My Credit Wasn’t Going To Fix Itself… I Had To Do Something…

It was then that I realized only I could take charge of my credit and get it fixed… The first thing I did was try a so-called “professional” credit repair agency, but…

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

What Is a Weak Credit Rating?

If you have a bad or weak credit rating, you may find it quite difficult to obtain new forms of credit, such as a car loan, mortgage or credit card. While there is no single definition of what constitutes a week credit rating, you can generally get an idea of how bad your credit is by finding out your credit score. Credit Scores Every individual consumer who has ever used any form of credit has a credit report. These reports contain the details of how you have used credit. Some companies take that information, assign it a point value and...

Monday, April 29, 2013

Does Opening a Savings Account Affect Your Credit Score?

Lenders use your credit score as a barometer to loosely gauge the probability that you will pay back your debts if the company loans you money. A credit score is generally composed of five factors, each of which is weighed differently. Certain actions can negatively or positively affect your credit score. In general, opening a savings account will not affect your score. Credit Score Composition Payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit and the types of credit used all factor into your credit score, according to...

Is Opening Credit Cards Good for Your Credit Score?

Opening new credit card accounts has both short-term and long-term effects on your credit score in a few categories. Although each new card generally hurts your score initially, the new account can have significant benefits in the future, depending on how you use and pay off the credit cards. New Credit Effects Approximately 10 percent of your credit score calculation is based on new credit cards and loans, which hurt your credit score. This is the main drawback to opening credit cards. Part of the penalty results from credit inquiries,...

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Lowest Score to Be Considered Fair Credit

When negatives prevent your credit score from entering into the excellent range, you at least want "fair" credit or you may not qualify for a loan at reasonable terms. The lowest score in the fair range constantly changes and even if you have fair credit with one bureau you could have terrible -- or excellent -- credit at another. Identification As of 2011, most lenders consider fair credit any score in the range of 620 to 659, according to the BCS Alliance. Changes in the state of the lending industry, which often follow the overall economy,...

Saturday, April 27, 2013

How do I Get a Credit Report Without an Email Address?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives your free annual access to your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You can choose from several options to get the reports. Many people use the online request system, which sends information to an email account. You have other options if you don't have an email address or don't want to use one. Your credit reports can be ordered via postal mail or over the phone. Postal Mail The government website allows you to request your free credit reports via postal mail. You must visit the...

Friday, April 26, 2013

What Is the Best Way to Increase Your Credit Score?

If you want a good deal on your mortgage or car loan, you need a good credit score. The score is calculated based on your credit history---timely payments, bankruptcy and foreclosures---and gives lenders a quick assessment of your credit risk. Your score isn't fixed in stone; if yours isn't good, it's possible to improve it. Errors You can order annual free reports from the three big credit bureaus---Equifax, Experian and TransUnion---through the Annual Credit Report website (see Resources). Check your reports for errors, such as open accounts...

How to Pay Off Derogatory Accounts for a Credit Score

Derogatory accounts on a credit report can include charge-offs, judgments and collection accounts. These remarks indicate that a debtor didn't fulfill his debt obligation to a creditor, and having derogatory information on your report lowers your credit scores. If you are hoping to qualify for a loan or negotiate better interest rates, you can talk with creditors about paying off these accounts. Instructions 1 Get your credit reports to review derogatory information. Your credit reports supply information on your entire credit history, and...

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Four Major Categories of Information That Appear on a Credit Report

Your credit score can determine the credit card interest rate you may qualify for, help a prospective employer make a hiring decision on your behalf, help you qualify for a rental or get your utilities connected without a deposit. A credit report consists of several categories of data that, combined, give the lender or credit company the best indicator of your financial health and how likely you are to repay your debts. Payment History Every...

What Is Considered a Fair Credit Score?

The majority of Americans have fair credit--they are neither exemplary financial citizens nor complete borrower deadbeats--particularly younger people who have had less time to learn the ropes of personal finance and are less likely to be locked into a long-term career. There are many ways to both deal with having only fair credit and to ameliorate it involving effective communication with lenders and sensible personal finance practices. Identification There is no technically defined range for a fair credit score, but most agree that any...

