Is your low credit score holding you back? There are millions of people who have seen their credit score go down in today’s rough economic climate. The following tips can help make that score better.
For some it may hard to finance their home due to having less than ideal credit. See about getting an FHA loan, which are loans that the federal government guarantees. FHA loans are a good option regardless of your down payment amount or funds available for closing costs.
Credit Card
If your credit card has a balance of over 50% of your limit, it should be your number one priority to pay it off until the balance is under 50%. If your credit card balances exceed 50% of their limits, it will lower your credit score, so spread your debt over multiple cards, or better, pay down the balances.
You can lower your debt by refusing to acknowledge the part of your debt that has been accrued by significantly high interest rates. When a creditor hits you with incredibly high interest rates, you may have a case for negotiating to a lower amount. Remember that you agreed to pay that interest when you signed the contract. Be very wary of suing your creditors, especially if all of your issues were covered in the contract.
Do not do anything that will make you end up in jail. There are various online scams that involve creating a fresh credit file. Creating a new credit file is very illegal and you can be easily caught. You could go to jail if you have a lot of legal issues.
You cannot live a life that is beyond your means. This might require a re-thinking of your lifestyle. In many cases, people are using credit cards to buy things they want, rather than focusing on things that they need. It is important to look closely at your finances and see what you can actually afford and what you can not.
Close all your credit cards except for one as a means of repairing your credit. You can transfer all of your balances to one credit card, ensuring you choose the one with the lowest interest rate. Doing so will allow you to pay off one individual debt rather than a multitude of lesser balances.
Credit Card
Make sure to review your credit card statement monthly to make sure there are no errors. If you spot any late fees, immediately contact your credit card company. This can save you from having late payments reported to the credit reporting agencies.
Make sure you will get a plan in writing if you decide a payment plan is the best option for you with your creditor. You want documentation to back yourself up so there will be no problems in the future, and if the company owner changes you will have more of a chance of keeping your plan. After you have paid off your debt, send proof of this to the major credit agencies.
Do not file for bankruptcy. This will reflect on your credit report for the next 10 years. Bankruptcy may sound great because your debt goes away but there are consequences. You may not qualify for auto financing or a credit card after filing for bankruptcy protection.
Credit Card
High credit card balances can damage your credit. The first step to repairing credit is to pay those balances down. Pay off high-interest debt first, as it grows the fastest. This effort will show the credit card companies that you are trying to pay your bills and be responsible.
Make sure the credit score repair agency you are working with is legitimate. There are far too many of these companies that are quite simply fraudulent. Many people fall victim to these scams every day. You need to research customer feedback so you can determine if a company is trustworthy or not.
Having to deal with debt collectors is often very stressful and distressing. Cease and desist correspondences can be legally used by a consumer to put off collection agencies; however they only help stop the harassing phone calls. You will still have to pay what you owe even if collection agencies stop calling you.
If you’ve been discouraged about your credit situation, use the tips provided can turn your frown upside down. This advice can make all the difference between having a bad or good credit score.