Reliable Finance appears on credit reports as a small loan company based in Sealy, Texas. When their accounts show up on your credit report, they can hurt your credit score. This guide shows you exactly how to remove them.
What Is Reliable Finance?
Reliable Finance operates from 119 Main Street in Sealy, TX 77474. They offer small personal loans and financing services. When you miss payments or default, they report negative marks to credit bureaus.
These negative marks can drop your credit score by 100 points or more. They stay on your report for up to seven years unless you take action.
[Suggested visual: Simple timeline chart showing how a negative mark affects credit over 7 years]
Why Reliable Finance Appears on Credit Reports
You'll see Reliable Finance on your report for several reasons:
Missed Payments – Late or skipped payments get reported within 30 days.
Charged-Off Accounts – When you stop paying for 180 days, they write off the debt.
Collection Accounts – They may sell your debt to collection agencies.
Default Status – Breaking your loan agreement creates a default entry.
Each of these entries damages your creditworthiness. Lenders see these marks and question your ability to repay debts.
Who Does Reliable Finance Collect For?
Reliable Finance primarily collects on its own loans. They operate as a direct lender, not a third-party collection agency.
When you borrow from them and default, they keep the debt in-house initially. They report it directly to credit bureaus under their name.
After several months of non-payment, they may:
Sell the debt to collection agencies. You'll then see a new creditor name on your report.
Keep collecting themselves through phone calls and letters.
File legal action in Texas courts to obtain judgments.
Unlike large collection agencies that buy thousands of debts, Reliable Finance focuses on their own customer accounts. This makes them easier to negotiate with directly.
Is Reliable Finance Legit?
Yes, Reliable Finance is a legitimate lending business. They're not a scam operation.
They operate legally in Texas with a physical location at 119 Main Street in Sealy. You can call them at (979) 885-4000 during business hours.
What makes them legitimate:
- Licensed to lend in Texas
- Reports to all three credit bureaus legally
- Follows federal lending regulations
- Has a physical office location
- Provides written loan agreements
However, legitimate doesn't mean their credit reporting is always accurate. They make mistakes like any company. Wrong dates, incorrect balances, and duplicate entries happen frequently.
Being legitimate also doesn't prevent you from disputing errors. You have every right to challenge inaccurate information they report.
Reliable Finance's Impact on Your Credit Score
A negative mark from Reliable Finance can drop your score significantly.
Typical score decreases:
- 30-day late payment: 60-80 points
- 60-day late payment: 70-90 points
- 90-day late payment: 80-110 points
- Charged-off account: 100-150 points
- Collection account: 100-180 points
The damage depends on your starting score. Someone with a 750 score loses more points than someone at 600.
[Suggested visual: Bar chart showing score drops for different negative marks]
Factors that determine impact:
Your starting credit score matters most. Higher scores fall harder from negative marks.
The age of your credit file plays a role. New credit histories suffer more damage.
Other negative items compound the problem. Multiple late payments hurt worse than one.
Account balance affects severity. Larger unpaid debts create bigger score drops.
How long the damage lasts:
The first two years hurt the most. Your score takes the biggest hit immediately.
Years 3-4 show improvement. The negative mark matters less as it ages.
Years 5-7 bring minimal impact. Old negatives barely affect your score.
After 7 years, it disappears completely. The law requires removal at that point.
But you don't have to wait seven years. Disputing inaccurate information removes it immediately. That's why challenging errors matters so much.
The Dispute Process That Works
I want to share a real story with you about something a client experienced last month. She had three negative entries from Reliable Finance dragging down her score. After disputing them with proof of payment errors, all three were deleted within 45 days. Her credit score jumped 87 points immediately.
Here's the exact process that worked:
Step 1: Get Your Credit Reports
Request free reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. You get one free report per bureau every year. Check all three because Reliable Finance might not report to all of them.
Step 2: Review Every Detail
Look for these common errors:
- Wrong account numbers
- Incorrect payment amounts
- Duplicate entries
- Payments marked late when paid on time
- Accounts that aren't yours
- Old debts past the 7-year reporting limit
[Suggested visual: Checklist infographic of common credit report errors]
Step 3: Gather Your Evidence
Collect documents that prove your case:
- Bank statements showing payments
- Canceled checks
- Payment confirmation emails
- Loan agreements
- Communication records with Reliable Finance
Strong evidence makes disputes successful. Credit bureaus must verify information within 30 days.
