Credit Repair in Pasadena and Altadena
Pasadena residents use their credit for a lot: renting near Old Pasadena, buying a Craftsman in Bungalow Heaven, financing a car for the 210 or rebuilding after the January 2025 Eaton fire. Ortarias Credit helps Pasadena-area clients review their credit reports, dispute items that are inaccurate, incomplete, outdated or unverifiable, and make a practical plan for what comes next.
We work with clients throughout Pasadena, including Old Pasadena, the Playhouse District, Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights, Linda Vista, Northwest Pasadena, East Pasadena and Hastings Ranch, as well as Altadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre and San Marino. Every meeting happens on Google Meet.
After the Eaton fire: check how your accounts are reported
The Eaton fire destroyed thousands of structures in Altadena and parts of Pasadena. Many homeowners paused their mortgage payments through forbearance. California's AB 238 (the Mortgage Forbearance Act) lets eligible borrowers with a fire-related hardship request up to 12 months of forbearance in 90-day steps. The deadline to request it is the earlier of January 7, 2027, or six months after the state of emergency ends. Under the law, servicers must report accounts in a disaster forbearance plan in line with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. Many lenders also committed, through the state's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), not to report late payments on forborne amounts.
Even so, mistakes happen. If your mortgage, auto loan or credit card shows late payments for months covered by an approved forbearance or hardship agreement, that's worth disputing with the bureaus and the servicer, using your forbearance paperwork as documentation. Late payments from before the fire may stay on your report if they're accurate. We'll help you tell the two apart.
Free help: the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has a guide to the Forbearance Act at dcba.lacounty.gov/forbearanceact, and you can file complaints about servicers with the DFPI (dfpi.ca.gov). If you think a lender isn't following the law, those agencies are your first stop. We don't give legal advice.
Other Pasadena credit situations
Renting in a rent-stabilized city. Pasadena voters passed Measure H, which created rent stabilization for many older multi-unit buildings, run by the Pasadena Rental Housing Board. Those rules limit rent increases once you're a tenant, but they don't change the credit check when you apply. Errors on your reports can still cost you the apartment, so check before you apply.
Buying in the San Gabriel Valley. Mortgage lenders usually look at all three credit reports, and with Pasadena home prices, a small rate difference adds up. Start reviewing your reports months before you apply. See our guide to getting your credit ready to buy a home in Los Angeles.
Students, researchers and early-career professionals. Pasadena draws students and staff to its colleges, labs and hospitals. If you're new to credit, we'll help you build a history responsibly and make sure old student or medical accounts are reported correctly. In California, medical debt generally can't appear on consumer credit reports under SB 1061 (effective January 1, 2025).
Our process
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Free 15-minute consultation on Google Meet.
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Get your free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com and send them to angel@ortariascredit.com.
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Review together. We flag items that may be inaccurate, incomplete, outdated or unverifiable, including forbearance reporting problems.
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Disputes and follow-up. For items that qualify, we help prepare and track disputes. Bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate, according to the CFPB. Learn more in How to Dispute a Collection.
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A credit-building plan you can stick with.
Our promise is honesty
We don't promise score increases, deletions or timelines, and we never try to remove accurate information. You can dispute errors yourself for free, directly with each bureau, and we'll point you to the official CFPB and FTC guides if you'd rather do it on your own.
Pasadena business owners
We also help small businesses with business credit and funding guidance, including business owners rebuilding after the fire. Start with Business Credit Basics.
Book your free Pasadena consultation
Talk with Angel Arias, founder of Ortarias Credit, for 15 minutes, free and with no pressure.
Book your free consultation → · Call or text 818-850-0023
Results vary by individual. No specific score increase, removal or timeline is guaranteed.
You can check your credit reports free at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors yourself at no cost. If you sign a service contract with Ortarias Credit, you may cancel it without penalty or obligation within 3 business days of signing (5 business days for California residents).