Everyone wants to improve credit but not everyone knows how. Can you imagine an improvement to your score? Of course you can hire someone to fix it for you and counsel you on the matter. Chances are you cannot afford that if you already have bad credit. You can improve your credit yourself. Just use a few simple tips and you will be well on your way.
Be safe and watch your credit closely. If you have a high credit score you can get anything, but not so with a low credit score. Make sure that you obtain a copy of your credit report once a year in order to make sure that all the information contained in it is correct.
Be sure to watch the due dates on your bills. Make sure to pay things like the phone and light bill on time. Even these will affect your credit standing. Not so much when you pay the bills on time but miss a payment or two and you will see a negative impact on your credit very quickly.
Missed payments lead to delinquent accounts and all of those end up on the credit report with negative terminology lowering the score. Paying on schedule will give you a history of being in good standing with creditors and make it easier to obtain financing.
Avoid the rubber! Checks are nice to have but they do not mean you have money. The checks you write are only covered if you have the money in the bank. Check Systems is what the store just ran your check through and denied it for your purchase because you bounced one. Guess what? The bank sees this as well when you apply for a loan.
Even a small effort makes a difference. With a bad credit history getting a loan is nearly impossible. Start trying to get small loans at places that will report your payments to the credit bureau. This will help to improve credit easily. Making even small payments on time can help you. When you first start you may need a co-signer to ensure the loan is paid.
Do not let a collection agency have your account. Once you have let an account get past a certain point they turn them over to agencies that will do anything they have to in order to get their money. The creditor benefits as well by negotiating and working out an agreement with you because they do not fully recover all their money when this happens. This can lead to judgments as well. Judgments allow your wages to be garnished. In order to improve credit after this you need a near miracle.
Improve your credit by staying at one job as long as possible. It shows stability, so does staying in one home instead of moving around. The longer you are at your job the more you will make. This will give you a large source to show creditors for taking care of your debt.
Alan Largo is the creator and administrator of My Credit Bible and strives to assist others identify with their adverse credit situation through informative reviews. You're invited to visit My Credit Bible to read his most recent article review.
Showing posts with label credit repair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label credit repair. Show all posts
Friday, June 06, 2008
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Credit Repair Essential Guidelines
The Answers You Need
How long can derogatory items remain on your report? How can you spot the items that should be removed? Nationally recognized credit repair expert, Jim Kemish, offers a powerful overview of the most important credit repair guidelines.
Let's Get to Work!
We speak with people all day long about their credit reports. Here is a review of the most common questions that we encounter, as well as guidance on understanding and resolving the related issues. These details, if properly understood and acted on, can make a significant difference in your credit score.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
A discharged Chapter 7 bankruptcy will show in the Public Records section of your credit report for 10 years from the initial filing date � please note that the filing date is different from, and prior to, your discharge date.
Debts that are discharged in a bankruptcy can continue to report for seven years. It is important to note that once a debt is discharged it should not report with a past due balance, or in a charge off or collection status.
Dismissed Chapter 7 bankruptcies will report for ten years. A dismissed bankruptcy is a bankruptcy which was filed and thereafter cancelled or disallowed.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy which has been completed will continue to report for seven years from the initial filing date, rather than the discharge date.
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy which was not completed will continue to report for seven years from the initial filing date.
Bankruptcy and the Fair Credit Reporting Act � A Legal Note
It may be of interest to note that the only reference to bankruptcy in the Fair Credit Reporting Act is a blanket rule that limits the reporting time to 10 years following the filing date. See � 605. [15 U.S.C. �1681c] (a). The credit bureaus, however, voluntarily make exceptions for Chapter 13 bankruptcies as noted above.
Collections - Overview
Collections are unique for the reason that they typically change hands, often several times during their lifetime. Important credit repair tip! Please note that only one collector at a time can legally report the debt; and only the collector that owns the debt can legally report it. All duplicate collection accounts for the same debt should be deleted from your credit report.
Collections can report for seven years from the original default date. The original default date is defined as the first time that you missed a scheduled payment. The original default date cannot be reset, and the reporting period cannot be extended by subsequent collectors.
Collections of Charged Off Accounts
Collections of charged off accounts have a slightly different reporting period than other collections. Charged off accounts can continue to show on your credit report for seven years plus 180 days from the date of original default, as defined above. This means that this extended reporting period does not start with the charge off date, but rather with the earlier default date.
Once a creditor has passed a charged off account to a collector, the original creditor cannot report the charged off amount as a past due balance. The balance should report as zero; the charged off amount may report on a separate line.
