It doesn’t matter whether you fell victim to people giving out free credit cards, spent too much money or was hit very hard with the recession. Chances are that your credit has been damaged. Thankfully, there are methods in the below article that can help you mend this problem.
If your credit does not allow you to obtain new credit, getting a secured one is much easier and will help fix your credit. Anyone can get one, but you must load money onto the card as a type of “collateral”. Responsible use of any credit card can help your credit rating. However, never forget that irresponsible use will get you in trouble every time.
Lower Interest Rates
When you have better credit, you will be offered lower interest rates on loans and credit cards. Lower interest rates make paying bills easier, and prevents you from incurring debt. Make sure to use a company that gives you the best rates so your bill isn’t being built up by money you haven’t even spent.
If your creditors try to jack up your interest rates, do not pay them. Some companies that charge high interest rates are running the risk of having those rates challenged by consumers. However, you have entered into a legal agreement that requires you to pay accrued interest. Your interest rates should be regarded as too high if you plan on suing your creditors.
Any company or credit counselor that claims they can erase all negative reports from your credit history should be viewed with some skepticism. These things are, generally, on your record for seven years. It is possible, however, to remove errant information.
The first step to repairing your credit is paying what you owe. However, it’s not enough to just pay your bills; you need to make your payments on time and in full. Once you have started to pay towards your past-due accounts, you credit score will gradually improve.
Make sure you do your research before deciding to go with a particular credit counselor. You will find some counselors that truly want to help you fix your credit situation, while others may have different motives. Some are not legitimate. It is smart to verify the legitimacy of credit counselors prior to getting involved with them.
Don’t get involved in anything that could get you arrested. There are plenty of credit scams that purport to erase your existing credit file and create a new one. This is illegal and you will most certainly get caught. The legal costs can cripple you, and there is a very good chance you will be sent to jail.
Learn what affect a debt settlement plan will have on your credit rating before you sign up. Certain methods of settling your debts have less detrimental effects on your credit history. The creditor is only interested in receiving the money due, and is not concerned with your credit score.
Make sure you review all of the negative marks against you on your credit report. There may very likely be errors or mistakes that can be removed.
Try joining a credit score if you’re still struggling to boost your credit rating by opening new lines of credit. These credit unions can probably give you better credit options in the long run.
Check your credit card statement each month and make sure there aren’t any discrepancies. If this is the case, you need to call the company right away to avoid them from reporting it to 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. Any plan that you agree on should be put in writing and signed by both parties to protect you in the future. Every time you get a debt paid off, ask the company to notify the credit bureaus.
Credit Cards
Pay the balances on all credit cards as soon as you can to start the credit score improvement process. Work on paying off credit cards that have the highest interest rates or high balances. This can prove to creditors that you are serious about paying down your debt.
Repairing a poor credit score can seem like a daunting task, but improving your score is possible with guidance and knowledge. With the advice you were given in the above article, you can get to work on improving your credit score today.
