The first step in repairing bad personal credit is of course identifying that you in fact have it and more importantly, why. So a good place to start is with a credit report. There are a number of websites today that offer credit reports. While some of these sites are somewhat dubious, others can provide some valuable insights into your credit history, explaining why you might have bad personal credit. Some good examples of credit report companies include Equifax and Experian. See our 3 Major Credit Bureaus page for further details.
Often times when you get a credit report you’ll see that your bad personal credit is due simply to a forgotten bill or two you never paid. Many businesses trying to collect on a late bill will turn to collection agencies, which will in turn wreak havoc on your credit rating until you pay up. Although these collection agencies are always supposed to contact you first, they don’t always succeed in reaching you if you move around a lot and so you may have been a target for one of these companies without ever knowing it.