On credit repair forums everywhere you hear advice to "file suit" against those reporting your file for violations of credit laws.

But really, do you have to go to that extreme to repair your credit? In most cases, the answer is no.

The vast majority of credit repair issues are resolved well before any papers are filed. Of those few that do result in court papers being filed, the vast majority are settled without ever making an appearance in court.

If the idea of having to go to court over that pesky collection agency is keeping you from repairing your credit, don't let it. The odds are about 1 in 1,000 that you will ever need to file suit. The odds of ever having to go to court because of your credit repair efforts is 1 in a million.

That being said, you should also be aware from the beginning that if you are going to beat some of these collectors you must build a strong legal case against them. Many times the evidence you have accumulated provides the leverage that keeps the case out of court and the account off of your credit file.

You will need to become a good record keeper so you can prove each violation they commit. And they will violate the law just about every time.

You will also need to understand the credit laws so you know when a violation has taken place. If you are unsure visit a credit forum and you will surely find a lot of good advice.

Lastly, all over the web you see these "official" looking sample letters that quote the law and sound like the writer swallowed a dictionary.

I strongly advise against using these sample letters. They are usually overly threatening and say way more than they need to. They basically tip off the collector that you are repairing your credit and not some poor sucker they have by mistake.

Always remember, the best way to get pushed by a collection agency is to make threats against them right off the bat.

The best way to beat a collection agency is to play by the rules and give no indication that you intend to sue them until after the papers are drawn up and you are ready to file them.

At that time, send them an "Intent to Sue" letter that outlines both the specifics of their violations and your evidence to support your claim. Ask them upfront to pay the money they legally owe or you will file the suit.

Many times, they will delete the account because you have shown them they will lose in court and you are ready to take them there.

In rare cases they will make you take the final step and file the papers. If you do it, they will most likely settle the matter out of court rather than incur the expense and still lose the case. You may actually collect a few hundred dollars for your efforts.

So be ready to fight the fight, but don't expect to ever have to. Every account has three parties that can remove it from your file. The odds are very good that one of them will do it long before you ever approach the courthouse door.