Unpaid Judgments
Unpaid judgments can continue to report for seven years or until the governing state statute of limitation has expired. You need to check your state statute of limitations to know for sure. State statute of limitations for judgments range from 4 years (PA) to 21 years (OH), and in some cases may be renewed one or more times.
Paid Judgments
Paid judgments can report for seven years from the initial filing date. This is handy to know if you are in a credit repair program; you may quickly remove a judgment from your report if you are willing to pay it, as long as the original filing date is seven years old. For legal support see FTC Official Staff Commentary � 605(a)(2): �Paid judgments cannot be reported for more than seven years after the judgment was entered, because payment of the judgment eliminates any "governing statute of limitations'' under this subsection that might otherwise lengthen the period.�
Tax Liens
Paid tax liens may not report more than seven years beyond the date of payment. Unpaid tax liens may report as long as they are in effect. If you are in doubt consult a CPA or tax attorney.
Student Loans
Late payments on your student loans will cease reporting after seven years. Defaulted student loans are another story�
A 1991 amendment to the Higher U.S. Department of Education Act lifted all time limits for collection of student loans. The reporting of defaulted student loans on your credit report can now go on forever. In addition, a 1998 change in federal law made it virtually impossible to discharge a student loan in bankruptcy.
If you are in default on a student loan you are well advised to address the issue, sooner rather than later. Fortunately, there are excellent rehabilitation and consolidation programs now available to everyone. These programs offer affordable repayment options and can even erase the default status from your credit report! This can prove to be a painless and powerful step for anyone in a credit repair program. Explore your options today with the Student Loan Ombudsman Office at (877) 557-2575.
Copyright 2007 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.
Jim Kemish, a nationally recognized credit repair and restoration expert, is the president of Sky Blue Credit, a leading credit repair business since 1989. For more information visit http://www.skybluecredit.com
How long can derogatory items remain on your report? How can you spot the items that should be removed? Nationally recognized credit repair expert, Jim Kemish, offers a powerful overview of the most important credit repair guidelines.
Let's Get to Work!
We speak with people all day long about their credit reports. Here is a review of the most common questions that we encounter, as well as guidance on understanding and resolving the related issues. These details, if properly understood and acted on, can make a significant difference in your credit score.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
A discharged Chapter 7 bankruptcy will show in the Public Records section of your credit report for 10 years from the initial filing date � please note that the filing date is different from, and prior to, your discharge date.
Debts that are discharged in a bankruptcy can continue to report for seven years. It is important to note that once a debt is discharged it should not report with a past due balance, or in a charge off or collection status.
Dismissed Chapter 7 bankruptcies will report for ten years. A dismissed bankruptcy is a bankruptcy which was filed and thereafter cancelled or disallowed.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy which has been completed will continue to report for seven years from the initial filing date, rather than the discharge date.
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy which was not completed will continue to report for seven years from the initial filing date.
Bankruptcy and the Fair Credit Reporting Act � A Legal Note
It may be of interest to note that the only reference to bankruptcy in the Fair Credit Reporting Act is a blanket rule that limits the reporting time to 10 years following the filing date. See � 605. [15 U.S.C. �1681c] (a). The credit bureaus, however, voluntarily make exceptions for Chapter 13 bankruptcies as noted above.
Collections - Overview
Collections are unique for the reason that they typically change hands, often several times during their lifetime. Important credit repair tip! Please note that only one collector at a time can legally report the debt; and only the collector that owns the debt can legally report it. All duplicate collection accounts for the same debt should be deleted from your credit report.
Collections can report for seven years from the original default date. The original default date is defined as the first time that you missed a scheduled payment. The original default date cannot be reset, and the reporting period cannot be extended by subsequent collectors.
Collections of Charged Off Accounts
Collections of charged off accounts have a slightly different reporting period than other collections. Charged off accounts can continue to show on your credit report for seven years plus 180 days from the date of original default, as defined above. This means that this extended reporting period does not start with the charge off date, but rather with the earlier default date.
Once a creditor has passed a charged off account to a collector, the original creditor cannot report the charged off amount as a past due balance. The balance should report as zero; the charged off amount may report on a separate line.
Unpaid Judgments
Unpaid judgments can continue to report for seven years or until the governing state statute of limitation has expired. You need to check your state statute of limitations to know for sure. State statute of limitations for judgments range from 4 years (PA) to 21 years (OH), and in some cases may be renewed one or more times.
Paid Judgments
Paid judgments can report for seven years from the initial filing date. This is handy to know if you are in a credit repair program; you may quickly remove a judgment from your report if you are willing to pay it, as long as the original filing date is seven years old. For legal support see FTC Official Staff Commentary � 605(a)(2): �Paid judgments cannot be reported for more than seven years after the judgment was entered, because payment of the judgment eliminates any "governing statute of limitations'' under this subsection that might otherwise lengthen the period.�
Tax Liens
Paid tax liens may not report more than seven years beyond the date of payment. Unpaid tax liens may report as long as they are in effect. If you are in doubt consult a CPA or tax attorney.
