Credit Repair & FICO Score — Frequently Asked Questions

Credit repair is the process of reviewing your credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, identifying information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable, and disputing that information under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). At Maximum FICO Score, we combine professional dispute management with personalized credit education.

Yes — credit repair is 100% legal. Under the FCRA and CROA, every American consumer has the legal right to dispute inaccurate, unverifiable, or outdated information on their credit reports. Maximum FICO Score operates in full compliance with all federal and state consumer protection laws.

Yes — you have the legal right to dispute items directly with the credit bureaus. However, working with a professional saves time, ensures correct procedures, and manages multiple disputes across all three bureaus simultaneously.

Under the FCRA, you can dispute any item that is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable:

• Late payments reported in error
• Collections that are outdated, paid, or not yours
• Charge-offs with incorrect balances or dates
• Duplicate accounts
• Medical debt errors
• Identity theft accounts
• Repossessions with inaccurate details
• Bankruptcies past the 10-year reporting limit
• Satisfied judgments or liens not updated

Credit repair focuses on disputing inaccurate items. Credit counseling includes budgeting, debt management, and financial education. Maximum FICO Score provides both.

• 30–60 days: First dispute responses from bureaus
• 3–6 months: Most clients see meaningful improvements
• 6–12+ months: Complex cases (bankruptcies, multiple collections)

Credit bureaus must respond within 30 days by law.

No — and any company that does is breaking the law. Under CROA, no credit repair company may legally guarantee specific score results. Our clients have seen average improvements of 50 to 175+ points, and we back our service with a satisfaction guarantee.

No. Disputes do not appear on your credit report as negative items. When negative items are removed, your score typically improves.

• Average FICO improvements of 50 to 175+ points
• Removal of collections, charge-offs, and late payments
• Mortgage, auto loan, and credit card approvals
• Lower interest rates saving thousands of dollars
• Credit rebuilding after bankruptcy within 12–24 months

A FICO Score ranges from 300 to 850 and is used by approximately 90% of top U.S. lenders. It affects mortgages, car loans, credit cards, apartment rentals, insurance premiums, and some jobs.

• Payment History — 35%: Whether you pay on time
• Credit Utilization — 30%: Keep below 30%, ideally below 10%
• Length of Credit History — 15%: Older accounts help
• Credit Mix — 10%: Variety of account types
• New Credit Inquiries — 10%: Multiple hard inquiries can temporarily lower your score

• 800–850: Exceptional
• 740–799: Very Good
• 670–739: Good
• 580–669: Fair
• 300–579: Poor

Our goal is to help clients reach 700+, working toward 740+ for the best opportunities.

• Step 1: Full three-bureau credit report analysis
• Step 2: Personal information verification across bureaus
• Step 3: Strategic FCRA-compliant dispute submissions
• Step 4: Direct creditor follow-ups when appropriate
• Step 5: Ongoing monitoring and progress reporting
• Step 6: Credit-building guidance throughout

No — responsible credit use accelerates improvement. Make all payments on time, keep balances below 30%, and avoid new credit applications unless advised.

Every client receives a 24/7 online client portal to track disputes, bureau responses, removed items, and score progress.

All client data is stored in secure, encrypted systems. We never share your information with third parties for marketing. We comply with all applicable privacy regulations.

Yes. We help with debt validation (FDCPA), pay-for-delete strategies, goodwill letter campaigns, debt settlement guidance, and referrals to licensed professionals when appropriate.

A pay-for-delete is a negotiated agreement where you pay a collector in exchange for removal of the account from your credit report — rather than just marking it "paid."

Under the FDCPA, you can request a collector prove the debt is yours. If they cannot validate it, they must stop collection activity and may need to remove it from your report.

Yes. We guide clients on secured credit cards, credit-builder loans, rent/utility reporting, authorized user strategies, and account structure optimization.

Chapter 7 stays 10 years; Chapter 13 stays 7 years — but you can rebuild immediately after discharge. Many clients see significant improvement within 12 to 24 months.

Form an LLC/corporation, get an EIN, open a business bank account, establish vendor trade lines, and apply for a business credit card. Contact us to learn more →

• Call us: 661-505-8085
• Free Assessment: Complete our online credit assessment
• Visit us: 4646 Wilson Road, Suite 101, Bakersfield, CA 93309

No long-term contracts. No hidden fees.

Based in Bakersfield, California, serving clients throughout the United States — fully remote. Local: Bakersfield, Delano, Shafter, Tehachapi. Also: LA, Fresno, Riverside, San Jose, Irvine, Long Beach, Anaheim, San Diego, Sacramento, and all 50 states.

Affordable, straightforward pricing with no hidden fees. Visit our Plans & Pricing page or call 661-505-8085.

We back our services with a satisfaction guarantee. Under CROA we cannot guarantee specific score increases, but we promise diligent, ethical, transparent work every step of the way.