Posts Tagged ‘repair credit’


  

Use Your Credit Score to Your Advantage

Everyone becomes concerned about their credit report and credit score at some time in their lives. It may be when a loan is needed to buy a home or a new car. Credit reports are an issue at other times, too, such as when you’re trying to obtain a new job or rent a new apartment.

What exactly is your credit report, and what information does it contain? Most people who’ve never seen their own credit report are amazed at the amount of information it contains. Your social security number, birth date, present and former addresses, amount of money you earn and even your place of employment are all part of your credit history. If you have been sued, had a lien or judgement placed against you, filed for bankruptcy or ever been arrested, this information will show up in your credit report. Information about whether or not you’ve paid off debts and paid your bills on time is also included in credit reports.

Credit reports are generated by credit bureaus, and they receive the information they contain from businesses and other consumer reporting agencies. The major credit bureaus Experian, Equifax and Trans Union collect information on you from a variety of sources, then compile that data into your credit report. They then sell your credit report to businesses, employers, landlords or creditors upon request. Everyone has access to their own credit report, including the sources of information it contains.

Identity theft is one reason more and more people are regularly checkign their credit reports. Consumers are also more interested in their credit histories today due to the “credit crunch,” as it’s become more challenging to obtain loans and other forms of credit. It’s wise to review your credit report on a regular basis instead of waiting until good credit is an issue. Checking up on your credit yearly can help you prevent being denied insurance coverage, employment, the loan you need and even your next apartment rental.

Even those who are confident their credit is excellent are advised to check their credit scores at least once a year. This is because it’s a very simple matter for credit bureaus to obtain erroneous information. You have no way of knowing what’s in your report until you look at it.

You can take steps to clear off old or incorrect information, but it takes time. This is why monitoring your credit history is a better approach than waiting until you’re in need of the great credit score you believe you have. Although it can take some time and effort, monitoring and improving your credit history and credit score is well worth the effort, as it is the key to obtaining favorable interest rates on loans, credit approvals, securing employment and enjoying a host of other financial benefits.

 

 

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

It’s Vital You Check Your Credit Score and History

Have you ever wondered what your credit report looks like? Getting a copy is easy, just contact one of the credit reporting agencies once a year to receive a copy, absolutely free. Understanding the information on the report is simple too.

Usually, most businesses report to one or more of the credit bureaus. If you have ever applied for a loan or for credit, you have a file at one of the three major credit bureaus. What this means for you is that to get your credit bureau report, you may need to request a report from all 3 so that you can get a look at your credit bureau “big picture” so you can repair your credit history and score if necessary.

Getting a free credit report is as simple as contacting the credit bureau. If you have a computer with internet access, you can make the request online. Otherwise, you can request your report by mail. Be prepared to provide some identifying information, to confirm that the report you are ordering is your own. There are some websites that charge a fee to provide your report, but you do not have to use them—you are entitled to a free report each year by law.

Once your credit report is in your hands, look it over carefully. Look for inaccuracies in the first section. This section shows your name, address, and other personal information. Be sure to contact the credit bureau with any errors or corrections that are needed.

After the personal information section, your current bills appear next. Check that the credit bureau report accurately lists your bills, the amounts of your payments and the due dates. This is the spot where any late or missed payments will show up as well.

Your credit reports from different agencies will vary slightly, as merchants report to different agencies. It is possible to have an high credit score with two of the 3 major bureaus and a poor rating with the other, for example. Your report will also list any inquiries, or requests to view your information by lenders or other entities. Double check this section to be sure that there are no unauthorized inquiries or inquiries done without your permission.

After carefully reviewing your report, you should contact the credit bureau and request that any errors be corrected.

Knowing that your personal credit information is safe, accurate and up to date with the 3 major credit bureaus will give you peace of mind.

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: , , ,

What A Good Credit Score Is

Have you ever wondered what a good credit score is? If you are on the verge of getting a loan, this question would likely come up in your mind. But while a range of scores may be considered good for a particular loan, there is no fixed number that applies to all types of loans. Depending on the type of loan you seek, a score of 700 may be a good one.

Having a good credit score is really important. You would be paying lower interest rate if nothing else. Let’s assume that you credit score is 760. For a 30-year fixed mortgage of $300,000, you could get an interest rate of 4.5% or a little less. Then you would be paying about $1,520 per month.

But what if your credit score is 620? You would hardly get a loan with an interest rate that is below 6%. That small difference is actually much because now you will be paying about $1,800 per month instead of $1,520 (an additional $280 per month)!

Knowing what a good credit score is for the type of loan you want is important. This will help you tell in advance what interest rate you should expect. This will help you bargain with your lenders.

Besides the advantage of getting low interest loans, a good credit score would also give you the liberty to compare and chose the best loan on offer. I generally advice people to do this. Do not be in a hurry when searching for the right loan. If you have a good credit score, never fail to do a comparison of the various offers you get.

What happens if your credit score is really bad, say 360? Do not despair since all hope is not lost. You would still find lenders who are willing to give you a loan. There is one problem with this, and that is you would have to pay a higher interest rate and put down a large down payment. If that does not appeal to you (who would find that appealing anyway?), then you have the option of repairing your credit score.

While it is important that you know what a good credit score is, it is equally important that you know how to repair bad credit. Can you read and understand English? Then you can fix your credit score yourself. Having the right information is what you need. Armed with it and used properly, you can raise your score faster than you think.

What if I told you that you can repair your credit yourself in just 37 days? Read my 37 Days To Clean Credit ebook review to find out how.

 Mail this post

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,