Tag: Improving Your Credit

Improving Your Credit II

Posted by admin – March 20, 2009

While improving your credit can be a slow process there are several things you can do, in addition to the obvious basics, that will help you improve your credit score and establish you as a credit worthy individual a little bit faster. Steady bill paying and paying down debt should be your top priority, but it is true that where there is a will, there is a way, even when it comes to credit. Here are a few ideas to help you re-establish your credit faster that might take a little more digging, but are available even to those with lower credit scores.

While it might not seem like the most obvious things to do, it is sometimes necessary to open a new line of credit which will help establish you as someone who is creditworthy and improve your overall FICO score in the future. Anyone with bad credit knows it is almost impossible to be approved for a credit card though, so apply for a secured credit card that will help you begin to build a better credit history. There are several small banks throughout the nation that will extend these secure loans with a bank account to account as security for the credit line.

Another simple way to show that you are creditworthy and a reliable lender is to apply for lines of credit from stores and businesses. This is harder to do when your credit score is really low as far as national chains go, but if you look for lending opportunities on a local level you might find some businesses that are willing to work for you. Of course, once you have gained a line of credit or a secure credit card it is important that you stay on top of the payments so that you are able to use them later as proof of your credit growth.

One of the most damaging things that can happen to your credit is for a lender to sell off your bills to a collection agency. If at all possible, swallow your pride and answer the phone calls that are coming from your creditors to see if there is any way you can work with them to get your bill paid in a way that is more manageable to you. Creditors are not always as unwilling to listen as you may think and reaching a new payment plan or schedule with them is sometimes all they need to be convinced that you are still committed to paying off the debt you owe them. The same thing goes for collection agencies if your debts have already been handed over. Many people do not realize that collection agencies can enter a judgment against them in court to attempt to gain payment and those judgments then remain on your credit report for seven years.

Above all, it is important to request and review your credit report as often as possible. Not only will tell you where you stand, but it allows you to catch items that may be damaging sooner rather than later. With time and a little perseverance you can bring your score up to a level that you were once used to.

Improving Your Credit

Posted by admin – March 19, 2009

Improving your credit has become the topic of choice as more and more consumers are becoming aware of just how much their credit scores impact their everyday lives. Insurance, lines of credit, the ability to purchase a home or car or fund an education for yourself or a child all rely heavily on the credit score and individual has earned for themselves over the course of several years. Right now is the best time to begin improving your credit and raise your score to a number that you can come to expect reasonable prices and contract terms as a result of.

What most people do not realize is that it takes just as long, if not longer, to clean up your credit report as it did to bring that number down. Even when it is a lot easier for you to pay off the debts that you owe, it is still difficult getting those reports removed off your overall report. It requires a lot of time and dedication of an individual, but if you want it to get done it is the only way to handle it. In the end, the benefits that come with the improved credit score are definitely worth it and the extra worry over finding out if you are approved or not will be lessened.

The steps that need to be taken to improve your credit score are actually very simple and once you begin working towards a higher score it is crucial that you stay dedicated to the commitment. The first thing that needs to happen is that all bills from here on out need to be made on time. Late bills, whatever they are for, drastically reduce your credit score especially if you are a repeat offender with the same creditor. As soon as you are able to comfortably pay off your bills every month, use any extra income to pay down the debt that you are carrying month to month. This also requires you to cut your spending, especially when it comes down to charging items to a credit card.

At this point you should consider all lines of credit that you still have open to you as gold. Every credit line is connected to your credit score and raises or lowers the amount of credit available to you, making you appear different on paper. To make yourself seem more creditworthy it is important that you keep all lines of credit open that you currently have and do not close any, even old accounts that you have not used or only use for emergency. At the same time attempting to open additional lines of credit while you are boosting your credit score in other ways, can lead to a lowered credit score because of the credit check that is standard to every creditor.

Finally, as you continue to pay bills on time and pay off old debts that appear on your credit score, make sure you contact those creditors to have the debts removed. You can watch for these updates by requesting your credit report and reporting settled bills to the credit unions to seek compliance from the creditors if they do not act on your own.