It might seem totally impossible to fix your credit, but it is possible. There is a great deal of credit restoration information available here. Using these simple tips can save you time and prevent headaches.
The first step in credit score improvement is to build a plan. You must make a commitment to making changes on how you spend money. Be sure to buy only the things that you need. Before making any purchase, determine if it is within your means and if it is indispensable. Don’t buy the item unless you answer “yes” to both of these questions.
A secured credit card might be a good option for the person with a poor credit score. Secured credit card applications have a high rate of approval because you must fund a security deposit against your credit limit. Limited spending and regular payments can turn a new credit account into a valuable credit repair tool.
Any credit cards that have balances over 50% of your limit should be paid off until they are less than 50% of your limit. Your credit score can diminish with balances over 50%, so spread out the debt or pay off the credit cards.
One thing to watch out for when trying to fix your credit is scammers who say that they can get any negative information deleted from your credit, regardless of its accuracy. These things are, generally, on your record for seven years. However, information that is not correct can be removed.
Repairing your credit is actually pretty simple. The first step is to focus on paying your late bills. You should pay your bills in full each month. Do not let them fall behind again and get yourself in trouble. When you pay off past due lines of credit your credit score will go up.
Stay in touch with credit card companies if you wish to repair your score. If you do this you will not go into debt more and make your situation worse than it was. Don’t be afraid to ask for alterations in interest rates or dates of payment.
Contact your creditors and see if you can get them to lower your overall credit limit. It will keep you from overextending yourself financially, it sends a great signal to the credit card companies that you are a responsible borrower, and you will have an easier time getting credit in the future.
If you notice credit reporting errors, always file a dispute. 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.
Payment Plan
If a creditor agrees to give you a payment plan, get that payment plan 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. If you manage to pay off your debt, make sure you receive proper documentation as proof to send to credit reporting agencies.
Make sure that you always read your credit card statement entirely. You want to double check that all the charges are accurate, and that you are not paying for something you did not purchase. If an error occurs, you should immediately notify your creditor.
For a better credit rating, lower the balances on your revolving accounts. Your credit score can be raised just by reducing your balances. When balances are 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 percent of the total credit available, the FICO system takes note of it.
If you are trying to fix your credit, be aware of lawyers who claim to instantly fix your credit. Since a lot of people go through credit problems, predatory lawyers emerged that charge huge fees to repair their client’s credit in ways that are either illegal or useless. Before contacting a lawyer for assistance, do some investigating.
Hopefully you have discovered information pertinent to your case. Do not let your situation discourage you. Your efforts will eventually pay off. Remember that it takes time to undo this kind of damage. Have faith that your persistent efforts will pay off and that you can be debt-free.