Rental History and Credit

Credit bureaus have traditionally limited themselves to credit-related accounts like mortgages, car financing and other loans and revolving credit like department store accounts, gasoline cards and general credit cards like MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express. Now some bureaus are reporting on other financial transactions, like rent payments, which makes credit more accessible to people who do not regularly borrow money or charge purchases. Mainstream Credit Bureaus Only one mainstream credit bureau is adding rental payment...

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

How to fix your bad credit in 30 days or less and improve your credit score!

This article will teach you to repair your bad credit in 30 days! Instructions 1 The first thing you need to do is pull all three of your credit scores. You can do this for free by going to annualcreditreport.com. Print this reports if possible. 2 Once you have this report handy, look through it, and circle anything over ten years old. Also, highlight or circle anything that you don't recognize or want to dispute. Once you have done this...

National Credit Reporting Organizations

There are four national credit reporting organizations: Experian, Equifax, Transunion and Innovis. These organizations have reports that list your individual and joint credit accounts, including, but limited, to credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, collection agency accounts, judgments and foreclosures. Every account you have doesn't report to every agency, and so it is important to review your individual reports frequently to make sure they are correct. Credit is important in today's society, and it is vital that you make sure you...

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Does Bankruptcy Ruin Your Credit?

Bad credit results in negative entries in the debtor's credit bureau files. TransUnion, Experian and Equifax -- the three main national bureaus -- record financial actions, including if someone opens and closes accounts, makes on-time or late payments, or faces car repossessions, property foreclosures and bankruptcies. Credit is hurt by declaring bankruptcy, but the exact effect on an individual's credit report depends on multiple factors. Definition Bankruptcy is a court action that eliminates a person's debts or creates a special repayment...

How to Get Items Off Your Credit Report

Negative items on your credit report can damage your credit report. If the items on your credit report are accurate, there is not much you can do to remove the item from the report but wait for the item to drop off. You can work to fix negative reports by paying off the loan. However, you can remove incorrect items from your credit report. It takes two different strategies to remove the item completely from your credit report. You need to contact...

Monday, April 22, 2013

Does Paying Off Collection Accounts and Closed Accounts Hurt Your Credit Score?

Paying an old debt, regardless of the its age, can never damage your credit score. The damage from allowing an account to go delinquent has already been done. However, paying an old debt can affect other aspects of debt collection that have no affect on your credit score, but can affect how a creditor or collection agency can recoup an outstanding debt. Credit Reporting According to the Fair Credit Reporting act, negative items are removed...

Does a Loan Modification Affect Your Credit Score?

The 2008 recession and rising unemployment caused many to fall behind on their debt, but companies are willing to help. In 2008, for example, Bank of America modified the accounts of 850,000 customers -- giving terms such as lowered interest rates. Loan modification, however, may have an adverse impact on your credit. Identification Loan modifications programs can hurt or possibly help your score. It all depends on how your creditor reports the loan to the credit bureaus. If, for instance, the lender accepts a reduced payment, it may appear...

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Debt-to-Income Ratios & Credit Scores

The debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is the amount of debt you have--such as a car loan, credit cards, or mortgage--compared with your income. Lenders look at DTI when making lending decisions. They measure your debt load based on the outstanding debt that appears on your credit report, and this debt load helps determine how high or low your credit score is. History In 1989, Fair Isaac created the FICO scoring model in partnership with Equifax....

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Credit Collection Abuse

Some collection agencies take extreme measures during the collection of a debt, such as constantly calling your house, contacting you at your place of business, harassing relatives and neighbors for your contact information and contacting you outside of allowable avenues. Collection abuse is an illegal activity, and you have several methods to combat it. Contact Times Collection agencies are not permitted to contact you at any time that they want. According to the FTC, debt collectors are restricted from contacting you over the phone before...

Friday, April 19, 2013

How to Make a Notation on My Credit Report

Many consumers do not realize they are entitled to place a notation on their credit reports. The credit bureaus collect information from banks and other lenders to include on these reports. You cannot control this process, but you can review your reports and challenge mistaken entries with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. They must remove errors, but they may tell you they found evidence that the item is correct. You can submit a notation detailing your disagreement that must be added to your credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act,...

