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VA Credit · File Strength

VA Credit Action Toolkit

Build a stronger VA loan file. Get a step-by-step plan to clear the 620 line, flip a Refer toward Approve, and ready-to-send dispute letters you fill in and mail yourself. Free, private, and yours to keep.

100% free · nothing stored · do-it-yourself

Where is your mortgage credit score?

Use your mortgage middle score if you know it. Credit Karma usually runs 20 to 40 points higher than the FICO lenders pull, so this is a best estimate.

What is on your credit report?

Pick all that apply. This shapes your plan and which dispute letters you get.

✓Errors or accounts I do not recognize
✓Collections
✓Late payments
✓Maxed-out or high cards
✓PCS or deployment caused a missed bill
✓Charge-offs
✓Past bankruptcy
✓Not sure / nothing obvious

How strong is the rest of your file?

At 580-619 these compensating factors carry more weight than the score. Honest estimates are fine.

When do you want to close?

This sets the pace of your plan.

Your information

This fills your dispute letters so they print ready to mail. It stays on your device.

🔒Private by design. What you enter stays in your browser to build your letters. It is never sent to VA Loan Network or anyone else. Close the tab and it is gone.

Add the accounts to dispute

Add each account you want to dispute. We generate a filled letter for each one.

Your VA file-strength plan
Your path to a stronger VA file

Your action plan, ranked by impact

    Your dispute letters

    Dispute letter

    Fill in the bracketed parts, print, and mail to the bureau by certified mail. You can dispute free, yourself, directly with the bureaus. You never have to pay anyone to do this. For a PCS-related miss, attach a copy of your orders.

    VA borrower guides

    Pull your tri-merge, not Credit Karma

    Lenders use mortgage FICO, not the app.

    How

    VA lenders pull a tri-merge with FICO 2, 4, and 5 and use your middle score. Credit Karma uses VantageScore and runs 20 to 40 points higher. Get a lender soft-pull tri-merge before making contract decisions so you know your real mortgage score.

    Hit 620 to clear LLPAs

    620 changes pricing and flips Refer to Approve.

    How

    Moving from below 640 to 620+ removes Loan Level Pricing Adjusters and shifts most files from a Refer to Approve/Eligible. The fastest lever is paying revolving balances under 30 percent, then asking your lender for a rapid rescore (3 to 5 business days instead of a full cycle).

    Residual income is your strongest factor

    120%+ of the VA guideline closes 580 files.

    How

    At 580-619 a manual underwriter looks for compensating factors. Residual income at 120 percent or more of the VA regional guideline for your family size is the single strongest one. Paying down monthly debts raises residual and lowers DTI at the same time.

    Document PCS and deployment

    A missed bill during a move is explainable.

    How

    A missed payment during a PCS move can drop a score 60 to 100 points, but it is a documentable event. Keep your PCS orders and the payment catch-up date. A goodwill letter plus orders gives an underwriter a clean story instead of a red flag.

    Talk to a VA-savvy loan officer

    Optional. A VA Loan Network officer can review your file and tell you which lenders review Refer files at your score. Free, no obligation. Your plan and letters above are yours either way.

    We only use this to connect you with a VA loan officer. Your credit answers above are not sent.

    Important: This is a free, do-it-yourself educational toolkit, not credit repair services and not legal or financial advice. You can dispute credit report errors yourself, for free, directly with the credit bureaus. VA Loan Network does not charge for this and does not perform credit repair. VA Loan Network is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.