Credit Pilgrim

Navigate Your Credit Successfully

Neal Frankle
I’m Neal Frankle, Certified Financial Planner™. Credit problems are a serious business. In fact they changed my entire family life when I was 16. This site is here to help you repair your credit without getting ripped off. Read my story.
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About me - Neal Frankle

I’m Neal Frankle, Certified Financial Planner™. Credit problems are a serious business. In fact they changed my entire family life when I was 16. This site is here to help you repair your credit without getting ripped off. Read my story.

My Story

I have been a financial advisor since 1985 and I became a Certified Financial Planner™ in 1994. Since then, my business has been to help clients get their financial lives together although I don’t do credit repair work directly. And I can tell you that there is nothing more important in your financial world than having the best credit rating you can get. I know this from personal experience.

When I was 15 my mother died and when I was 17 my father was killed in an airplane crash. Before he died, my father was so distraught by my mother’s death that he ignored his financial life completely. As a result he ran it into the ground by not paying our bills.

The utility company shut off the power to our home and the water company shut off the water completely. We were visited regularly by the sheriff who served eviction notices and other payment demands. This was on top of the constant knocking on our door at all hours of the day and the non-stop calling by debt collectors.

And because my father completely trashed his credit, it was extremely difficult to find anyone who would rent us a place to live after we got thrown out of our house. It was frightening to say the least and made worse by the feeling of being completely powerless and at the mercy of my father’s creditors and bill collectors.

I am not in the credit repair business as I said. That’s not how I make my living. But I do know a lot about it because my profession demands it. And I created this site for three reasons:

  1. Education

    you need to know the real story of how credit repair works, how collectors, creditors and credit bureaus operate and how the law protects you. I took an in-depth look at all the components of the credit repair process and I break them down for you on this site. And I explain how they work in plain English so you can take your credit life back – really. There is a lot you can do yourself to vastly increase your credit history and score.

  2. No Rip Offs Please

    Credit repair is a huge industry. The companies in this business tell you that they can help you wipe your credit clean. I admit that there are some professionals out there who are for real. But mostly the field is cluttered with schemers and scammers guaranteed to waste you time and take your money.

    I’ll show you how to spot the legitimate pros from the make-believe players. Just working with the right people makes all the difference in credit repair if you decide you don’t want to do this by yourself.

  3. Credit Repair Service Sales

    As I said above, I’m not in the credit repair business but I need to know a lot about it because of the business I am in. I spent and spend hours researching this topic so you don’t suffer the same consequences I did growing up. From time to time, I may recommend using a credit repair firm if I feel they continue to be a good value for my readers. If you sign up with them, I will be paid a referral fee.

    To be frank, I think that’s fair. I spend a good chunk of time each updating this site and making sure you have the most effective credit repair tools possible. And while I honestly don’t think everyone needs professional help, what’s wrong with being paid if you decide you do want a professional on your side and I steer you in the direction of a reputable firm? Nothing.

Why not look around the site right now? There is a lot of good information that should answer many of your questions. You can also send me an email if that would be useful to you.

If you want to protect your family against the terror that I faced as a kid, I want to be part of your team. If you suffer from bad credit, you’ll find all the resources you need right here to turn that ship around. Here’s the best post to help you get a quick start on your road to fixing your credit.

All the best,
Neal

Credit is NOT Free Money – And What Happens When You Think It Is

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

Ask anyone if credit is free money, and you’re likely to get a response along the lines of absolutely not! But turn the same person loose in an environment where they need to make a major purchase, and they may behave in a way that makes you think otherwise. That’s because the concept of credit […]

My Credit Cards are Maxed Out – Now What?

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

When you reach a point where your credit cards are maxed out, a whole chain of events begins to unfold, none of which are pleasant. It’s not a significant issue if one of your credit cards is maxed out. But if several or all are maxed out that’s a problem. And unfortunately, there isn’t an […]

Your Credit Card Limits Are Increasing – Is that Really a Good Thing?

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

It can be a real breath of fresh air when you open up a letter from a credit card company and find out that they just increased your credit card limit. After all, the mail often brings less satisfying correspondence, like bills. Not only does an increased credit limit bring greater spending flexibility, but it’s […]

How a Bad Credit Score Can Affect Leasing an Apartment

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

We naturally expect that credit will be issued when applying for a mortgage to buy a house. But it can also matter when it comes to renting. A bad credit score can affect leasing an apartment, and often in ways that aren’t obvious. Most Landlords Will Check Your Credit Just as is the case with […]

8 Common Credit Report Errors You May Need to Repair

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

There are common errors that can appear on your credit report and drag your credit score down. You may need to repair these errors. Some may seem to be errors, but the information is actually accurate. How they came to be is the real issue. Certain repairs can be fairly easy to fix, while others […]

Are You Keeping Credit Secrets?

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

You’re probably familiar with the concept of a “white lie”. That’s a fib in which you either distort facts or deny the existence of a situation because it probably won’t hurt anyone – or so we like to think. In truth, most white lies occur not because they’re harmless, but precisely because they can cause […]

You May Need Credit Repair if You’re the Victim of Identity Theft

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

If you’ve ever been a victim of identity theft, know anyone else who has, or have read some of the horror stories, then you know how debilitating the situation can be. Your credit can be destroyed, your savings depleted, and your life impaired – all for a situation that you didn’t create. The credit damage […]

Credit and Debt Problems Can Sabotage Your Retirement

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

The Internet is filled with articles and websites that deal with accumulating enough money to achieve a comfortable retirement. But credit and debt problems can sabotage your retirement, even if you have adequate income sources lined up. While your income sources may provide you with the means to retire, your credit and debt problems are […]

6 Mistakes That Can Torpedo Your Credit

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

Most people who are mired in credit problems, or have recently moved beyond them, can point to specific reasons why they got into trouble. There are mistakes that can torpedo your credit, and only when you know what they are can you possibly hope to avoid them. Here are six of the most common mistakes […]

Can You Have Bad Credit Even if You Have No Debt?

by Neal Frankle, CFP®

On the surface, this seems entirely improbable. Bad credit, even if you have no debt? Actually, it’s not unlikely at all. Credit reports and credit scores are a measure of your credit history, much more so than an evaluation of the current state of your finances. There are all kinds of credit situations that can […]

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