Student Loans
Late payments on your student loans will cease reporting after seven years. Defaulted student loans are another story�
A 1991 amendment to the Higher U.S. Department of Education Act lifted all time limits for collection of student loans. The reporting of defaulted student loans on your credit report can now go on forever. In addition, a 1998 change in federal law made it virtually impossible to discharge a student loan in bankruptcy.
If you are in default on a student loan you are well advised to address the issue, sooner rather than later. Fortunately, there are excellent rehabilitation and consolidation programs now available to everyone. These programs offer affordable repayment options and can even erase the default status from your credit report! This can prove to be a painless and powerful step for anyone in a credit repair program. Explore your options today with the Student Loan Ombudsman Office at (877) 557-2575.
Copyright 2007 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.
Jim Kemish, a nationally recognized credit repair and restoration expert, is the president of Sky Blue Credit, a leading credit repair business since 1989. For more information visit http://www.skybluecredit.com
Friday, February 22, 2008
Three Common Credit Problems And How To Fix Them
Bad credit doesn't necessarily mean you can't get credit; you just can't get credit at a reasonable cost. The interest rates you are charged are sky high because you had some financial difficulties in the past. In this article we will give you three methods for repairing your credit. The method that is best for you will depend on the severity of your financial problems.
Problem: Incorrect information on your credit report.
Method #1: Contact the credit bureaus.
Let's say you've requested a copy of your credit report from the three credit bureaus, and you find that there is a negative entry or two from your past lenders. It could be the negative information is just, plain wrong. The lender reported you still had an outstanding balance, when in fact, you have proof you have paid off the loan. This is an easy problem to fix. Well-written letters to the credit bureaus, with proof of your claim, should correct the problem.
Problem: Multiple overdraft fees.
Method #2: Pick your bank carefully.
As if it's not painful enough to be hit by multiple overdraft fees for your checking account, if your bank reports them to the credit bureau your credit score suffers too. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to withdraw more money from an ATM than you have in your checking account. Most banks encourage it by including "bounce protection" in their terms and conditions. After all, the bank gets another $20 to $35 overdraft fee each time.
You could stop and check your balance at the ATM before making the withdrawal, but when you're in a hurry that often doesn't happen. A fail-safe method is to just pick a bank that doesn't automatically include bounce protection with all their accounts. That way, if you're low on funds, the ATM won't dispense, and you'll avoid yet another overdraft fee.
Problem: Low ceiling on your line of credit
Method #3: Sub-prime merchandise cards.
Maybe you're having trouble getting credit because of some past financial difficulties. You want to build up your line of credit, but new lenders are keeping their distance from you.
An easy way to increase your line of credit without getting into a financial bind is to get a sub-prime merchandise card. This is nothing more than a card attached to a line of credit that allows you to buy merchandise from a specific vendor (usually the company that sold you the card). You're required to put down a deposit on whatever you purchase, and the remaining balance is financed on the card.
The advantage of the sub-prime merchandise card is that this new credit line will be reported to the major credit bureaus, and your credit report will reflect this good news. For example, if you get a $5,000 card and you finance a $500 purchase, your high credit limit will be increased by $5,000 almost overnight. And the small outstanding balance on the sub-prime merchandise card will also positively impact your credit report by showing potential lenders that you are credit worthy once again.
Pick the method that is best suited for your bad credit problem, and enjoy the financial advantages that an improved credit report will bring.
To learn the inside secrets to fixing your credit fast, visit the author's website at: http://credit-secrets-bible-online.com
Problem: Incorrect information on your credit report.
Method #1: Contact the credit bureaus.
Let's say you've requested a copy of your credit report from the three credit bureaus, and you find that there is a negative entry or two from your past lenders. It could be the negative information is just, plain wrong. The lender reported you still had an outstanding balance, when in fact, you have proof you have paid off the loan. This is an easy problem to fix. Well-written letters to the credit bureaus, with proof of your claim, should correct the problem.
Problem: Multiple overdraft fees.
Method #2: Pick your bank carefully.
As if it's not painful enough to be hit by multiple overdraft fees for your checking account, if your bank reports them to the credit bureau your credit score suffers too. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to withdraw more money from an ATM than you have in your checking account. Most banks encourage it by including "bounce protection" in their terms and conditions. After all, the bank gets another $20 to $35 overdraft fee each time.