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Ways to Repair Credit After a Settlement

Settling that old debt may have cost you up to 125 points on your FICO score and possibly a little more, but you can recoup those losses in months. Repairing your credit after a debt settlement is much the same as recovering from any other seriously negative item. Also, you are in a much better position than if you declared bankruptcy. Considerations Debt settlement may not have ruined your credit score as much as missed payments that led to the creditor agreeing to take a portion of the balance rather than risk receiving nothing in a bankruptcy...

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Does Your Spouse's Poor Credit Affect Your Credit If You Have Separate Bank Accounts?

Poor credit makes it difficult to obtain good financing rates and can make it impossible to get a loan. Poor credit affects many areas of life, and it is important to maintain your good credit in cases where your spouse has bad credit. Simply being married does not automatically result in you taking on your spouse's bad credit. Credit Reports Every person has a credit report assigned to him. When a couple are married and obtain joint credit,...

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

How to Read Credit Bureaus

There are three major credit bureaus; Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. While each of these credit bureaus provide reports that look slightly different, each report contains essentially the same information. Credit reports are updated regularly by the financial institutions an individual has a trade line or a credit account with. Instructions 1 Look at the top section of the credit report. It should contain the name of the credit bureau as well as the phone number of the credit bureau if you have any questions about your credit report...

Sunday, April 14, 2013

How Do I Add a Fraud Alert to My Credit Report?

If you believe that financial information which could be used to steal your identity has been made public, you should add a fraud alert to your credit report. Creditors would then have to call you before new accounts could be opened using your information. Adding a fraud alert doesn't cost anything. Unfortunately, it isn't a guarantee that you will be protected. Creditors sometimes overlook a fraud alert by mistake and process a fraudulent credit request. Online Go to Equifax.com and Experian.com to add a fraud alert with those credit-reporting...

What Is Mid Score Credit Rating?

Credit scores are used to determine whether or not you will get approved for credit with a company and then if approved, what your APR for that credit will be. It is therefore important to try and keep your credit score as high as possible so that you can qualify for the best rates. Credit Bureaus Lenders typically use your credit score from either TransUnion, Equifax or Experian to decide whether they will give you credit. All three of these...

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Does the Green Dot Card Improve My Credit?

You can obtain a Green Dot card, which allows you to rent a car at some companies, and enjoy the convenience of electronic transactions without the need for good credit. One downside to this card is that you cannot build a traditional credit history. You can build credit but only with firms that allow self-reported payments. Identification Green Dot cards do not build credit history, according to the Green Dot website. Accounts issued by Green Dot are prepaid, so you do not receive a line of credit. Instead, you load funds onto the card,...

Can a Creditor Get My Credit Score If My File Is Frozen?

All states either have laws requiring the credit rating companies to freeze credit reports, where no creditor can look at it, or the credit companies offer this service voluntarily. Credit freezes are one of the most effective tools against identity thieves, but they do not guarantee that a creditor cannot see your credit score. Identification A credit freeze only prevents new lenders from seeing your report. Your current lenders do not lift the freeze if they use your credit report to review or collect on an account, according to Kiplinger....

Friday, April 12, 2013

Envelopes for Budgeting

People start budgeting for a variety of reasons including saving money and to avoid living paycheck to paycheck. You can use several methods to start budgeting. If you want to get better control over your money, consider using envelopes for budgeting. Process The method of using envelopes for budgeting involves withdrawing cash at a pre-determined date in the month and then separating the cash into individual standard envelopes. You label each envelope for each bill or need, such as "Electric Bill," "Cable," and "Entertainment." When the...

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Can a Company Ask for Your Credit Score When Hiring You?

Many employers routinely request credit checks as part of their hiring process. Some use the information in credit reports to verify an employee's identity and work history, while others consider an applicant's financial history when making employment decisions. You don't have to consent to a credit check, but some employers won't consider your application unless you do so. Credit Reports and Scores A credit report is a history of how you manage debt and credit. Creditors can place accurate information about their dealings with you, including...

