085.
Direct Answer
What is credit repair?
Credit repair is the legal process of reviewing your Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion credit reports and disputing information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Credit repair cannot remove accurate, verifiable information. It is fully legal in all 50 states and is governed by the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), which prohibits advance fees and requires a written contract. Maximum FICO Score is a BBB A+ rated, CROA-compliant credit repair company founded in 2016 in Bakersfield, CA. Results vary by individual credit profile.
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Getting Started
The basics of credit repair and how it works.
What is credit repair and how does it work?
Credit repair is the process of reviewing your three credit reports (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) and disputing items that are inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). We audit your reports, identify disputable items, and file formal disputes with the bureaus (FCRA §611) and directly with creditors (FCRA §623). Bureaus must investigate within 30 days and delete anything they cannot verify. Credit repair cannot remove accurate, verifiable negative information.
Is credit repair legal in California?
Yes, credit repair is completely legal in California and all 50 states. The federal Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) governs how credit repair companies operate, requiring written contracts, no advance fees, and a 3-business-day cancellation right. California adds the California Credit Services Act on top of federal law. What is illegal is making false statements to the bureaus, creating a new credit identity, or charging fees before services are delivered.
Can I repair my own credit for free?
Yes. Under the FCRA, you have the right to dispute inaccurate information directly with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion at no cost, and you can get free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. DIY credit repair is a legitimate option. People choose a professional like Maximum FICO Score for the expertise, custom dispute strategy, time savings, and a 90-day money-back guarantee — but you are never required to use a credit repair organization.
How much does credit repair cost?
Your assessment and initial consultation are free. Ongoing credit repair is a paid service with transparent, flat-rate pricing and no upfront fees, as required by federal law — you only pay for work performed. See our pricing page for current plans. Every plan is backed by our 90-day money-back guarantee.
How do I get started with Maximum FICO Score?
Start with a free, no-obligation credit assessment. Call (661) 505-8085, book a free consultation, or complete our online assessment. We review your three-bureau report, explain what's disputable, and outline your options before you commit to anything. There are no advance fees, and your first consultation is always free.
Timeline & Results
How long it takes and what to realistically expect.
How long does credit repair take?
Timelines vary. Most clients see results from their first round of disputes within 30–45 days — the investigation window bureaus must meet under FCRA §611. Simple cases with a few inaccurate items often resolve in 3–6 months. Complex profiles with multiple collections, charge-offs, or late payments typically take 6–12 months of consistent work. Any company claiming to "fix your credit in 72 hours" is misleading you or using legally risky tactics.
Can you guarantee my credit score will increase?
No — and under CROA, no credit repair company legally can. We cannot promise a specific number of points or that any specific item will be removed. What we can promise is honest, diligent work and a 90-day money-back guarantee: if we do not remove any items within 90 days of enrollment, you receive a full refund. Results vary by individual credit profile.
What is the 90-day money-back guarantee?
If Maximum FICO Score does not remove any items from your credit report within 90 days of enrollment, you receive a full refund of fees paid. It is a performance-based refund policy — not a promise that specific items will be removed or that your score will reach a certain number. The 90-day window begins the day you enroll and we start filing disputes. Results vary by individual credit profile.
Will credit repair hurt my credit score?
Filing disputes does not lower your credit score — disputing is a protected right under the FCRA and is not a scored factor. In most cases, correcting or removing inaccurate negative items helps your score. In rare situations a score can dip temporarily (for example, if removing an old account shortens your average account age), but this is uncommon and usually short-lived. We explain any potential trade-offs before acting.
Disputes & Your Rights
What can be disputed, and the federal laws that protect you.
What does the FCRA allow me to dispute?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) lets you dispute any information you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable — including accounts that aren't yours, incorrect balances or limits, wrong payment status, re-aged accounts, items past the seven-year window, duplicate entries, and accounts belonging to someone with a similar name. The FCRA does not allow you to remove accurate, verifiable information — if a debt is genuinely yours and correctly reported, it cannot be removed simply by disputing it.
What is a Section 623 dispute?
A Section 623 dispute is sent directly to the original creditor or debt collector (the "data furnisher") rather than to the credit bureau. Under FCRA §623, furnishers must investigate disputes they receive directly from consumers and correct inaccurate information they report. It's separate from a bureau dispute under §611 and is often more effective for accounts that have survived earlier bureau disputes, because it goes straight to the source of the information.
Can you remove accurate negative items from my credit report?
No. Under the FCRA, bureaus cannot remove accurate, verifiable information before its legally mandated removal date. If a late payment, collection, or charge-off is genuinely yours and correctly reported, it can't be removed through a dispute. We tell you this honestly upfront. What we can do is make sure every item is being reported accurately and challenge anything containing errors or that cannot be verified.
How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
You can dispute an error in three ways: (1) online through each bureau's website, (2) by certified mail with supporting documents, or (3) directly with the creditor under FCRA §623. The bureau must investigate within 30 days and remove or correct anything it can't verify. You can do this yourself for free, or Maximum FICO Score can prepare and manage targeted, documented disputes on your behalf and track every response.
How long does a collection stay on my credit report?
