With so many people today suffering from the current economic conditions, millions of people have found themselves with negative marks on their credit. The following tips will give you great information on how you can go about improving your credit score.
For some it may hard to finance their home due to having less than ideal credit. FHA loans might be a good option to consider in these circumstances, as they are backed by our federal government. Some FHA loans even cover a down payment or your closing costs.
If you have a poor credit history and can’t qualify for a credit card, get a secured card. Most likely, you will not have a problem obtaining this type of card, but you must add funds to the account before you make any purchases to assure the bank that you will pay. Even though this card will be secured by your own money, you will make payments and manage it as if it were unsecured. This will improve your credit as you show yourself able to make the payments on time.
Credit Limit
If your credit card is carrying more than half of its credit limit, your first priority should be paying it down until it is below 50%. If any of your balances climb past half of your available credit limit, pay them down or spread the debt around other accounts, otherwise, your credit rating gets tarnished.
Negative-but-correct information cannot be removed from your credit report, so be wary of promises from unscrupulous companies who promise to remove it from the credit reporting agencies. Negative credit information remains on your record for up to seven years. You can, however, succeed at having incorrect information erased from your credit reports.
You won’t be able to repair your credit until you are able to pay those bills. More precisely, you must begin paying your bills fully and on time. Your credit rating can improve almost immediately when you pay off past due bills.
Credit counselors should always be researched thoroughly before being consulted for credit restoration. There are some legit counselors, and there are some that have ulterior motives. Other programs, while they sound good, are complete and total scams. Be a wise consumer by checking whether or not the credit counselor you are going to deal with is legitimate.
Learn what affect a debt settlement plan will have on your credit rating before you sign up. Some settlement agreements can actually be bad for your credit score, so be wary and do your homework. Creditors just want their money and really aren’t interested on how it will affect your score.
Joining a credit union is a great way to build your credit if you are having a difficult time doing so elsewhere. Credit unions sometimes have better rates and more options for your credit rather than a large bank. You can base this on how well the economy is in your area instead of the national situation.
Find and challenge errors on your credit report using the dispute process offered by each credit reporting agency. Create a dispute letter for agencies that have the error, and submit additional supporting documents along with it. 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.
It is important to carefully review your monthly credit card statement. Whenever you see any, it will be necessary to discuss the situation with your creditor so that they do not submit negative information to the credit agencies.
When you pay your bills on time, you are keeping your credit score high. Each late payment that you make shows on your personal credit report and can hurt you when the time comes to take out a loan.
Now that you know various ways to repair your credit, why should you wait to use them? Don’t let poor credit affect your life any longer. Use the tips presented here to repair you score and your overall financial health.