Does Getting a Credit Card & Not Using It Build Credit?

Obtaining a credit card is essential to building a credit score, but not if you never use it. If you ignore a credit card account, the credit reporting bureaus omit it from your credit rating. You can use the account to build your credit rating at any time once you start using it. But do not overspend, which can cause much more damage than leaving the account inactive. Identification Not using a credit card account usually means the creditor reports the account as inactive after six to 12 months of no activity. This means that you do not...

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Where to Get a FICO Score

Your credit score is an important number to know. This is a mathematical expression derived from a statistical examination of your credit history. It signifies your creditworthiness. A credit score is mostly based on your credit report details. Fair Isaac Corporation created the FICO credit score. Lenders who employ risk-based system of lending use it. The three major credit-reporting companies create a similar version of the FICO credit score. ...

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Will Negotiating With My Credit Card Company Hurt My Credit?

When credit card debt overwhelms you, you might be able to negotiate with the card issuer to pay it off for pennies on the dollar. While a debt settlement plan with a credit card company may help your financial situation, it could destroy your credit. In most situations, you have to sabotage your credit before the issuer even hears an offer. Considerations Most credit card companies won't listen to a debt settlement offer until the borrower...

Monday, April 8, 2013

Is it Worth Hiring an Attorney to Improve a Credit Score?

People with bad credit can go to extremes to try to help themselves out of their financial problems. While a bad credit score is not necessarily going to ruin your life, it can make it very difficult for you to get a loan. Some attorneys can help you improve your credit score. Talk to an attorney in your area if you need legal advice about your credit score or other related issues. Credit Score Your credit score represents how much of a risk you pose to a creditor if the creditor decides to give you a loan. A low score means you are a risky...

Sunday, April 7, 2013

What Is a Credit Score Simulator?

Credit scores are calculated using a formula developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation and are used by lenders to determine how creditworthy lenders are. These scores range from 350 to 850, with higher scores being better. Your scores are calculated using information found on your credit report. What is a Credit Score Simulator? The Fair Isaac Corporation, creator of FICO scores, does not release the formulas for calculating credit scores to the public so people cannot calculate their credit score on their own. However, a number of groups...

Agencies That Allow You View Your Credit Reports for Free

Consumers in the United States are entitled, through the Fair Credit Reporting Act, to receive a free annual credit report. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are the only credit reporting agencies in the United States. They have authorized annualcreditreport.com as the only official source for free consumer credit reports. This official credit report includes reports from each of the three U.S. credit reporting agencies. The official annual credit...

Friday, April 5, 2013

What Are High & Low Credit Scores?

Wading through information on credit scores can be confusing, because there are few absolutes in the sector of credit scoring. One lender may view your score as high, while another could consider it too low -- and both could be right. Instead of zoning in on a score to reach, look at what your credit history contains. Considerations Your FICO credit scores exist to tell lenders what a mathematical formula designed to rate the odds of you missing a payment says about you, not whether you are a good credit risk. So, one lender may view your...

Why Is It Important to Have a Good Credit Score?

Your credit score is only one part of your overall credit picture, but it plays an important role in your personal finances. Keeping your credit score in good shape can help you keep your finances on track. Definition Your FICO credit score is a number between 300 and 850. It is determined through a statistical analysis of five factors regarding your payment history and credit use. Getting Good Credit Terms Companies use your credit...

Thursday, April 4, 2013

How Fast Can You Increase Your FICO Score?

The FICO credit score, developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation, is one of the most common measurements lenders use to assess your creditworthiness. Much of the score is based on your history of using credit, meaning increasing your score is not something you can do overnight. However, there are some things you can do that will bring your score up within a matter of weeks. How Your Score is Calculated Fair Isaac uses five factors in calculating...

How Do You Determine What a Credit Rating Score of Excellent or Good Means?

When it comes to the world of credit scores, consumers can get bogged down in confusing terminology. You may learn what your three-digit credit rating score is, but not have an understanding of whether it's considered excellent, good or bad. Or, consumers may be told that they have "excellent" credit, but wonder what that credit score range includes and what the positive effects of excellent credit may be. Understanding key definitions related to...