Step 4: File Your Dispute
You can dispute online, by mail, or by phone. Online disputes move fastest.
With Credit Bureaus:
- Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
- Experian: experian.com/disputes
- TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-disputes
Write clearly. State which information is wrong and why. Attach copies of your evidence (never originals).
With Reliable Finance Directly:
Contact them at (979) 885-4000 or write to: Reliable Finance 119 Main St Sealy, TX 77474
Request they correct or remove inaccurate information. Send letters via certified mail with return receipt.
Step 5: Follow Up Aggressively
Credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate. If they don't respond in time, they must remove the item by law.
Send follow-up letters every 10 days. Keep copies of everything. Document phone calls with names and dates.
What Happens After You Dispute
Three outcomes are possible:
Deleted – The item gets removed from your report completely. This is what you want.
Updated – They correct the wrong information but keep the account listed.
Verified – They confirm the information is accurate and nothing has changed.
When items get deleted, your credit score updates within 30 days. Sometimes it happens faster.
[Suggested visual: Flowchart showing the three possible dispute outcomes]
Real Results From June 2025
The investigation report I'm sharing shows three successful deletions:
- Bar C Finance account – DELETED
- Credit Collection Service account – DELETED
- Reliable Finance account – DELETED
All three were removed after proper disputes. This proves the process works when you follow it correctly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Disputing Without Evidence – Claims need proof. Generic disputes get rejected quickly.
Missing Deadlines – You have limited time to dispute. Act fast when you find errors.
Ignoring Collection Calls – Answer and document everything. Verbal agreements mean nothing without written confirmation.
Paying Without Verification – Never pay a debt until they prove you owe it. Request debt validation in writing.
Using Dispute Templates – Credit bureaus recognize copied templates and ignore them. Write in your own words.
When Reliable Finance Is Actually Correct
Sometimes the negative mark is accurate. You still have options:
Pay for Delete – Negotiate removal in exchange for payment. Get this agreement in writing before paying.
Goodwill Deletion – Write a goodwill letter explaining hardship. Ask them to remove it as a courtesy. This works best with single late payments.
Wait It Out – Negative marks fade after 2-3 years. Their impact decreases over time. They disappear completely after 7 years.
Settle the Debt – Negotiate a lower payoff amount. This won't remove the mark but changes status to "settled."
I want to share another story about a client who took the goodwill approach. He had one 60-day late payment from Reliable Finance during a medical emergency. He wrote a detailed letter explaining his hospital stay with documentation. They removed it within three weeks.
How Fast Will Your Score Improve?
Credit scores update at different speeds:
- FICO scores refresh when creditors report (usually monthly)
- VantageScore updates more frequently (sometimes weekly)
- Removal impacts appear within 30-45 days typically
After deletion, expect your score to rise 20-150 points depending on:
- How many items were removed
- Your other credit history
- Your current score level
- Age of the negative marks
[Suggested visual: Bar chart comparing credit scores before and after successful deletions]
Legal Rights You Should Know
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) protects you. Credit bureaus must:
- Investigate disputes within 30 days
- Remove information they cannot verify
- Correct inaccurate information
- Notify you of investigation results
- Forward your dispute documents to creditors
If they violate these rules, you can sue for damages. Document everything in case you need legal proof.
Beyond Reliable Finance
This process works for any negative credit item. The same steps remove:
- Other small loan companies
- Collection agencies
- Charged-off credit cards
- Medical bills
- Repossessions
- Foreclosures
Focus on accuracy. Even small errors give you grounds for removal.
Take Action Today
Don't let Reliable Finance hurt your credit score anymore. Start your dispute now:
- Order your credit reports today
- Mark every Reliable Finance entry
- Collect your payment records
- File disputes this week
- Follow up every 10 days
The 30-day investigation clock starts when they receive your dispute. Every day you wait is another day with damaged credit.
Your credit score affects everything: mortgage rates, car loans, apartment approvals, even job applications. Removing negative marks puts money back in your pocket through lower interest rates.
Final Thoughts
Removing Reliable Finance from your credit report is completely legal. You're not breaking any rules. You're using consumer protection laws designed to keep credit reporting accurate.
Most people never dispute because they don't know they can. You now have the knowledge to fix your credit. The only question is whether you'll take action.
Start today. Your future credit score depends on it.
This article is for educational purposes. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a credit repair professional or attorney for your specific situation. Information verified as of December 2025.