Sometimes people are thrown into debt simply because the credit company made a mistake. Unfortunately, and as disgusting as it is, many of these companies state in incredibly fine print that their mistakes do not matter. You’re still on the hook for the poor credit score. So regardless of whose fault it is that you’re in debt, you need to get out of it. Let’s work at fixing that score! Read on to see some of the things that you can do to remedy your situation.
Make sure to make your payments on time when you subscribe to a phone service or a similar utility. Most phone companies ask you to pay a security deposit when you sign a contract with them. By making your payments on time, you can improve your credit score and get the deposit that you paid back.
If you paid off an account, do not try to have it removed. Paid off accounts do have a positive effect on your FICO score, especially as they age. Every item on your report that shows that you have at some point made payments is a positive item.
Negative-but-correct information cannot be removed from your credit report, so be wary of promises from unscrupulous companies who promise to remove it from the credit reporting agencies. Negative credit information remains on your record for up to seven years. Stay mindful, however, of the fact that false information can be stricken.
Repair your credit. If you want to take out a loan, a company is going to look at your credit report. If you have a poor credit score, they may refuse to loan you money or the loan that you qualify for, may have a very high interest rate. By paying off your bills in a timely manner, your credit score will improve, gradually. If you have a lot of debt that you are unable to pay, talk to a credit counselor. They will negotiate a repayment plan with your creditors, often lowering the payments and interest rates.
An important tip to consider when working to repair your credit, is the fact that you cannot legally have a second credit file created for you. This is important to know because there are sammers who offer to do this, and it is completely illegal. You can only have one social security number and one tax ID.
If you want to repair your credit, do not cancel any of your existing accounts. Even if you close an account, your history with the card will stay in your credit report. This action will also make it appear as though you have a short credit history, which is the exact opposite of what you want.
Part of a successful credit repair effort is diligent record-keeping. All correspondence involving a credit dispute – both incoming and outgoing – should be saved for reference. Repairing a serious credit problem can be a very complex process. The debtor needs to be ready to refresh his or her memory on issues that may not have been discussed in several months.
The law requires that credit bureaus be notified in writing of any errors you may find on your credit report. In order to best protect yourself and document your request, you should send any letters via certified mail; this will require the credit bureau to sign, acknowledging receipt. It is important to document your request in the event they do not remove bad information from your file promptly.
Use multiple reporting agencies to inquire about your credit score: Experian, Transunion, and Equifax. This will give you a well-rounded view of what your credit score is. Once you know where your faults are, you will know what exactly needs to be improved when you try to repair your credit.
You’re going to need good credit at some point in your life. Having bad credit makes you a pariah in this money-based world we inhabit. Since the economic system isn’t going to change any time soon, you need to use every tool at your disposal to fix that credit score. This article provided some great information you can use, but you’ll still need to put the info into action.