You may feel like you have been wronged. The circumstances that lead to bad credit are rarely ones you want to look back on fondly, but a low credit score provides a constant, irritating reminder. Fortunately, you can move on with your life and fix your credit by applying the following advice.
Fha Loan
Financing homes can be made more difficult when your credit score is low. See about getting an FHA loan, which are loans that the federal government guarantees. You might be able to get an FHA loan even if you cannot afford closing costs or down payments.
If your credit is good, it’s easy to get a mortgage on a new home. When your mortgage is paid in full, you will be rewarded with increased scores on your credit file. The more equity you have in your home, the more stability the banks see in you. A good credit score is necessary when you need to take out a loan.
Avoid paying off high interest rates so that you don’t pay too much. Creditors are skirting a fine line of law when they try to charge you exorbitant interest rates. However, you signed a contract agreeing to pay off interests. Your interest rates should be regarded as too high if you plan on suing your creditors.
Make sure you check out any credit counseling agency you consider using. Many counselors are honest and helpful, but others may be less interested in actually helping you. Some companies you may find are outright scams. If you’re smart, you’ll make sure the credit counselor is not a phony first.
Be very wary of programs that do not sound legal; chances are they aren’t. Don’t buy into scams that suggest you create new credit files. Doing this is illegal, and you will be caught. The end result of getting caught during the crime could be expensive legal fees and a possibility of time behind bars.
Contact your creditors to request a reduction in your credit line. It will help to keep spending under control, and also sends a positive message to potential lenders. This means you might have a better opportunity of obtaining necessary loans in the future.
Dispute any errors that you find on any of your credit reports. You should contact the credit bureaus both online and by certified letter; be sure to include proof of your claims. 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.
One excellent way to get your credit score back up is to close all your credit cards except for one. Then, try to arrange payments or transfer your balances to the one account you left open. By doing this, you can concentrate on a single credit card payment, as opposed to a lot of smaller ones each month.
Credit Card
It is crucial that you review credit card bills on a monthly basis to check for errors. If you notice unwarranted fees or surcharges, contact the credit card company to avoid being reported for failure to pay.
If you wheel and deal and get a new payment plan, be certain to have it on paper. This provides you with documentation that an agreement is in place in case the company changes hands or the creditor tries to change the terms of the agreement. When the debt is eventually paid or settled in full, you should request documentation of this and forward copies to the primary credit reporting companies.
To even begin improving your credit you will need to lower the balance owed on them as soon as possible. First, pay down your credit card balances, starting with the highest interest. Doing so shows your creditors that you are taking your debt problem seriously.
When you receive a credit card statement you should immediately look at the statement. Really analyze the purchases on your card to make sure you are not receiving any errant charges for items you never purchased. You must be accountable for each item on your statement.
Credit Score
Lowering the balances you carry on revolving accounts can improve your credit score. Your credit score can go up if you just bring your balances down. The FICO system makes a note when your balances are at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 percent of your available credit.
When you do not have good credit, you will not feel so good about your financial status and you might think it could never improve. If you use these tips, you can change your attitude about your finances and improve your credit score.