If you are waiting around, waiting for your credit to fix itself, that is never going to happen. The ostrich effect, putting your head in the sand, will only result in a low score and a poor credit report for the rest of your life. Keep reading for ways that you can be proactive in turning your credit around.
Be careful about which collection accounts you pay off. With the current way the credit reporting system is structured, paying off a collection agency may actually lower your score because the date of last activity will be reset. A paid collection has no less of an impact on your score than an open collection. This resetting of the date of last activity also means the seven year reporting clock will restart. If you can wait out a collection agency, do it.
Discuss your credit situation with a counselor from a non-profit agency that specializes in credit counseling. If you qualify, counselors may be able to consolidate your debts or even contact debtors to reduce (or eliminate) certain charges. Gather as many details about your credit situation as possible before you contact the agency so that you look prepared and serious about repairing your credit.
By paying off your bills and debt regularly, you do not have to face the stress of phone calls from collectors. If you do not pay off your creditors, they will sell your debt to another collection agency until you pay someone. To avoid being harassed, set up a payment plan with your original creditor.
For a good credit history, you should limit the number of credit inquiries. One inquiry does not damage your score significantly, but if a financing agency notices too many inquiries, the agency might not accept your application. Limit the number of applications you send out and always ask in advance if your credit score is going to be checked.
Do not add on additional debt if you are working on repairing your credit. Opening a new account when you have missed payments and late accounts on file sends up a red flag to possible lenders. Fix the credit problems you have before opening up any new credit cards.
Only take a do-it-yourself approach to your credit repair if you’re willing to do all of the work and handle talking to different creditors and collection agencies. If you don’t feel like you’re brave enough or able to handle the pressure, hire an attorney instead who is well versed on the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
To keep your credit in top notch shape, borrow no more than 30% of the credit available to you. Keeping your debt lower than 30% of your available credit will help you to maintain a strong credit score with the reporting agencies. It also means less owed to lenders and so, less for you to pay back.
If you are trying to repair extremely poor credit and you can’t get a credit card, consider a secured credit card. A secured credit card will give you a credit limit equal to the amount you deposit. It allows you to regain your credit score at minimal risk to the lender.
An important tip to consider when working to repair your credit is to never use the option to skip a month’s payment without penalty. This is important because you should always pay at least the minimum balance, due to the amount of interest that the company will still earn from you.
An important tip to consider when working to repair your credit is to not have too many installment loans on your report. This is important because credit reporting agencies see structured payment as not showing as much responsibility as a loan that permits you to make your own payments. This may lower your score.
Let the Better Business Bureau be your guide when searching for credit repair companies. Fortunately, many people have filed complaints against companies who charge fees for services that they cannot render. If a company’s offers or promises seem too good to be true, beware of their services. Call the BBB before you committ to something that is not worthwhile.
To maintain or repair your credit it is absolutely vital that you pay off as much of your credit card bill as you can every month – ideally paying it in full. Debt carried on your credit card benefits no one except your card company. Carrying a high balance also threatens your credit and gives you harder payments to make.
If you are trying to repair your credit, check all of your negative reports very carefully. Even if the negative credit item itself is not erroneous, if any of the data pertaining to it is, then you may be possible to have it removed from your credit report.
Annualcreditreport.com is a great resource to use when obtaining your credit report. You can get a credit report free from all three reporting agencies once a year. Use this site and avoid giving out personal information, such as your social security number, to third party companies. You can also avoid paying a steep fee to receive your reports.
No one has to live with a bad credit score. Even though the sound of repairing your credit sounds daunting, it can be accomplished. The first step is to determine what is hurting your credit score. After figuring this out, begin taking measures to minimize the damage. Next, begin steps to start adding positive data to your credit history, like paying bills in a timely manner. If you feel you need help in this endeavor, try to find a reputable credit repair company.
You don’t have to be a financial wizard to have a good credit score. It isn’t rocket science and there is a lot that you can do starting today to raise your score and put positive things on your report. All you need to do is follow the tips that you just read from this article and you will be well on your way.
