How To Fix Credit Score » credit report

Disputing Negative Information On Your Credit Report

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:29:09 +0000

If you find incorrect information in your credit report, or if you see a debt listed in your report that you know is not yours, you should dispute your credit record to the credit bureau in order to have the item removed.

The best way to dispute an inaccurate item in your credit record is to send a letter to the credit bureau explaining why you think the item is incorrect and asking that it be removed. Send the letter and copies of any supporting documentation via certified mail, return receipt requested.

Once you receive your credit report and inspect it, if you notice any errors, you will need to take immediate action. This is where a free dispute credit report letter will come in handy. An online dispute credit report letter will help you dispute these errors or mistakes on the credit report.

If you have been a victim of identity theft, you will need to get the authorities involved in helping you dispute your credit record. Begin by reporting any information about the theft occurrence to your local police department. They will begin an investigation of your case and will direct you to other agencies that can help you as well.

It may take some time and a lot of communication to prove the debt was not incurred by you, and that you are not responsible. But be persistent and you will eventually have this invasion removed from your credit report.

If you are having a difficult time getting a derogatory item removed from your credit report, you are allowed to submit to the credit bureau, a one hundred word statement with an explanation of any extenuating circumstances regarding the debt. Although this statement does not act to remove the item from your credit record, it at least offers an explanation to potential creditors your version as to why the item is being reported.

The Need Of Credit Score Repair

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:47:05 +0000

It is a reality that many people are faced with the difficult task of credit repair. They may have found themselves overextended on their credit cards and have to make an effort to repair some late payments and some bad decisions when it comes to credit history and a bad credit score. Credit repair isn’t as difficult as many people might think. It takes time, but it can be done.

You need to obtain a copy of your credit report from either one or all three of the major credit reporting agencies. The big three are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. They can be found quite easily on the Internet and will provide you with a copy of your credit report.

The FACT Act that was passed by Congress back in 2001 allows all consumers one free copy of their credit report per year dealing with credit score. For this, you will need to go to certain websites for more information. Sometimes one of the agencies will provide you with the one report for free, but you are best off to go to one of these websites.

However, if you are serious about credit repair, you will really need to obtain copies of all three credit reports. Creditors are not required to report to any of the agencies, and often they will just report to one. Having all three credit reports on hand will help you make repair to your credit more effectively and more thoroughly.

Here are another tips to improve your credit score:
If you make all or most of your liabilities in a timely manner, your credit score will elevate. Lenders look at your credit score as a way to weigh your credit worthiness. If your score is low, you will likely have trouble in acquiring new credit.

Lenders also look at your income, your debt status, the amount of credit you have available to you, and the manner in which you do your monthly payments. By paying in a timely manner, you will keep you credit score at an average or above average level- a stable rating. If you have had credit problems, you may want to make an extra effort to repair your credit and elevate your credit score.

Your future and your financial stability and capacity greatly depend to a large extent on your credit report and your credit rating. Get a copy of your credit report each year to make it sure that the information is exact and that your accounts are listed appropriately. Your credit score is a substantial component of your life and you should make an effort to maintain it good.

Fix Bad Credit Repair Bad Credit Bankruptcy

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:45:00 +0000

Don’t you ever feel that’s the only thing you can think of? While driving, at work, talking to people, anywhere you go your mind just fixates into “fix bad credit repair bad credit bankruptcy do it”. Wouldn’t you like that to stop? I know more than a couple of million people who do.

Having bad credit is terrible; it’s like having a leash around your neck every time you go to a mall, look at a commercial or read an ad. There are ways to get out of a bad credit situation but they tend to be difficult, so you should be prepared.

Important Facts

Did you know that three out of ten credit reports have erroneous data on them? Yes sir. But then again, with all the amount of information that floods the three credit bureaus – TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian – one, two, or three mistakes isn’t that uncommon. Plus they don’t get anything for maintaining correct records. They are just being paid to maintain the necessary data, whether it’s accurate or not.

Having said that, you are free to call them, review your credit reports, locate your problem, and solve them. Did you know that if you have had credit denied you are entitled for a free credit report? Aren’t things starting to look better? The phone numbers are listed in any phone book or you can just ask your bank for them as well.

Act

Having bad credit isn’t like having just a bad taste in your mouth; it’s the real deal. Banks and any other financial institutions will look at you as a risk, making them think many times before they grant you credit, resulting in denied credit most of the times. For this matter you must begin fixing your bad credit as soon as possible.

