If you just had some knowledge about the amount of money you owed and who you owed it to, you could have prevented this debt crisis. Now you must handle the crisis and fix your credit score. Here are some relatively easy and effective ways to improve your credit.
The first step in credit restoration is to build a plan. Make a commitment to making better financial decisions. Don’t buy the things that aren’t needs. Ask yourself whether every purchase is both affordable and necessary, and only buy if the answer to both questions is “yes”.
Interest Rates
You may be able to reduce interest rates by maintaining a favorable credit rating. Monthly payments are easier this way, and you can pay off your unpaid debt. Obtaining lower interest rates will make it easier for you to manage your credit, which in turn will improve your credit rating.
When you are trying to fix your credit record, call your creditors and make payment arrangements that will benefit both of you. This will enable you to make sure to keep your credit in good standing and repair any damage that may have been caused. Call them and see if you can change the payment terms. They may be willing to change the actual payment or move the due date.
Credit Score
Before you agree on an agreement for settling your debt settlement, you should determine what affect this will have on your credit score. Some methods of credit settlement can be a blow to your credit score, so it’s important to check into your options and find one that won’t hurt you in the long term. Some are out there just to take your money; they don’t care about your rating.
Make sure to check all three of your credit reports, and pay extra attention to the negative reports when you are working on repairing bad credit. You could find mistakes in dates and other factors which can cause the whole item to be removed from the report.
Credit unions are an option for those who have run out of options. Credit unions may be able to offer more credit options or better rates than a larger bank, based on an understanding of the local area rather than the national situation.
If you find any errors on your credit report, you should dispute them. You should contact the credit bureaus both online and by certified letter; be sure to include proof of your claims. Mail the materials and ask the postal service for proof of delivery in order to build a record to show that the agency did indeed get the letter.
Credit Card
You should look at your credit card bill every month to make sure it is correct. Contact the credit card company right away if there are incorrect fees, so that they won’t be on your credit report.
This is to keep your credit in good standing. Late payments are added to credit reports and they can damage your chances of getting loans or a home in the future.
When you receive your credit card statement, go over it carefully. Always check to make sure that you are being charged correctly, and not being double charged or charged for items that you did not buy. Do not trust the credit card companies to have your back, guarantee you do not pay debt that is not yours yourself.
It goes without saying that if your credit is poor and needs repairing, you need to start from the bottom and build. Prepaid credit cards can help you demonstrate responsible use of credit without having to worry about missing payments or late fees. Potential lenders will see this as a positive thing as it will show you are a responsible person.
As you can see, common sense is the essence of rebuilding your credit and beating your debt. The advice in this article can help you get your credit back in good standing.