Many people’s credit scores have suffered as a result of the economic downturn. The following tips are presented to help you improve your credit score and help you be more disciplined with your money.
Make sure that you are never using more than 50% of your credit card’s limit. Carrying a balance of more than half your credit limit negatively impacts your credit score. Either pay this balance down or spread it out over multiple cards.
Credit Score
Good credit scores allow you to take out loans, buy a house, and make other large purchases. You will get a better credit score by paying your mortgage payment on time. Owning a home is a great thing to have to help with your credit score. The house secures your finances and adds to your assets. A good credit score is necessary when you need to take out a loan.
Try an installment account to get a better credit score and make some money. Make sure that you are able to afford the payments on any installment accounts that you open. You can quickly improve your score by successfully managing these accounts.
Be wary of credit improvement scams that can get you in legal trouble. There are scams all over the web that teach you how to create a new credit file. Needless to say, this is against the law and you are likely to get caught. In addition to the possibility of facing jail time, you could be fined, your attorney bills may be substantial, and your reputation could be ruined.
Find out how the process will affect your credit rating before you agree to any debt settlement agreements. There are methods that are going to be less damaging than another, and all should be researched before you enter an agreement with a creditor. They are just out to get their money and do not care how that effects your credit score.
Do not spend more than you can afford. You need to change your thinking to consider your future goals, not just buy all of the things you want right now. Getting credit has never been easier, making it just as easy for people to buy items they simply can’t afford. This, though, comes with a hefty interest price tag. Take a hard honest look at your budget, and figure out what you can honestly afford to spend.
Check over your credit bill each month to make sure there are no errors. If you spot any mistakes, contact the credit company right away to keep them from reporting the mistakes.
Many times you and your creditor can work together to come up with a prepayment plan. If so, be sure you get a written agreement stating the terms. The documentation you gain from the creditor is important in case the company changes ownership or the creditor is no longer interested in the deal. When the debt is eventually paid or settled in full, you should request documentation of this and forward copies to the primary credit reporting companies.
Do not file for bankruptcy if you do not have to. Doing so will reflect upon your credit score and report for 10 years. It may sound like a good idea at the time to rid yourself of all your debt, but it will affect you later on. You may never get a line of credit for any purchases you might need to make if you go ahead, give up on repairing your credit and file for bankruptcy.
When you start fixing your credit, pay down balances on the credit cards as soon as you can. First work on the cards with the steepest balances or interest rates. This will show future creditors that you take your debts seriously.
Now that we have gone over the different ways you can go about repairing credit, why not get started now? Be proactive and use the valuable tips you gained from this article, in order to boost your credit scores and, ultimately, increase your quality of life.