Review Chicago was designed as a website for Chicago related news and views. In addition, we publish credit repair articles and restoration guidance and suggestions. In 2010, I started on a journey to restore my credit after spending most of my adult life to that point being irresponsible with money. This journey took me through creating multiple websites, writing a book, and operating as a moderator on the most popular credit repair forum. In 2020, I decided to add it this website by consolidating all my previous content and providing it free.
I am not a consumer finance lawyer. I am an informed consumer. The guidance and tactics on this website are based in fundamental knowledge of the FCRA and the FDCPA. Everything you read here is use at your own risk. I take no responsibility for the results of any actions taken on suggestion of this website. Or as my dad used to say; “your mileage may vary”
What I do pledge is:
- Tactics and guidance are fact based. I started this journey looking to get back to square one with my credit, not eliminate legitimate debt. In fact, I paid well over 50k over two years to handle my debt responsibly. This is why many of the approaches discuss pay for delete, or by pay followed by good will letters. If you are looking to “get away” with something, this website will not really help you with that.
- I am not a credit repair service. I do not offer results or directly assist. I do not take money from anyone to personally restore their credit.
- I will not ask for money from anything on any post or page on this website. I have written a couple books, and I have advertising on the website. If you feel inclined, you may support that way. There will never be a paywall. The information and approaches here are often based in tried and true methods of credit repair. While I feel I have a very solid approach to credit repair, nothing here is truly groundbreaking. Perhaps perspective breaking, but not groundbreaking.
- There are changes to credit reporting agencies and how they approach things all the time. Keep in mind information may be outdated by the time you read it. Use the dates of the post to help you determine how recent it is. The tactics may still be useful, but posts about specific collection accounts might only provide strategy now rather than straight guidance.
This is my ethics pledge. I do not believe the credit reporting agencies are the bad guys. I don’t believe reputable collection companies are the devil. I believe, however, we all should have the opportunity to make amends for past credit mistakes. I also feel that if an entity (such as a collection company or creditor) is intentionally violating laws set by congress (the FCRA, FDCPA) a consumer should throw the book at them.