The results of a poor credit score are traumatic to deal with. When you are dealing with bad choices of your past, it can be frustrating. It can be difficult to get a good credit score, but it’s doable. These suggestions can help.
Secured Credit
There are secured credit cards available if your credit rating is too low to open up a regular credit card account. These are extremely easy to qualify for. A secured credit card looks just like a regular card, and works like a regular card, but you have to have the necessary money in an account to guarantee payment. If you open a credit card account, keep charges fairly low, and pay it on time, this will go towards improving your credit score.
Financing a new home can be a challenge, especially if you have a history of bad credit. See about getting an FHA loan, which are loans that the federal government guarantees. FHA loans offer lower down payments and help with closing costs.
Start by paying off credit cards with accounts 50% over your limit. You can concentrate on another card once these accounts are lowered to under half of your limit. Any time you exceed 50% of your credit limit, your credit rating is affected. Pay off credit cards as fast as you can, or spread the debt out further.
Always do research before contracting a credit counselor. While some counselors are legitimate, offering genuinely helpful services, others have ulterior motives. Many others are nothing more than scams. You should research any counseling service you are considering prior to initiating communications with them.
Do not do anything that will make you end up in jail. You should steer clear of internet programs that show you how to clear your credit. Creating a new credit file is very illegal and you can be easily caught. Not only can legal fees add up, but you could end up in jail.
Develop a plan that works if you are in need of credit repair. You have to stay focused and committed if you want to make concrete changes to your financial situation. Only buy the things that are absolutely necessary. Ask yourself if a certain purchase is both necessary and affordable. Buy the item if your answer to this question is “yes”.
Ask credit companies to lower all of your card limits. 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.
Make sure to check all three of your credit reports, and pay extra attention to the negative reports when you are working on repairing bad credit. There may very likely be errors or mistakes that can be removed.
If you see any erroneous information on your credit report, file a dispute so you can have the information removed. You should contact the credit bureaus both online and by certified letter; be sure to include proof of your claims. Mail your dispute packet with receipt confirmation so you will have proof the agency has received it.
If you have credit cards where the balance is more than half of your credit limit, pay these down right away. Any time you exceed 50% of your credit limit, your credit rating is affected. Pay off credit cards as fast as you can, or spread the debt out further.
If you wish to repair your credit, you’ll have to stop spending more than you earn. You will need to change the way you think. The rise of consumer credit in the past few years has made it far too easy to buy items without being able to pay, and the bills are coming due. Examine your budget, and figure out how much extra money you have to shop with.
You can get your credit score looking much healthier by taking advantage of this advice. Most importantly, be consistent, making sure to pay your bills on time. Fixing a credit problem is far from impossible, and the faster you get to it, the better your results will be.