a few questions from a newbie

state of kentucky:

question 1:
what would be the fastest and most inexpensive way to get copies of my credit report? I've received my first copies from a company on-line and I would like to know of other means of getting copies from the three major bureaus.

question2:
i have recently contactacted a third party collector in order to resolve a student loan of $6000 from back in '92. i want to pay it off with monthly payments. They are willing to work with me, but i wanted to know how long it would be before they could remove it from my credit report (i thought that after a few timely payments, they could do this). The response was that it would take 1 year because it was a federal perkins loan. How true is this, and is there any other way to get the item either removed from my credit report or at least changed to reflect an improvement?

thanks in advance.

henb

question 1. answer....do you want the fastest OR the cheapest. You can't have both(sorry) The fastest is to go to each of the three major ones each and pay $9 a piece. Don't mess around with the companies trying to sell you a combined report because it costs more and I found them to be somewhat inaccurate.
The least expensive way is to apply for credit, and if you get turned down they legally have to give you a copy for free. The down side to that is it leaves an inquiry on your credit report for two years.

You are eligible to receive a free copy of your credit report if:

You have been denied credit, insurance, or employment within the past sixty (60) days as a result of your credit history.
You can certify in writing that you are unemployed and intend to apply for employment in the 60-day period beginning on the date in which you made the certification.
You are a recipient of public welfare assistance or have reason to believe that your file at the agency contains inaccurate information due to fraud.
If you are a resident of Colorado, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, or Vermont, you may receive one free copy of your credit report each year from the credit bureaus. If you are a resident of Georgia, you may receive two free copies of your credit report each year from the credit bureaus.

MANY GOVERNMENT RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE FREE OR AT A NOMINAL COST FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO GIVE YOU A COPY OF YOUR CREDIT RECORD UPON REQUEST, AT NO CHARGE OR FOR A NOMINAL FEE.


To obtain a copy of your credit report from Experian -
Mail request to: P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013
Or call toll-free (888) Experian (888-397-3742)

To obtain a copy of your credit report from Equifax -
Mail request to: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
Or call toll-free (800) 685-1111

To obtain a copy of your credit report from TransUnion -
Mail request to: 2 Baldwin Place, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
Or call toll-free (800) 888-4213

Question 2. answer....It took a year before my "out of default" student loan started to show positive. It now reads "paying as agreed" and nothing more.