Maybe you have just checked your credit report after a long while – or for your first time and discovered all sorts of ugly surprises. You obviously want to fix credit report errors, but where do you begin? There are tons of so-called experts online, but who can you really trust?

Many government organizations and private companies try to convince the American public that credit repair is illegal or that it is only for deadbeat debtors looking to escape paying for legitimate debts. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Its not in the interest of large lending corporations, creditors, and credit bureaus for you to pursue your legal right to remove questionable items from your credit report. This is what you have to keep in mind when you encounter any of the common myths about online credit repair.

Credit bureaus and bankers often publish information to imply that credit repair is illegal or impossible. In fact, one of the biggest misrepresentations is that a mistake – or negative item must remain on your file for at least seven years. The opposite is true, the government created a law that states seven years is the absolute maximum amount of time a bureau can hold this negative information against you.

Approximately thirty years ago the government enacted laws to help you – the consumer – when it comes to repairing an inaccurate report. Specifically, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, or FCRA is a collection of laws that are designed to regulate the large consumer agencies. These laws allow you to challenge any information that is inaccurate or incomplete.

Attorneys who are involved with consumer credit advocacy often are outraged when bankers claim information must remain on your file for seven years. The truth is that creditors and bureaus can report any information as long or short as they like.

Removing a questionable item from your record is within your legal rights and can be accomplished by way of a dispute. After you file your dispute the bureaus and creditors must perform an investigation within a time period. If they fail to do so, the questionable item must be removed.

There are so many reasons for challenging negative items. For example, often a negative item may belong to another person altogether. Or, perhaps the item is a duplicate. In other words, different parties may be reporting the exact same debt multiple times on your files.

Credit repair can prove to be a confusing and overwhelming process – especially if the bureaus fail to acknowledge your requests. If this happens – as it often does – you may consider enlisting a professional credit repair law firm. If so, make sure to verify that the law firm in question has experience and a track record of satisfied customers.