Millions of Americans have fallen under the impression that they can make a monitary investment to enlist the help of third party companies to help them get their "credit repaired" and improve their credit scores! Please take a look at the link provided below to get SCAM ALERT info about what is going on with "credit repair" companies, and how to avoid falling victim to their promises!
The link is for an article written by Sid Kirchheimer, author of Scam-Proof Your Life, published by AARP Books/Sterling. One thing to focus on from this article, is in the sectoin about KNOW THE REALITIES, and it says that "under federal law, debt remains in a credit report for about seven years; bankruptcies stay listed for 10 years. And it's illegal in many states to accept an advance payment for any debt-adjusting service".
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourmoney/scamalert/articles/credit_repair_s_dirty_business_.html