It may seem difficult to find the information you need to repair your credit while you are in the middle of your problem. Do not let this overwhelm you: this article contains the basics of what you need to know to fix your credit. The simple tips you will find here will save you from a great deal of stress.
Getting home financing is no small feat, especially if your credit score is less than perfect. If your income is a factor you may qualify for a FHA loan, which has lower standards and makes the federal government your lender in a sense. FHA loans are also great when a borrower doesn’t have the money to make a down payment or pay closing costs.
Credit Cards
If you have credit cards with a utilization level over 50%, then pay them down until they are below 50% utilization. Your credit score can diminish with balances over 50%, so spread out the debt or pay off the credit cards.
It’s easy to lower your interest rate by ensuring your credit score is high. Monthly payments are easier this way, and you can pay off your unpaid debt. Receiving competitive credit rates and good offers are important in having credit that you can pay off easily, and that will get you a great credit score.
Getting a reduced interest rate is the easiest way to reduce your overall debt. It is bordering on illegal for credit card companies to charge you skyrocketed interest rates. However, you have entered into a legal agreement that requires you to pay accrued interest. Be very wary of suing your creditors, especially if all of your issues were covered in the contract.
Due Date
When trying to rehabilitate your credit, it is important to work with each credit card company you are indebted to. You should contact the company and request a lower interest rate or a due date change if necessary. You can do this by speaking with them and asking to change the monthly charges or due date.
Don’t get involved in anything that could get you arrested. There are various online scams that involve creating a fresh credit file. Of course, this highly illegal, and it will cause you even more problems, because it will not go unnoticed. Taking these short cuts will end up costing you money and could lead to a stay in jail.
Call your credit card companies and request that they lower your limit on your cards. This will prevent overextending yourself and lets the company know about your responsible borrowing habits. You could get credit easier in the future.
Find out how your debt settlement contract will make your credit score look. Some debt settlements are better than others. Do your homework and find out how your score will be impacted before agreeing to anything. Some creditors have no concern over how your credit score can be affected by entering into certain agreements. These people just want your money.
When you are attempting to improve your credit score, carefully comb over your credit reports for negative information. If you notice a mistake on your report, you could get some items crossed off. Even if the item itself is right, an error in the date or amount gives you the right to contest it.
If you see any erroneous information on your credit report, file a dispute so you can have the information removed. Draft a letter to reporting agencies disputing negative entries and also submit any available documentation. Make sure that you ask for a return receipt so that you know your letter makes it to its intended destination.
If your credit is poor, take the first step to repairing it by closing out the majority of your cards, leaving yourself just one to use. You should arrange to make payments or make a balance transfer to your open account. By doing this you can make your bills more manageable. Instead of a mailbox full of credit card bills, you will only have one.
Doing so can help to keep good credit. Late payments to credit cards are reported to the major credit agencies and can hurt your chances for securing a new loan.
Carefully read all of your credit statements. Take a second look to make sure that you are being charged only for what you actually purchased. It’s up to you to make sure that every item on your bill is correct and dispute those that are not.
Hopefully these tips will be very useful in your endeavors. Although credit improvement feels like ‘one step forward, two steps back’, it is worth it. Take your time and be patient. If you keep at it, you will reap the rewards.
