Bad credit is an unfortunate detour on the road of life. It can cause you to miss some great opportunities and take away some financial options. But, you can fix your credit in a few simple steps and protect it for the future.
Financing a new home can be a challenge, especially if you have a history of bad credit. FHA loans are good options in these circumstances, because the federal government guarantees them. Even if the applicant does not have money for closing costs or a down payment, an FHA loan is workable.
Credit Card
If you have a card that carries a balance of over 50% of the limit, you should pay it down to below 50%. Credit card balances are among the factors taken into account when determining your credit score. Maintaining balances over 50% will lower your rating. You can attain lower your balances by using balance transfers to move debt from accounts with higher balances to those with lower balances, or by simply paying off some of your higher balances.
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 is very easy to get, because you put money into an account ahead of time and then spend from that, so the bank doesn’t have to worry about not getting their money. If you show a good history of payments with this card, it will help improve your credit standing.
If your credit card has a balance of over 50% of your limit, it should be your number one priority to pay it off until the balance is under 50%. Your credit score can be negatively impacted if you are carrying a large balance compared to the available credit you have. While you are paying off these cards, reduce the balance to a small percentage of your available limit.
Try to negotiate with your creditors about the amount of interest you’ll pay on an old debt. In most cases, creditors are somewhat limited in the amount of interest they can charge. You did however sign a contract that agrees you will pay off all interests as well as the debt. It is likely you can have exorbitant interest rates reduced if you sue the creditor.
An installment account is a great way to increase your credit score. An installment account requires a monthly payment, make sure you can afford it. Paying on time and maintaining a balance will help improve your credit score.
Any company or credit counselor that claims they can erase all negative reports from your credit history should be viewed with some skepticism. All information remains on your credit report for a period of seven years or more. It is possible to have erroneous information removed from your report, however.
The tips you just read are just a few simple strategies you can employ to rebuild your credit and keep it squeaky clean going forward. Having a good credit score is crucial to getting the best interest rates possible and is definitely worth the effort.