If your credit is bad, it may seem tough to find the right places to turn to for credit score improvement. We have several suggestions to help you fix your credit score. These easy tips can help you to save time and stress.
If your credit history has put you in the position where you are not able to obtain a regular credit card, you should try to get a secured credit card to begin rebuilding your credit. This card will be more than likely be granted to you, however you must fund the account ahead of your purchases as a sort of “insurance” to the bank that your debts will be paid. Using this new credit card in a responsible manner will help to build back up your good credit rating.
Never trust a business or person who offers to clear up your credit for a price. Especially if it is correct information they say they can remove. Unfortunately, this negative information stays on your credit record for at least seven years. You should know that mistakes and anything incorrect can be removed from your credit report.
When you are trying to clear up your credit contact your credit companies. Talking to them will help keep you from drowning further in debt and making your credit worse. Do not be afraid to call your credit card company and ask if you can make changes to your due date or your minimum payment amounts.
Be very wary of programs that do not sound legal; chances are they aren’t. You should steer clear of internet programs that show you how to clear your credit. This is illegal and you will eventually be caught. They may seem like a small matter, but if you get caught, you could receive heavy fines and even jail time.
Credit Card
Contact the credit card company and ask to get your card limit lowered. This is likely to keep you from overusing credit, which can be a financial burden. It also lets credit card companies know that you are responsible, and this makes them more likely to extend credit to you as time goes on.
Check any negative items on your reports carefully when you begin fixing your credit. Any mistakes, such as in the amount owed or the date the agreement was entered, could result in the removal of the entire negative trade line on your credit report.
One way to increase your credit score is to become a member at 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.
If you come across a mistake on your credit report, don’t hesitate to dispute it. A dispute letter should be sent to any of the agencies that are reporting the error. Be sure to include supporting documents. Your letter should be sent with a request for return receipt, so you can have a record that it was received by the reporting agency.
You should look at your credit card bill every month to make sure it is correct. If you spot any late fees, immediately contact your credit card company. This can save you from having late payments reported to the credit reporting agencies.
If you are able to successfully negotiate a payment schedule for a debt, it is important to request a copy of the agreement in writing. You want documentation to back yourself up so there will be no problems in the future, and if the company owner changes you will have more of a chance of keeping your plan. Once the debt is fully paid, you need to get a statement verifying this from the creditor and send it to each of the major credit bureaus.
The most obvious way to get your credit score repair journey going is to pay down those pesky credit card balances. It is a toss up as far as which cards are best to pay off first – some choose ones with the highest interest rate, others choose the card with the lowest balance. This effort will show the credit card companies that you are trying to pay your bills and be responsible.
Hopefully this information was useful. At first you may be daunted by the process, but the benefits of using the tips given will make it worthwhile. Make sure you are patient. Have faith that your persistent efforts will pay off and that you can be debt-free.