What Texas lets you fix yourself, for free

We charge for this work, so it counts for something to say plainly: you can do all of it yourself, and the law says so. Whether you should is a different question, and it comes down to time, patience and follow-through.

The free version, start to finish

• Pull all three reports at AnnualCreditReport.com — free, and the only federally authorized source.
• Go through them line by line and flag anything inaccurate, duplicated, outdated or that is not yours.
• File a dispute with each bureau online, by mail or by phone. Keep the confirmation numbers.
• Wait 30 days for the results, then review what changed and what came back verified.
• Repeat on the items that were verified incorrectly, and request the method of verification.
• File complaints with the CFPB or the Texas Attorney General if a bureau ignores a valid dispute.

Where it gets hard

The work is not complicated. It is repetitive. Three bureaus, several items, multiple rounds, each with its own deadline and paperwork — and the discipline to keep a paper trail for months. Most people who start alone get one or two rounds in before life intervenes.

What Texas requires of anyone you pay

• A written contract describing the services and the total cost.
• Your right to cancel within three business days of signing.
• Registration and bonding with the state as a credit services organization.
• No guaranteed outcomes and no misleading claims about what can be deleted.

When hiring someone is worth it

If your file has a handful of errors and you have the time, do it yourself — genuinely. Hiring a company makes sense when the file is complicated, when several rounds are needed, or when your time is the scarce resource. Any honest company will tell you the same thing at the consultation.