CREDIT REPAIR SPECIALIST COURSE
8 Weeks. 4 Comprehensive Segments. Real-World Credit Repair Training.
Welcome to the Dunigan Investment Group Credit Repair Specialist Course.
This comprehensive 8-week training program was created for individuals who want to develop a deeper, professional understanding of credit repair, consumer reporting, dispute strategy, consumer protection laws, documentation, and the complete credit restoration process.
This is not a basic course built around copying and pasting dispute letters.
We teach you how to understand what you're looking at, identify what may be wrong, determine why it may be disputable, know where the information originated, understand which laws and consumer rights may apply, document your position, submit the appropriate dispute, evaluate the response, and determine what should happen next.
Our goal is to develop knowledgeable Credit Repair Specialists who understand the process instead of simply following a script.
Whether you're interested in repairing your own credit, helping family and friends, adding credit repair to an existing financial-services business, or building a career or business within the credit repair industry, this course provides the foundation and advanced knowledge necessary to understand how professional credit restoration works.
HOW THE COURSE WORKS
The Credit Repair Specialist Course is conducted over 8 weeks and divided into 4 comprehensive training segments. Each segment covers approximately two weeks of training and builds upon what you learned in the previous segment.
Credit Repair Fundamentals, Consumer Reporting Agencies, Credit Reports & The FCRA
Hands-On Credit Repair, Negative Accounts & Dispute Strategy
Advanced Negative Accounts, Public Records, Research & Investigation
Advanced Disputes, Escalation, Accountability & Consumer Rights
Throughout the program, students will move from understanding the fundamentals to applying those principles to real-world credit profiles. By the end of the course, our goal is for you to understand not only how to dispute credit information but how to think like a Credit Repair Specialist.
Weeks 1–2: Credit Repair Fundamentals, Consumer Reporting Agencies, Credit Reports & The Fair Credit Reporting Act
Your first two weeks establish the foundation for everything you will learn during the remainder of the program.
Before you can effectively challenge questionable information appearing within a consumer's credit profile, you must first understand how consumer reporting works.
You need to know who is collecting the information, where that information originates, who supplies it, how it reaches a consumer report, how it is being reported, and which organizations may be involved.
Most consumers are familiar with the three major nationwide credit bureaus:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
However, professional credit repair goes much deeper than the Big Three.
Going Beyond Equifax, Experian & TransUnion
One of the areas that separates our Credit Repair Specialist Course from basic credit repair education is our focus on the broader consumer reporting ecosystem. There are specialty and secondary consumer reporting agencies that may maintain information about consumers outside of the traditional Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit files.
During Segment 1, students will be introduced to companies and reporting systems that may include:
Depending upon the reporting agency, these databases may contain different types of consumer information. This information may potentially include:
- Consumer identity information
- Previous addresses
- Current addresses
- Public-record-related information
- Alternative credit information
- Banking-related information
- Property information
- Rental or housing information
- Identity verification information
- Fraud-prevention information
- Insurance-related information
- Consumer risk information
- Financial history
- Other data used during underwriting or verification
Students will learn why these companies matter and why a complete understanding of a consumer's financial reporting profile may occasionally require looking beyond the three major credit reports.
Understanding How Consumer Information Travels
A Credit Repair Specialist should understand the path information can take before it ultimately appears within a consumer's credit profile. Throughout this portion of the course, you will begin learning how information can move between:
Understanding this chain becomes extremely important when trying to determine where questionable information originated. You will learn to ask questions such as:
- Who originally reported this information?
- Who currently owns the account?
- Is a collection agency involved?
- Is the information coming directly from a creditor?
- Which consumer reporting agency maintains the information?
- Is another database contributing information?
- Does the information match across reporting agencies?
- Are there inconsistencies between different reports?
- Where should an investigation begin?
- Who should receive the dispute?
- What documentation should support the dispute?
Instead of blindly sending letters, you will learn how to investigate the source of information first.