Under the FCRA, most collections can remain for seven years from the date of original delinquency — the date the original account first went past due, not the date the debt was sold to a collector. This clock runs whether the debt is paid, settled, or unpaid. Paying a collection does not restart the clock or automatically remove it, though it updates the status to a $0 balance. If a collection is past seven years or contains inaccurate information, it can be disputed.
Does paying off a collection remove it from my report?
Not automatically. Paying a collection updates its status to "paid, $0 balance," but it can remain on your report until the seven-year mark from the original delinquency date. Some collectors will agree to a "pay-for-delete" arrangement (removal in exchange for payment), though this isn't guaranteed and must be agreed to in writing. Newer scoring models like FICO 9 and VantageScore 3.0/4.0 ignore paid collections, but many mortgage lenders still use older models that count them.
Can medical bills be removed from my credit report?
Often, yes. The three major bureaus no longer report paid medical collections, and they no longer include medical collections under $500. Medical debts also can't appear until they're at least a year past due. Beyond those protections, medical collections that are inaccurate, unverifiable, or duplicated can be disputed under the FCRA. Rules in this area have changed recently, so we review your specific medical items against the current standards.
What is a charge-off, and can it be removed?
A charge-off is when a creditor writes off an unpaid debt as a loss after about 180 days of non-payment — but you still owe it, and it can be sold to a collector. An accurate charge-off can remain for seven years from the original delinquency and cannot be removed simply by disputing it. However, charge-offs frequently contain errors — wrong dates, balances, or duplicate reporting with a collection — and those inaccuracies can be disputed and corrected or removed.
Credit Scores
How scores work and what actually moves them.
What is the difference between a FICO score and a VantageScore?
FICO and VantageScore are two scoring models that use the same report data but produce different scores — often 20–50 points apart. FICO is used in over 90% of U.S. lending decisions, including virtually all mortgages. VantageScore is what most free apps (Credit Karma, Credit Sesame) display, so the number you see there is almost never what a lender uses. For mortgages, lenders use FICO 2 (Experian), FICO 4 (TransUnion), and FICO 5 (Equifax). We work with your actual FICO scores, not app approximations.
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
It depends on the loan program. FHA loans generally start around 580 (sometimes 500 with a larger down payment), conventional loans usually want 620+, and VA loans often look for 620, though the VA sets no hard minimum. The best interest rates typically begin around 740–760. Lenders use the mortgage FICO models, and often the middle of your three scores. We help prepare your credit to meet your target program's threshold.
What is credit utilization, and what is the ideal ratio?
Credit utilization is the percentage of your available revolving credit you're using — your total balances divided by total limits. It's about 30% of your FICO score, the second-largest factor. Keeping utilization under 30% is good, under 10% is very good, and 1–9% often scores highest. Because utilization resets each statement, it's one of the fastest factors to improve. Try our free utilization calculator.
What is a rapid rescore?
A rapid rescore is a service, available only through mortgage lenders, that updates your score at the bureau level within 3–5 business days after a verified change — instead of waiting for the monthly reporting cycle. For example, if you pay down a card to lower utilization, your lender submits documentation and requests an expedited update. It can't be requested by consumers directly and is most useful when you're a few points below a qualifying threshold with a specific, documentable change.
Working With Us
About Maximum FICO Score and how we serve you.
Do you charge fees before you start working?
No. Federal law (CROA) prohibits credit repair organizations from collecting fees before services are performed, and we follow it strictly. Your initial assessment and first consultation are always free. Ongoing credit repair is paid, but you only pay for work that has been performed. We explain the full cost structure — and what's free versus paid — before you make any commitment.
Do you serve clients outside of Bakersfield?
Yes. Our office is at 4646 Wilson Road in Bakersfield, California, but we serve clients in all 50 states. The entire process can be completed remotely through our secure client portal, phone, and email. Local Kern County clients are always welcome to visit in person. See our Bakersfield & Kern County page for local details.
Do you offer credit repair in Spanish?
Yes. Atención en español. Our bilingual team supports Spanish-speaking clients through the entire process — from your free assessment to monthly progress updates — in Bakersfield and nationwide.
Is my personal information safe and confidential?
Yes. We handle your information through a secure client portal and use it only to provide your credit services. As stated in our privacy disclosures, we do not sell or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. We comply with applicable privacy laws including the CCPA. You can review our privacy policy anytime.
Can credit repair help me qualify for a mortgage or auto loan?
It can help by correcting inaccurate items and coaching you on the factors lenders weigh, which may improve your credit profile and the terms you're offered. We coordinate with your loan officer and time our work to your application. However, we are not a lender or broker and cannot guarantee approval — final decisions depend on lender underwriting. Results vary by individual credit profile.
Still Have Questions About Your Credit?
Get honest answers about your specific situation with a free, no-obligation credit assessment. We'll review your reports and tell you exactly what's possible — no upfront fees.
661-505-8085Important Disclosures: Maximum FICO Score operates in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), and California Credit Services Act. We do not guarantee the removal of any specific item or any specific score increase. You have the right to dispute inaccurate information with the credit bureaus directly at no cost. Results vary by individual credit profile. This page is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal or financial advice. FICO® is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation. • 4646 Wilson Road, Suite 101, Bakersfield, CA 93309 • (661) 505-8085