Even if the credit bureau removes information that a credit bureau had the right to include in your file, it's no doubt only a temporary removal. Most correct information reappears after 30-60 days when the creditor that first reported the information to the credit bureaus re-reports it.

Get outstanding debt balances and court judgments removed from your credit file. Credit repair clinics often advise debtors to pay outstanding debts if the creditor agrees to remove the negative information from your credit file. This is certainly a negotiation tactic you want to consider, but you don't need to pay a credit repair clinic for this advice.

Get you a major credit card. Credit repair clinics can give you a list of banks that offer secured credit cards. While this information is helpful in rebuilding credit, it's not worth hundreds or thousands of dollars -- you can find this information yourself for little or nothing.

Many states and the federal government regulate for-profit credit repair clinics, or even prohibit them from doing business. Some dubious credit repair clinics have tried to get around these regulations by setting themselves up as nonprofits, but still take your money and provide poor results. Before using any organization that claims to be a nonprofit, carefully check the company's fees, claims of what it can do and its reputation. Call the Better Business Bureau or ask for the names of satisfied customers.