Consumer Direct today announced the launch of Smart Credit, an innovative online tool that enables consumers to easily control their credit with the click of a button. Smart Credit allows consumers to take immediate action to address items on their credit reports that may impact their credit scores by taking “Smart Actions” to correct errors, request goodwill corrections or debt settlements and lock their credit reports to prevent identity theft without spending hours on the phone with each credit bureau and creditor.

With stricter lending laws in place, personal finance experts continue to emphasize how important credit scores are in determining consumers’ ability to obtain financing, their loan terms, how much they can afford, how much their payments will be and more. But many consumers might still be confused about how to actually go about improving their scores and managing their credit.

“The idea for Smart Credit came about nearly ten years ago, when I was buying my first home,” said founder and CEO David B. Coulter. “During the process I discovered errors on my credit report that negatively impacted my credit score and affected my ability to qualify for a loan. The frustration I faced in trying to resolve these issues led me to believe that there had to be an easier way — that consumers needed to have a way to control their own credit.”

David is not alone. Millions of people in the United States have credit blemishes severe enough to make obtaining loans and credit cards with reasonable terms difficult. Smart Credit enables consumers to recognize those blemishes and take immediate action to address them quickly and easily.

Smart Credit is ideal for consumers who:

1. Are credit distressed and need to fix errors or address issues on their credit reports;
2. Are about to undergo a significant life event such as buying a car, a home or finding a job;
3. Have good credit and simply want to protect it; or
4. Have or fear they may become a victim of identity theft

This quick and easy-to-use site saves consumers time by highlighting the items that most affect their credit score so they can prioritize how to address them.

“A key component to Smart Credit’s technology is that ‘Smart Actions’ go directly to creditors and those creditors then update all the credit bureaus,” said Coulter. “This is a faster and more effective method of delivering results to the consumer.”

Nearly every major financial institution, bank, collection agency and lender in the United States is communicating with the system electronically.

For a limited time, Smart Credit will be available at an introductory rate of $19.95 per month for the basic membership and $29.95 for premium.

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