How Credit Scoring Works

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:43:30 +0000

The all important credit score! It determines the amount of loan you can get, it determines the interest rate at which you are charged for a loan, etc. Your credit score plays an important figure in your financial life. So what goes into making that all important score of yours? How does it increase, how does it decrease and what are the factors that go into its calculation?

Your credit score is a number that reflects on the likelihood at which you will pay back a loan. Scores range from 350 (high risk) to 950 (low risk). Credit scores do not take into consideration your income, how much savings you have or demographic factors such as gender, race or nationality. Your credit score is affected by your current debt level, your past delinquencies, your credit history and how many times your credit report is pulled up by various agencies. Your score considers both positive and negative information in your credit report. For instance, recorded late payments will lower your credit score while a good track record of making payments on time will raise your credit score. Timely payment of your bills is important to ensure you maintain a good credit score. The amount of balance you have left on your credit card, how many credit card accounts you hold and your use of revolving credit also affect your credit score to a great extent.

Your credit score and credit report is formed on the basis of your credit history and you need to have at least one account which has been open or updated in the past six months to get a credit score. If you do not meet the minimum criteria for getting a score, you may need to establish a credit history prior to applying for a mortgage.

All in all, if you can pay for all your debts in a timely and consistent manner and not take more debt than you can handle, your credit score shouldn’t be able to trouble you in life. So take care and be wise with your finances.

Improving Your Credit Score

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:48:19 +0000

A person’s credit score, often referred to as their “FICO” score, is an important tool that lenders use to help determine the creditworthiness of a potential borrower. If you want to make a large purchase, such as a house, for which you will need financing, you want your score to be as high as possible. To understand how to improve your overall credit rating, it is imperative you understand what factors influence your FICO score.
Payment History
Do you pay your bills on time? Most creditors, lenders, and service providers will charge a fee if you do not. Obviously, the biggest thing wrong with that is the egregious waste of money. What is worse in the long term is that after 30 days of nonpayment, the lender will likely report you to one of the major credit bureaus. (In the U.S., there are three such credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.) Considering that thirty-five percent of your credit score is based on payment history, it becomes clear how important it is to keep up with your financial obligations. No other single factor has that much influence on your FICO score.
Debt to Total Credit
The ratio of your outstanding debt to the total of your credit lines and loan amounts counts for thirty percent of your credit score. For example, if you have a credit card with a limit of $5000, and you owe $4000, your debt to total credit ratio is eighty percent. After paying down $3000 of the principle, your outstanding balance is $1000, giving you a ratio of twenty percent, which is much better.
If your outstanding balance occupies seventy percent or more of your total credit line, it is viewed negatively by the credit bureaus. If the ratio is in the range of thirty to seventy percent, it is doing little or no harm to your credit score; however, it certainly is not helping your credit score. Bring your debt to less than thirty percent of your total available credit, and your FICO score will very likely improve. Getting balances and, therefore, debt to credit ratios down to zero is clearly a desirable goal. It is important to remember, though, that unused credit will not help your credit score. We will explore that topic a bit later.
Length of Credit History
Fifteen percent of your FICO score is based on how long you have had some type of credit. The perception is that someone who has owned a credit card for twenty years is more likely to be responsible and credit worthy than a young person right out of high school who has the same credit card. Although this is true generally, it is certainly not always the case; that is why it is weighted significantly less than payment history and the debt to credit ratio.
New Credit
If you have one credit card for ten years, and then you apply for and receive three more credit cards, expect your credit score to come down a bit. A long-established credit account is considered more stable than a new account. Of course, how your credit score reacts to new credit is also affected by other factors. A new card will increase your total credit line, thereby reducing your debt to credit ratio. An old credit account with a poor payment history is worse than a new account in good standing. All things being equal, new credit is not bad, but old credit is very good. New credit accounts for ten percent of your FICO score.
Unused credit is considered very much like new credit. If you can use a credit card every month, and pay off the balance in full every month, you will see your credit score increase steadily. This is difficult for many people, because of the temptation to overuse the credit card. Responsibility and restraint are critical when using this technique. Remember that, even though unused credit is not very good, it is not at all bad; overused credit is.
Types of Credit Used
The remaining ten percent of your credit score is based on what type of credit you have used. A retail store credit card is not very good. Too many of them could be bad for your credit score, in fact. Small loans, if paid off in a timely manner, have a positive effect. Major credit cards are even better. Big ticket items like auto loans and home mortgages are very good, once again if you make the payments on time.
These five areas are the basis for your FICO score. Armed with this knowledge, you are better equipped to make the changes necessary to improve your credit score. An overwhelming majority of lenders will use your FICO score when considering your application. Put yourself in position to get the best possible deal. Read this article again, and then get started!