Understanding the Fair Credit Reporting Act
A major portion of Segment 1 focuses on the Fair Credit Reporting Act, commonly known as the FCRA. The FCRA is one of the primary federal laws governing consumer reporting. Students will learn why this law is so important to the credit repair process and how it establishes rights and responsibilities involving consumers, consumer reporting agencies, and companies that furnish consumer information.
Rather than simply memorizing statutes, our objective is to teach you how consumer protection laws relate to real credit situations.
Students will learn about:
- The purpose of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Consumer rights involving credit reporting
- Responsibilities of consumer reporting agencies
- Responsibilities of information furnishers
- Accuracy requirements
- Investigation procedures
- Dispute rights
- Consumer disclosure rights
- Permissible-purpose concepts
- The importance of complete reporting
- The importance of accurate reporting
- The importance of verifiable reporting
- Reinvestigation concepts
- Documentation requirements
- Follow-up procedures
- The importance of maintaining records
You will begin learning how to recognize situations where consumer reporting information may require further investigation.
Major Bureaus vs. Specialty Consumer Reporting Agencies
Students will learn that the FCRA is not simply a law involving Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Other companies may also operate as consumer reporting agencies depending upon the information they collect and how that information is used. This is why Credit Repair Specialists should understand the broader industry.
You will begin learning the potential roles of organizations such as:
LexisNexis
Students will learn why LexisNexis may become relevant when reviewing identity information, addresses, public-record-related information, and other consumer data.
SageStream
Students will learn about SageStream and why alternative consumer information can become relevant when evaluating certain consumer reporting situations.
Innovis
Students will learn about Innovis and why consumers may have reporting information maintained outside of the traditional three nationwide credit reports.
CoreLogic
Students will be introduced to CoreLogic and the types of property, housing, rental, financial, and consumer information that may exist within various databases.
ARS
Students will also be introduced to ARS and the broader concept of specialty consumer reporting databases that may be relevant during certain investigations.
The objective isn't simply to memorize these names. You will learn why these agencies can matter, when they may become relevant, and how they may fit into a larger credit repair strategy.
Learning How to Read a Credit Report
One of the most important skills a Credit Repair Specialist can possess is the ability to properly read and analyze a credit report. A credit report contains considerably more information than a credit score.
Students will learn how to examine:
Comparing Credit Reports
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion do not always display the exact same information. One bureau may show an account differently from another. Students will learn how to compare reports and identify possible discrepancies involving:
- • Balances
- • Account status
- • Payment history
- • Dates
- • Ownership
- • Account numbers
- • Collection information
- • Creditor names
- • Remarks
- • Personal information
Learning how to identify these inconsistencies is an important part of professional credit analysis.
Building a Complete Client Profile & Segment 1 Objective
Credit repair requires organization. Students will learn how to create and maintain an organized client profile containing the documents and information needed throughout the credit repair process. This may include:
Proper organization allows you to know exactly where the client started, what has already been done, what happened, and what needs to happen next.
Segment 1 Objective:
By the completion of Weeks 1 and 2, students should have a much stronger understanding of who reports consumer information, how consumer reporting works, how to read a credit report, how to identify potential inconsistencies, how the FCRA relates to the credit repair process, why specialty reporting agencies can matter, and how to properly organize a client profile. Segment 1 creates the foundation for everything that follows.
Weeks 3–4: Hands-On Credit Repair, Negative Accounts & Dispute Strategy
Now it's time to take everything you learned during Segment 1 and begin applying it. Weeks 3 and 4 move students from education into application.
Students will begin working with an actual credit profile. You may choose your own credit profile or, with proper permission, select someone close to you who can serve as a practical case study during the course. This allows you to experience the credit repair process in real time.
Conducting a Complete Credit Audit
Before sending the first dispute, students will learn how to perform a detailed credit audit. This means examining the entire profile rather than immediately attacking negative accounts. You will begin identifying:
- Potentially inaccurate information
- Potentially incomplete information
- Outdated information
- Duplicate reporting
- Balance discrepancies
- Account-status discrepancies
- Incorrect dates
- Payment-history inconsistencies
- Questionable ownership
- Unrecognized accounts
- Personal-information problems
- Accounts appearing differently across bureaus
- Potentially unverifiable information
The objective is to determine why an item may warrant investigation before disputing it.
