USA Today article on The National Credit Federation

Mortgage andReal Estate Veteran Herschel Bentley Helps Thousands Rebound from TheirFinancial and Credit Storms with His Company National CreditFederationE-MailPrintReprint or licenseText Size: TAMPA, Fla. -- When the real estate market started tumbling in2006, millions of Americans were struck with feelings of dread as their homeslost value or their dreams of ownership evaporated. Herschel Bentley, a 27-yearmortgage veteran who segued into real estate investing in the early 2000s, facedhis own personal financial crisis but instead of giving into despair, ultimatelyfound a way to help thousands of people as the Founder and Executive Director ofthe Tampa based company National Credit Federation.Bentley had numerous lease option properties at the time, but withthe mortgage market crumbling — and the days of subprime lending over - he foundthat all his potential buyers had severe credit issues. When he realized theonly way to get those who wanted to buy properties “to the table” was to helpthem repair their credit, he started doing that on the side. Within a few years,he had a thriving new business.Anationwide membership based organization, National Credit Federation (commonlycalled NCF) assists those who are going through a financial difficulty or need adramatic improvement in their credit score. The company’s “Credit University”helps clients navigate through several credit myths, understand consumer lawsthat were written to protect them, and help people make informed decisionsregarding their credit file — all of which is geared towards improving theircredit worthiness.Thisis accomplished in part by providing members with access to resources normallyunavailable to “non-credit worthy consumers”: financing, banking, credit lines,professional legal assistance, personal financial coaching and personalfinancial education. The average NCF member increases their credit score 127points in six months.Bentley hired staff attorneys to help clients understand a lawcalled the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The law essentially allows a derogatorymark to be put on a person’s credit report for 7-10 years maximum. Yet thereality is that those negative items have to be verified and validated, as wellas up to date. If items on the report cannot be, by law they must be removed. 15employees work at NCF headquarters but there are hundreds of consultants(contract employees) working in the field.