You could stop and check your balance at the ATM before making the withdrawal, but when you're in a hurry that often doesn't happen. A fail-safe method is to just pick a bank that doesn't automatically include bounce protection with all their accounts. That way, if you're low on funds, the ATM won't dispense, and you'll avoid yet another overdraft fee.
Problem: Low ceiling on your line of credit
Method #3: Sub-prime merchandise cards.
Maybe you're having trouble getting credit because of some past financial difficulties. You want to build up your line of credit, but new lenders are keeping their distance from you.
An easy way to increase your line of credit without getting into a financial bind is to get a sub-prime merchandise card. This is nothing more than a card attached to a line of credit that allows you to buy merchandise from a specific vendor (usually the company that sold you the card). You're required to put down a deposit on whatever you purchase, and the remaining balance is financed on the card.
The advantage of the sub-prime merchandise card is that this new credit line will be reported to the major credit bureaus, and your credit report will reflect this good news. For example, if you get a $5,000 card and you finance a $500 purchase, your high credit limit will be increased by $5,000 almost overnight. And the small outstanding balance on the sub-prime merchandise card will also positively impact your credit report by showing potential lenders that you are credit worthy once again.
Pick the method that is best suited for your bad credit problem, and enjoy the financial advantages that an improved credit report will bring.
To learn the inside secrets to fixing your credit fast, visit the author's website at: http://credit-secrets-bible-online.com
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Secrets To Fast Credit Repair
When you have bad credit or a low credit score, the faster you can fix the problem, the faster you'll have more money in your pocket. The interest rates you pay on loans will start falling, and you might even find the premiums you pay on life, health, and auto insurance will drop. So, what's the fastest way to repair your credit problems? There isn't a single solution, but many small steps you can take. Here are a few:
Secret #1: The piggyback method. If you are a married woman with some or no credit, and your husband has excellent credit, read on. You can leverage his credit with the piggyback method. It lets you build credit in your own name, and at a much faster pace than if you had to build it all by yourself. Have your husband add you as an "authorized user" or "secondary account holder" to his account. In most cases, his entire account history gets posted to your credit report. The piggyback method is easy, effective, and extremely fast.
Secret #2: Remove (some) negative items from your credit report. Let's say you request copies of your credit reports, and discover five bad accounts you can get removed. Don't remove them all immediately, because then you'll end up with no credit history. The secret is to replace them with good accounts first.
The fastest way to add a good account to your credit report is through sub-prime merchandise cards. These are nothing more than a card attached to a line of credit that allows you to buy merchandise from a specific vendor (usually the company that sold you the card). You're required to put down a deposit on whatever you purchase, and the remaining balance is financed on the card. The advantage of the sub-prime merchandise card is that this new credit line will be reported to the major credit bureaus, and your credit report will reflect this good news fast.
Secret #3: Do not pay off your credit cards in full each month. If you do, you'll actually end up with less credit. Think about it. Lenders make their money by charging you interest. If you pay off your balance each month, they don't earn any interest. Pay down your balances, but don't pay them off. This is a fast way to demonstrate to potential new lenders that you are credit-worthy.
Secret #4: Automated dispute letters. The credit bureaus and debt collection companies all require written correspondence from you before they will act on any complaint you may have. If you've tried to write effective dispute letters from scratch, you know how time consuming it can be. Technology comes to your aid! You can now get entire CD's filled with hard-hitting credit repair letters that you can customize for your credit repair battle. Now, creating highly effective letters is as fast as pressing a few keys. You simply enter your name, the creditors name, and other relevant information. Then hit print. It just doesn't get any faster than that.
These are a just a few secrets for fixing your credit problems fast. The sooner you get started, the sooner your credit score improves, and your financial picture gets brighter.
To learn the inside secrets to fixing your credit fast, visit the author's website at: http://credit-secrets-bible-online.com
Secret #1: The piggyback method. If you are a married woman with some or no credit, and your husband has excellent credit, read on. You can leverage his credit with the piggyback method. It lets you build credit in your own name, and at a much faster pace than if you had to build it all by yourself. Have your husband add you as an "authorized user" or "secondary account holder" to his account. In most cases, his entire account history gets posted to your credit report. The piggyback method is easy, effective, and extremely fast.
Secret #2: Remove (some) negative items from your credit report. Let's say you request copies of your credit reports, and discover five bad accounts you can get removed. Don't remove them all immediately, because then you'll end up with no credit history. The secret is to replace them with good accounts first.