Understanding Different Types of Negative Accounts
Not all negative credit items are the same. During Segment 2, students will learn how to identify and analyze different categories of derogatory information:
Inquiry Analysis
Hard vs. soft inquiries, permissible purpose, authorized vs. unauthorized inquiries, dates, creditor ID, and documentation.
Collection Accounts
Original creditor, collection agency, balances, ownership, date of first delinquency, duplicates, and settlement reporting.
Medical Collections
Unique reporting circumstances, HIPAA considerations, reporting dates, consistency, and current procedures.
Late Payment Analysis
30/60/90+ day delinquencies, payment histories, creditor records, and bureau-to-bureau reporting differences.
Charge-Offs
Status, charge-off dates, original balances, collection activity, related accounts, and duplicate reporting checks.
Personal Information Disputes
Misspelled/incorrect names, previous addresses, old employment data, and resolving mixed-file issues.
Creating Your First Dispute Round & Writing Effective Disputes
After completing the credit audit, students will begin organizing their first dispute round. You will learn how to determine which accounts should be addressed, why each account is being challenged, which information is questionable, which documents should be included, which bureau or furnisher should receive the dispute, what outcome is being requested, and how disputes should be tracked. A dispute should be specific and purposeful.
We will discuss the difference between generic disputes and fact-specific disputes. Students will learn why simply downloading the same dispute letter used by thousands of other people is not always the strongest approach.
The objective is not to make letters sound threatening—the objective is to make them clear, organized, documented, and relevant.
Mailing, Tracking & Documentation
Learn what was sent, who received it, when it was sent, response tracking, score changes, and next actions.
Understanding Dispute Rounds
Learn how to approach Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, evolving strategy based upon previous bureau responses.
Segment 2 Objective:
By the completion of Weeks 3 and 4, students should be able to take a consumer credit profile and begin developing a legitimate, organized strategy for addressing questionable negative information. You should understand how to analyze, document, dispute, track, evaluate, and know why you're doing each one.
Weeks 5–6: Advanced Negative Accounts, Public Records, Research & Investigation
Weeks 5 and 6 move into more complicated credit situations. This segment is extremely important because serious negative information often requires significantly more research than a basic credit dispute.
Many inexperienced individuals make the mistake of approaching every negative account the same way. They send one generic dispute letter regardless of whether they're dealing with a $300 collection or a major derogatory event. That is not our approach.
Understanding Advanced Negative Information
Students will begin learning how to research and analyze more complicated situations involving:
Advanced derogatory information can involve courts, creditors, auto lenders, mortgage companies, collection agencies, property-management companies, public databases, specialty consumer reporting agencies, data vendors, and major credit bureaus.
The Step-by-Step Research Process
Determine exactly what is appearing within the report.
Determine which organization provides or maintains it.
Identify documents associated with the account/public record.
Compare reported items against available records.
Look for differences in dates, balances, status, ownership.
Decide which issue should actually be challenged.
Maintain complete records of every action taken.
Determine if resolved or additional investigation is required.
Segment 3 Objective:
By the completion of Weeks 5 and 6, students should have a much deeper understanding of how to approach difficult credit situations. Instead of treating every negative account the same, you should begin understanding how to research the source, investigate the information, compare documentation, identify inconsistencies, and develop an account-specific strategy.
Weeks 7–8: Advanced Disputes, Escalation, Accountability & Consumer Rights
What happens when the first dispute doesn't work?
Many people know how to send a dispute. Far fewer people understand what to do when the bureau responds: "Verified," "Updated," "Remains," or provides another response that does not resolve the consumer's concern. Segment 4 teaches students how to evaluate what happened and determine the next appropriate step.
Stop Sending the Same Letter: A common mistake is repeatedly sending identical dispute letters for Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3. That isn't strategy. A professional approach evaluates each response.
Accountability & Monetary Damages
There are circumstances where violations of consumer protection laws may potentially create legal remedies for consumers. Dunigan Investment Group has personally encountered situations where documented consumer reporting issues ultimately resulted in monetary resolutions. Those experiences may be discussed as educational examples during the course.
