Has bad credit made your life miserable? These days, many people have had tough financial challenges that have killed their credit score. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help improve your credit again, and your first step is as easy as reading this article.
An imperfect credit rating can make financing a home even more difficult than normal. See about getting an FHA loan, which are loans that the federal government guarantees. If you do not have a down payment or money for closing, consider a FHA loan
If your credit is such that you cannot get a new card to help repair it, apply for a secured one. With a secured card, you have to fund your account before you use the card so that the bank will be assured that you will pay off your debts. If you use it correctly, a new card can help you fix your credit.
Installment Account
If you make a decent income, consider an installment account when you want to give your credit score a boost. You need to review the terms of an installment account carefully, because you’ll be required to maintain a certain monthly minimum. You can quickly improve your score by successfully managing these accounts.
Call each of your charge card companies and ask them to lower the limit on them. This will help you accomplish three things: 1. You will avoid being overextended. 2. Credit card companies will begin to view you as responsible. 3. It will be easier for you to get credit as time passes.
Find out how the process will affect your credit rating before you agree to any debt settlement agreements. Some debt settlement methods can hurt your credit even more, and you should be sure of how it will affect you. Most of the time they want their money and don’t care about your credit score.
Credit Card
In order to start repairing your credit, you should close all but one of your credit card accounts. Call your credit card company and try to work out a repayment plan, or transfer the balances of multiple cards to one lower interest card. By doing this you can make your bills more manageable. Instead of a mailbox full of credit card bills, you will only have one.
If you are able to get a payment plan worked out with any of your creditors, make sure you get the terms in writing. This will protect you should the company change its policies. As soon as you get it paid off, have that in writing so you are able to inform the credit reporting agencies.
This is the first step toward having an A+ credit rating. Late payments affect your credit report. Also late payments might prevent you from obtaining a loan should you need it in the future.
There are many credit score repair agencies advertised; you must check with places like the Better Business Bureau to make sure that you deal with a reputable one. There are many scams that happen in the industry of credit restoration. There are numerous people that have been the victims of credit improvement scams. See if the company in question has a reputation on any of the user review sites before you commence business with them.
Collection Agencies
One of the most nerve-racking aspects of being in debt, and having bad credit, is dealing with collection agencies. Cease and desist instructions can be used to ward off debt collectors to a point, but only really to prevent harassment. These letters may prevent collection agencies from making phone calls, but the consumer remains responsible for paying the debt.
Don’t fall prey to law offices that promise you instant credit fixes. A lot of people are having difficulty with their credit, and there are lawyers that try to exploit these people with illegal and ineffective credit repair services. Make sure any credit score repair service you consider has a positive standing with the BBB.
Building your credit back up is the number one way to fix a bad credit score. Prepaid credit cards can help you to break bad spending and repayment habits. This will show potential lenders that you are responsible and credit worthy.
If anyone trying to collect a debt makes threats, make a note of their illegal behavior. Consumers have rights, and you need to be informed of what they are.
Talk to creditors to try using alternate payment plans directly if you cannot make monthly payments. If you contact them proactively, creditors often work with you in developing payment plan that they do not report to credit bureaus. This can help ease some of the financial strain that you have, which will let you put your focus on the accounts where a different repayment plan isn’t possible.
If your low credit rating has ever frustrated you and left you discouraged about your future, then apply the advice here to change your course. These strategies can aid in stopping your credit score from going down and you will be able to make it go up again.
