|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's not as hard as you think to raise credit score. It's a well known fact that lenders will give people with higher credit scores lower interest rates on mortgages, car loans and credit cards. If your credit score falls under 620 just getting loans and credit cards with reasonable terms is difficult.
There are more than 30 million people in the United States that have credit scores under 620 and if you're probably wondering what you can do to raise credit score for you.
Here are five simple tips that you can use to raise credit score.
1. Get a copy of your credit report
Obtaining a copy of your credit report is a good idea because if there is something on your report that is incorrect, you will raise credit score once it is removed. Make sure you contact the bureau immediately to remove any incorrect information.
Your credit report should come from the three major bureaus: Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. It's important to know that each service will give you a different credit score.
2. Pay Your Bills On Time
Your payment history makes up 35% of your total credit score. Your recent payment history will carry much more weight than what happened five years ago.
Missing just one months payment on anything can knock 50 to 100 points off of your credit score.
Paying your bills on time is a single best way to start rebuilding your credit rating and raise credit score for you.
3. Pay Down Your Debt
Your credit card issuer reports your outstanding balance once a month to the credit bureaus. It doesn't matter whether you pay off that balance a few days later or whether you carry it from month to month.
Most people don't realize that credit bureaus don't distinguish between those who carry a balance on their cards and those who don't. So by charging less you can raise credit score even if you pay off your credit cards every month.
Lenders also like to see a lot of of room between the amount of debt on your credit cards and your total credit limits. So the more debt you pay off, the wider that gap and the better your credit score.
4. Don't Close Old Accounts
In the past people were told to close old accounts they weren't using. But with today's current scoring methods that could actually hurt your credit score.
Closing old or paid off credit accounts lowers the total credit available to you and makes any balances you have appear larger in credit score calculations. Closing your oldest accounts can actually shorten the length of your credit history and to a lender it makes you less credit worthy.
If you are trying to minimize identity theft and it's worth the peace of mind for you to close your old or paid off accounts, the good news is it will only lower you score a minimal amount. But just by keeping those old accounts open you can raise credit score for you.
5. Stay Out Of Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is the single worst thing that will destroy your credit score. Bankruptcy will lower your credit score by 200 points or more and is very difficult to come back from.
Once your credit score falls below 620, any loan you get will be far more expensive. A bankruptcy on your credit record is reported for up to 10 years.
The reality of a bankruptcy is it will limit you to high-interest lenders that will squeeze out high interest rate payments from you for years.
It is better to get credit counseling to help you with your bills and avoid bankruptcy at all costs. By getting credit counseling instead of declaring bankruptcy you can raise credit score over a much shorter period of time.
Copyright © 2005 Credit Repair Facts.com All Rights Reserved.
Gary Gresham is a mortgage loan officer and the webmaster for http://www.credit-repair-facts.com He offers you credit information, debt elimination programs and informative facts that give you the knowledge to correct your own credit and credit report. For more credit related articles go to: http://www.credit-repair-facts.com/article s_1.html
Have you ever wondered why your credit card bill is... Read More
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the recent update... Read More
Have you ever wondered how much money a credit card... Read More
You probably don't need me to tell you credit cards... Read More
They arrive in your mail - a conspicuous looking mail... Read More
You can stop receiving credit card offers in the mail!... Read More
When you apply for credit one of the first things... Read More
How to Repair a Bad Credit Rating?The Right Way!If you... Read More
If you have never heard of a FICO score before,... Read More
Let's face it, if you are facing the possibilities of... Read More
As a young student I feared getting bad grades because... Read More
Credit card consolidation is a popular solution for those with... Read More
Most consumers are aware that they have something known as... Read More
The credit card companies make billions each year in legitimate... Read More
A good credit reward card can contribute to your retirement... Read More
Are you one of the thousands pulling your hair out... Read More
Why do some people get offers for pre-approved credit cards... Read More
In "Become the Squeaky Wheel" a book recently published, Michelle... Read More
It's not as hard as you think to raise credit... Read More
Until recently lawyers for victims of credit damage had little... Read More
Credit cards are just so convenient, aren't they? There's no... Read More
Consumers today are up to their eyeballs in debt. And... Read More
What is a credit card? A credit card is... Read More
Do you have a poor credit rating? If so, you... Read More
Just when most people finish with school and can stop... Read More
The Credit Report is like your scorecard in the lending... Read More
Thinking of applying for a credit card with a reward... Read More
Did you know that you could make sure to get... Read More
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, signed into law... Read More
A credit report is more than just a snapshot of... Read More
There is a lot of confusion surrounding UK credit ratings,... Read More
Americans are more concerned about identity theft than unemployment or... Read More
If you have a bad credit rating, then you might... Read More
Ah, the sweet rewards of using credit!Not only do you... Read More
Introduction In this article, a presentation is made of the... Read More
What you might not know about credit.Some people don't know... Read More
If you are one of the millions of people out... Read More
When you apply for a loan or a mortgage, the... Read More
Now in a world with so many easy to get... Read More
These days, credit cards in the UK are competing with... Read More
Mark and Beth, a young married couple in their twenties,... Read More
Until recently lawyers for victims of credit damage had little... Read More
Credit cards have migrated from being hip or convenience product... Read More
If you have been shopping around for a Low Interest... Read More
There is no end to the amount of pain that... Read More
FREE credit checks or free credit reports. What are they... Read More
ChexSystems is a company that maintains a subscriber membership service... Read More
Most of us want a good credit report to obtain... Read More
The most important thing for you to remember is that... Read More
Credit repair, is in a word, vital to reestablishing your... Read More
Credit |