Crucial Distinction:
WE DO NOT TEACH YOU TO BULLY CREDIT BUREAUS INTO PAYING YOU MONEY. We do not teach students to manufacture violations, submit frivolous disputes, make false claims, or threaten consumer reporting agencies simply because a negative account was not removed.
Major credit bureaus and financial institutions have sophisticated legal teams. Our responsibility is to make you a better Credit Repair Specialist—not a credit attorney.
Knowing When Credit Repair Ends and Legal Assistance Begins
One of the marks of a professional is knowing the limits of their role. Credit Repair Specialists should understand when a matter may require assistance from a qualified consumer attorney. Students will learn why certain situations involving potential statutory damages, litigation, complex legal interpretation, or serious consumer-rights violations may need to be referred to legal counsel.
Developing Your Advanced Credit Repair Mindset:
Instead of asking "What letter should I send?", you should begin asking:
- • What happened?
- • What did I dispute?
- • What was their response?
- • What documentation do I have?
- • What changed?
- • What didn't change? Why?
- • What consumer right applies?
- • What is the next action?
Segment 4 Objective:
By the completion of Weeks 7 and 8, students should understand how to handle situations where the initial credit repair process does not produce the desired result. You will understand follow-up disputes, advanced dispute rounds, investigation responses, reinvestigation concepts, documentation, escalation procedures, consumer complaints, furnisher disputes, specialty reporting disputes, consumer rights, accountability, potential legal remedies, and when legal assistance may become appropriate.
HANDS-ON TRAINING & STUDENT SUPPORT
You're Not Left Alone to Figure It Out
The Dunigan Investment Group Credit Repair Specialist Course is designed to provide more than prerecorded information. Students will have opportunities to receive additional guidance throughout the eight-week program. Support may include:
Scheduled Zoom Sessions
Live training sessions to discuss material, review examples, ask questions, and receive clarification.
Phone Q&A Sessions
Scheduled phone Q&A sessions available to help students better understand the information being taught.
FaceTime Sessions
When appropriate and scheduled, FaceTime may be used to provide direct guidance.
Real-World Case Studies
Opportunities to apply course principles to actual consumer credit situations.
Hands-On Credit Report Analysis
You won't simply hear us explain how credit reports work—you'll learn how to actually sit down, analyze information, identify problems, and develop a strategy.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SENDING DISPUTES AND BECOMING A SPECIALIST
Almost anyone can find a dispute letter online. That does not make someone a Credit Repair Specialist.
A knowledgeable Credit Repair Specialist understands:
YOUR 8-WEEK ROADMAP
Segment 1: Credit Repair Fundamentals, Consumer Reporting Agencies & The FCRA
Learn how consumer reporting works, understand the FCRA, examine the Big Three and specialty consumer reporting agencies, read credit reports, identify potential reporting issues, and build organized client profiles.
Segment 2: Hands-On Credit Repair & Dispute Strategy
Apply your knowledge to an actual credit profile. Learn how to audit reports, analyze negative accounts, address inquiries, collections, medical collections, late payments, charge-offs, and build organized dispute rounds.
Segment 3: Advanced Negative Accounts & Public Records
Move into advanced research involving bankruptcies, repossessions, foreclosures, judgments, eviction-related information, settlements, and other serious derogatory information. Learn how to research the source before developing a dispute strategy.
Segment 4: Advanced Disputes, Escalation & Accountability
Learn what to do when an initial dispute doesn't resolve the problem. Analyze investigation results, build advanced follow-up disputes, document your paper trail, understand escalation options, and learn when a situation may require professional legal assistance.
DON'T JUST LEARN HOW TO DISPUTE CREDIT.
Learn How Credit Repair Actually Works.
Our goal is not for you to finish this course with a folder full of letters. Our goal is for you to finish this course with knowledge—knowledge of the laws, the bureaus, specialty reporting agencies, credit reports, negative accounts, research, documentation, disputes, escalation, and the ability to look at a credit profile and develop a strategy based upon individual circumstances.
Course Enrollment
Dunigan Investment Group