The fastest way to add a good account to your credit report is through sub-prime merchandise cards. These are nothing more than a card attached to a line of credit that allows you to buy merchandise from a specific vendor (usually the company that sold you the card). You're required to put down a deposit on whatever you purchase, and the remaining balance is financed on the card. The advantage of the sub-prime merchandise card is that this new credit line will be reported to the major credit bureaus, and your credit report will reflect this good news fast.
Secret #3: Do not pay off your credit cards in full each month. If you do, you'll actually end up with less credit. Think about it. Lenders make their money by charging you interest. If you pay off your balance each month, they don't earn any interest. Pay down your balances, but don't pay them off. This is a fast way to demonstrate to potential new lenders that you are credit-worthy.
Secret #4: Automated dispute letters. The credit bureaus and debt collection companies all require written correspondence from you before they will act on any complaint you may have. If you've tried to write effective dispute letters from scratch, you know how time consuming it can be. Technology comes to your aid! You can now get entire CD's filled with hard-hitting credit repair letters that you can customize for your credit repair battle. Now, creating highly effective letters is as fast as pressing a few keys. You simply enter your name, the creditors name, and other relevant information. Then hit print. It just doesn't get any faster than that.
These are a just a few secrets for fixing your credit problems fast. The sooner you get started, the sooner your credit score improves, and your financial picture gets brighter.
To learn the inside secrets to fixing your credit fast, visit the author's website at: http://credit-secrets-bible-online.com
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
How To Improve Your FICO Score
Your credit score is based on information about you from companies that gave you credit in the past. They report on your payment history to the credit reporting bureaus, who then develop a numerical credit score. It's often called a FICO score after the Fair Isaac Corporation.
Your FICO scores determines how high an interest rate you'll pay on your loans, credit card balances, and home mortgage. The higher the FICO score, the lower the loan rate. FICO scores range from 300 to a perfect 850. Anything under 700 is in need of improvement. In this article you'll learn some common sense tips for improving your FICO score.
Pay your bills on time.
It's amazing how many people understand this simple concept, yet they still suffer from a few "late-pays" every year. The solution may be as simple as establishing a prominent location for filing your bills to be paid. That way you'll never "discover" an unpaid bill hiding under your car seat or in the pile of magazines.
Here's an insider tip: The older the late-pay, the less damaging it is to your FICO score. So target your new late-pays by calling the creditor, telling them you are making an immediate payment, and you'll be surprised how many will drop the late-pay fee as a matter of good business. Any late payments you make will lower your score, but establishing a good track record of making payments on time will raise your score.
Get a copy of your credit report.
You are due a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three major consumer credit reporting companies. The three companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report. To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete a request form and mail it to:
Your FICO scores determines how high an interest rate you'll pay on your loans, credit card balances, and home mortgage. The higher the FICO score, the lower the loan rate. FICO scores range from 300 to a perfect 850. Anything under 700 is in need of improvement. In this article you'll learn some common sense tips for improving your FICO score.
Pay your bills on time.
It's amazing how many people understand this simple concept, yet they still suffer from a few "late-pays" every year. The solution may be as simple as establishing a prominent location for filing your bills to be paid. That way you'll never "discover" an unpaid bill hiding under your car seat or in the pile of magazines.
Here's an insider tip: The older the late-pay, the less damaging it is to your FICO score. So target your new late-pays by calling the creditor, telling them you are making an immediate payment, and you'll be surprised how many will drop the late-pay fee as a matter of good business. Any late payments you make will lower your score, but establishing a good track record of making payments on time will raise your score.
Get a copy of your credit report.
You are due a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three major consumer credit reporting companies. The three companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report. To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete a request form and mail it to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, but if you order the reports one at a time every four months you'll have a picture of your credit over the course of the year.
The whole purpose of getting your credit reports is to look for any inaccurate information in your credit reports and then work with the credit bureaus to remove that data.
Keep low balances on credit cards, but don't pay them off.
Credit card companies want you to run a balance on your account; after all they make their money on your interest payments. So, don't pay off the entire balance each month. Leave a relatively low balance to demonstrate to new potential lenders that you can handle credit in a responsible way. Your FICO score will thank you for it.
Increase your line of credit, but don't open credit cards you don't need.
Your line of credit is the sum of all the credit limits on your accounts. A high credit limit helps raise your FICO score. If you have a good track record with a credit card company, you can call them, and ask for a higher credit limit. But don't open a lot of new credit cards just to raise your credit limit. New accounts will lower your "average account age", which will actually lower your FICO score.
These are just a few of the common ways to raise your FICO score. There's no better time than right now to get started, since the process is not instantaneous. It takes time to earn a better credit score, but the rewards in lower interest rates make the process well worth it.
To learn the inside secrets to fixing your credit fast, visit the author's website at: http://credit-secrets-bible-online.com
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