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If you’re trying to clean up your credit, you’ll come across plenty of companies offering an easy fix. But any company promising instant results for a price is likely a scam. The FTC says Grand Teton is one of those companies. In its lawsuit, the FTC says Grand Teton tricked people into paying hundreds – even thousands – of dollars for so-called credit repair services.

Through websites, sales calls, convincing emails, and text messages, the company allegedly promised to boost credit scores by removing all negative items, among other things, from customers’ credit reports – and also boost scores by adding the customer as an authorized user on other people’s credit cards. But people who signed up with Grand Teton didn’t see a significant change in their credit scores, despite paying hefty (and illegal) up-front fees. And, if consumers complained or tried to get their money back from their bank, Grand Teton allegedly threatened to slap them with lawsuits.

Here’s the thing about credit repair: there’s rarely an instant fix. To clean up your credit and protect yourself from credit scams:

  • Get a free copy of your credit report. Review it carefully. Do you recognize all the accounts listed?
  • If you find mistakes, contact the credit bureau and the business that reported the information. They must delete inaccurate or incomplete information. You don’t have to pay anyone to do this for you – you can dispute inaccurate items on your credit report yourself, for free. There’s nothing a company could do for you that you couldn’t do yourself.
  • Only time can correct negative, accurate information on your credit report. You can rebuild your credit by paying your bills on time, paying off debt and not creating new debt.

If you need help cleaning up your credit:

  • Contact a legitimate credit counseling organization. Good credit counselors review your whole financial situation before they make a plan. They won’t promise to fix all your problems or ask you to pay in advance.
  • Learn how to spot a credit repair scam. Does the company ask for money up front? Did they say not to contact the credit bureaus yourself? Or tell you to dispute accurate information on your credit report? If you said “yes” to any of those, stop right there. You’re probably dealing with a scam.

Learn more about cleaning up your credit history. And, if you know about a credit repair scam, report it to the FTC.

 

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1ConcernedCitizen
June 24, 2019
If you are a victim of identity theft, expect to need a lawyer's help to remove legitimate documented fraud. It seems the bureaus won't remove it and the collector's go sell it to a new company so that it won't get removed. Everyone seems to want to scam you.
FTC Staff
July 05, 2019

In reply to by 1ConcernedCitizen

If you are a victim of identity theft, go to www.IdentityTheft.gov and create an identity theft affidavit. You can use the affidavit and Sample Letters from IdentityTheft.gov to tell creditors and credit reporting agencies about the theft and correct problems.

Leons6kids
June 25, 2019
My husband and had lived in Mexico several years and always on alert to scams. When we moved back to Kansas we were completely nieve of the way things had changed. We trusted everyone; we were in the U.S.! We bought a motorcycle for $20,000. When it was inspected by DV for title, it had a salvaged title and only worth $10,000. We sued & owner filed bankruptcy. We were scamed out of most $30,000 by buying things we didn't receive and ,then, trusting credit repair ,we paid them every month but they did not pay our companies. When medical issues hit us we filed for bankruptcy. We learned a hard lesson
abhi02666
July 05, 2019
To clean up your credit and protect yourself from credit scams: You’re probably dealing with a scam. If you said “yes” to any of those, stop right there.
Tjeanc1968
July 05, 2019
Even though I know this has happened to me, in the most severe degree,. I feel like I'm the bad guy, and not only did I get violated I am now working double time to prove it,and the people who have been doing this to me are living there life (and my life) as if nothing is wrong and feeling carefree and worry free... Why is it so hard to be good, yet so easy to be bad???
PEM1004
July 09, 2019
I received the secret shopper check for $3,450.42 with instructions to deposit the check and purchase 15 gift cards in the amount of $200 each. Then gently peel off the silver scratch off area and take a picture of the #s and send in with the evaluations . If asked if you are a secret shopper you are to say no. First of all to purchase that many GC at one time you will definitely draw attention to your purchases.
lucas
September 27, 2019
Identity theft is a modern phenomenon that people seem to be struggling with. In this new age of information and technology, hackers and invisible cons have advanced the game and before you realize your bank account can be wiped out before you wake up from the slumber. Be vigilant, information is paramount but how you keep it matters a great deal.
Global credit …
January 27, 2020
Phone scam; Caller attempted to ask for my credit card number and expiration date. Wanted to offer free interest up to a year on credit card. I called the number back which reflected out of service. 910-521-7616. Watch out everyone
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