Have you been suffering from poor credit for years? In the current economy, it’s not uncommon to see credit scores quickly declining. You can turn things around, though. A good start is to check out these tips to repair your credit rating.
Financing a home can be difficult if you have bad credit. FHA loans might be a good option to consider in these circumstances, as they are backed by our federal government. Even if the applicant does not have money for closing costs or a down payment, an FHA loan is workable.
If your credit is such that you cannot get a new card to help repair it, apply for a secured one. This card will be more than likely be granted to you, however you must fund the account ahead of your purchases as a sort of “insurance” to the bank that your debts will be paid. If you show a good history of payments with this card, it will help improve your credit standing.
Having a lower credit score can lower your interest rate. This should make your monthly payments easier and allow you to pay off your debt much quicker. Obtaining lower interest rates will make it easier for you to manage your credit, which in turn will improve your credit rating.
Credit Score
A respectable credit score makes it much easier for you to purchase a home with a mortgage. Staying current with your mortgage payments is a way to raise your credit score even more. Once you own a home, you will have financial stability secured by your assets, thus a good credit score. Having a good credit score is a key factor if you ever need to take out a loan.
To improve your credit rating, set up an installment account. Open an installment account that you can pay for and make sure to keep an affordable monthly minimum on it. If you use one of these types of accounts, your score will quickly improve.
If you want to fix your credit avoid companies claiming they can remove all of your issues, even those properly reported. This information can stay on your record for about seven years. You can, however, succeed at having incorrect information erased from your credit reports.
The first step to repairing your credit is paying what you owe. You should always make an effort to pay your bills on time and in full. Your credit score will increase if you are consistently paying back your debts.
Be very wary of programs that do not sound legal; chances are they aren’t. There are less than honest entities that will show you how to make a brand new credit file. This is illegal and you will eventually be caught. Legal ramifications can cost a lot, and you may go to jail.
If you find inaccuracies on your credit report, make sure to dispute them. Contact the credit agency in writing, with documentation to support the errors that you are disputing. Include a request for a return receipt with the dispute package so that you can prove it was received by the appropriate agency.
Close all your credit cards except for one as a means of repairing your credit. Make necessary arrangements to set up payments, or transfer the balance to your remaining account. This will let you focus on paying off a single account rather than many small ones.
If you are able to successfully negotiate a payment schedule for a debt, it is important to request a copy of the agreement in writing. Having the plan in writing will protect you if the creditor reneges on the plan or if your debt is transferred to another creditor. Once you finish making all your payments, be sure to send that information to the credit agencies in writing.
Interest Rate
Make sure that you pay more than the minimum balance owed on all of your credit cards to improve your credit. Sort your credit cards by balance and interest rate with the highest first. Then determine which credit card is the highest either in balance or interest rate and start to pay it off first. This will show responsibility to creditors.
This is to keep your credit in good standing. Each time you make your payment late it will go against you.
Make sure to fully read every single credit card statement that you get. You want to double check that all the charges are accurate, and that you are not paying for something you did not purchase. You bear the responsibility for looking after your own best interests, and you are the only person who will know if your statement is accurate.
For a better credit rating, lower the balances on your revolving accounts. You can up your credit rating just by paying down your balances. The FICO system will make a note when the balances are at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 percent of the total credit available.
Keep your credit cards in your wallet. Purchase with cash. When you find credit card spending unavoidable, pay down your balance immediately.
Be wary of any company that tells you they can instantly fix your credit. With so many people struggling, scammers are taking advantage of their desperation by offering them fake or fraudulent credit services. Get reviews on a lawyer before you go to them for help.
Use these tips to eliminate your stress regarding your poor credit. This advice can make all the difference between having a bad or good credit score.