Your credit is fixable! Bad credit can feel like an anchor weighing you down. Interest rates skyrocket, loans get denied, it can even affect your search for a job. In this day and age, nothing is more important than a good credit score. A bad credit score doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Using the steps below will put you well on your way to rebuilding your credit.
If you paid off an account, do not try to have it removed. Paid off accounts do have a positive effect on your FICO score, especially as they age. Every item on your report that shows that you have at some point made payments is a positive item.
An important tip to consider when working to repair your credit is to try to do it yourself without the assistance of a company. This is important because you will have a higher sense of satisfaction, your money will be allocated as you determine, and you eliminate the risk of being scammed.
In order to best manage your finances and your credit score, you should never max out a credit card. The best thing to do is to never charge more than thirty percent of your credit limit. Having a high percentage of your available revolving credit being used will reduce your credit score. Also, high balances take longer to pay off and accumulate more interest.
When in the process of repairing your credit, you will have to speak with creditors or collection agencies. Make sure that you speak to them in a courteous and polite tone. Avoid aggression or it could backfire for you. Threats can also lead to legal action on their part, so just be polite.
Hiring a lawyer who specializes in credit repair is often a better alternative to credit counseling services. While lawyers are invariably more expensive they are also more trustworthy. A credit lawyer is committed to putting his client’s interests first, ahead of the lenders. When credit problems are serious and the debtor has the money to hire one, a credit lawyer can be the best option.
Start rebuilding your credit score by opening two credit cards. You should choose from some of the better known credit card companies like MasterCard or Visa. You can use secured cards. This is the best and the fastest way for you to raise your FICO score as long as you make your payments on time.
Utilize the tools that are on the Federal Trade Commission’s website. You will find sample letters that you can use to dispute things that you find inaccurate on your credit report. There are additional ways to dispute these inaccuracies but they are a bit less user friendly and can be confusing.
When trying to repair your credit, keep in mind that you will be committing a federal crime if you supply false data on a credit or loan application. It is also illegal to use false pretenses to get an Employer Identification Number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. You will be acting criminally if you misrepresent your Social Security number. If you apply for credit through the internet, mail, or telephone and supply false information, you can be charged and prosecuted for committing wire or mail fraud.
If you feel you have been scammed by a credit repair organization, it is important to know that many states now have laws which regulate these companies. Quite frequently, state law enforcement officials can provide help if you have lost money with a credit repair scam. You should contact the office of your state Attorney General or your local consumer affairs office to ascertain what legal action you may take.
If you have credit cards, you need to make sure you’re making your monthly payments on time. Even if you can’t afford to pay them off, you need to at least make the monthly payments. This will show that you’re a responsible borrower and will keep you from being labeled a risk.
If you are trying to improve your credit score but are having difficulty gaining access to new credit in order to do so, join a credit union. Credit unions can often offer better rates and more alternatives than larger banks, because they base their decisions on the local economy instead of the national situation.
When attempting to repair your credit, you need to get a copy of your credit report and you need to double-check it. Verifying that the information included in the report is your responsibility because the credit bureaus are only supposed to send you what the creditors send them; they do not check the information.
If you believe there is an error on your credit report, be sure to submit a specific dispute with the proper bureau. Along with a letter describing the error, submit the incorrect report and highlight the disputed information. The bureau must start processing your dispute within a month of your submission. If a negative error is resolved, your credit score will improve.
When trying to repair your credit, one of the easiest things to do is correct the errors on your credit report. If you see anything that is incorrect, write a letter to the lender and ask them to verify the information. Also, if there is anything that is negative that is older than 7 years old, ask the creditor to remove this as well.
This is not going to be an easy process. Rebuilding your credit takes time and patience but it is doable. The steps you’ve gone over are the foundation you need to work on to get your credit score back where it belongs. Don’t let the bad choices of your past affect the rest of your future. Follow these tips and start the process of building your future.
