Many people find themselves having to deal with bad credit due to the downturn of the economy, the rise of the cost of living, as well as the increase in layoffs. Luckily, these tricks and tips can show you how to have a better credit score.
Financing a home is not always an easy task, especially when you have less than perfect credit. In this situation, it is a good idea to try to obtain an FHA loan, because these loans are guaranteed by the federal government. It might be possible to get an FHA loan even if you don’t have the money for a down payment or the closing costs involved.
If you have credit cards with a utilization level over 50%, then pay them down until they are below 50% utilization. When your debt is over 50%, credit ratings usually go down. With that said, try to spread out the debt that you have or try paying it off.
Credit Score
If your credit is top-notch, getting a mortgage is a simple matter. By paying off your mortgage on time, you will even improve your credit score further. Owning your own home also improves your credit score in the form of having large assets to borrow against. This is helpful in case you want to borrow money.
An installment account is a great way to increase your credit score. You have to keep a monthly minimum on an installment account, so make sure you open an account that you can afford. If you use one of these types of accounts, your score will quickly improve.
When beginning your credit repair journey, remain wary of companies pledging to get negative credit report entries deleted, especially if those entries are accurate. Negative entries on your record stick around for a term of seven years at a minimum, even if you take care of the debts involved. You can, however, succeed at having incorrect information erased from your credit reports.
Repairing your credit is actually pretty simple. The first step is to focus on paying your late bills. Even more important than just paying your bills, is to pay off the entire balance, and pay them on time. You will immediately see changes in your credit score when you begin to pay off your debts, especially those that are active.
You need to work with the companies from whom you have credit cards. When you work with company you are not working against anyone, including yourself. This will help prevent furthering yourself into debt. This can be accomplished by negotiating with them for a change in due date or monthly charges.
Be very wary of programs that do not sound legal; chances are they aren’t. Don’t buy into scams that suggest you create new credit files. You will be prosecuted, it is against the law. The criminal charges that you face will be very expensive, and you may also have to serve prison time if found guilty.
Credit Card Company
Give your credit card company a call and ask them to lower the limit on your credit card. Not only will this stop you from overspending, it will indicate responsible behavior to a credit card company, and may enable you to get future credit.
If a creditor agrees to give you a payment plan, get that payment plan in writing. This will provide proof of your agreement in case any problems ever arise. Every time you get a debt paid off, ask the company to notify the credit bureaus.
It is important to read all credit card statements you receive. Ensure that all of the listed charges are purchases that you made, keeping an eye out for fraudulent charges. You need to be sure that everything is correct on the statements.
Credit Score Improvement
Make sure that the credit score improvement agency you choose to work with is reputable. Unfortunately, the credit score improvement business does have a significant number of companies that are not reputable. There are many people who have been the victim of a credit restoration scam. Be a smart consumer and educate yourself by researching user reviews online to find a good agency.
Avoid using credit cards. Pay for everything you buy with cash instead. If you have a situation where you have to put a charge on your credit card, make a point to pay it off as soon as possible.
Start using credit again in order to repair damage caused by previous negative activity. Prepaid credit cards make for a simple way to build up your credit, because there’s no risk of late payments or over drafting which can cause negative marks on your score. You will prove to creditors that you can pay your bills.
Write down a plan that guides you towards paying off your debts. When these accounts get paid off, they are still on your credit history, but they are then marked as paid, which is far less damaging to your score.
Payment Plan
If you are having problems paying your monthly payments, contact your creditor and try to work out a payment plan. If you make the first move and hash out a payment plan sometimes they won’t even report it to credit agencies. This can also help to relieve some of the financial strain that you have been facing.
Paying all of your bills in a timely manner is a vital component of determining your credit score. Setting up payment reminders can help you avoid missing a payment. There are a number of different ways to set up a reminder. You can have emails sent to yourself or have text messages sent to you.
Use these tips to establish a plan of action for your credit score. Put this advice to work for you immediately to start cleaning up your credit report before your poor credit rating negatively impacts your life any further.