If you are having problems with your credit there are steps you can take to improve it on your own for free. This is better than using a credit repair agency that may charge you. Use the tips in this article to get on your way to repairing your credit.
If you can get authorized user status on a credit card account with a good payment history, don’t hesitate to do so. If you pay the bill on time, the account holder’s history becomes yours. Be aware, however, that it also works in reverse; if the account holder defaults, your credit will suffer as well.
Utilize the tools that are on the Federal Trade Commission’s website. You will find sample letters that you can use to dispute things that you find inaccurate on your credit report. There are additional ways to dispute these inaccuracies but they are a bit less user friendly and can be confusing.
Some people who want to repair their credit wonder how a credit counseling organization can help them. If you consult a credible credit counselor, they can help you develop skills to help you manage both your money and your debt. They can also instruct you on how to construct a feasible budget. Some even offer complementary educational materials and workshops.
If you are trying to repair your credit score, check your credit report to make sure all of your positive credit is being reported. Credit report disputes aren’t just for wrongly-noted negative marks. If you have a loan or account in good standing that isn’t on your report, be sure to contact the holder of the loan to request that they report it.
Another way to repair your credit is through the use of secured credit cards. These cards are available with many different rates, so be sure to shop around for one that can work for you. Just don’t apply to too many, because this can actually lower your credit score. This is due to the fact that it may appear to the credit bureaus that you are having money issues, and are trying to increase your credit lines.
Negotiate with a creditor to have a negative item removed from your report, in exchange for an agreed upon pay off amount. Make sure to get this in writing before making the payment. Doing this could significantly, and quickly, improve your credit score. You may also get them to agree to accept less than you initially owed on the debt.
Don’t apply for a ton of new credit. Every time a creditor checks your credit report in consideration of extending credit to you, that inquiry is logged. Too many inquiries reflect negatively on you and will lower your credit score. This only includes hard inquiries that you have authorized. Any inquiries done without your permission are known as soft-pulls and have no effect on your score.
There are steps you can take on your own to improve your credit for free instead of using a credit repair agency. By using the tips provided above they will give you a chance at repairing your own credit free of charge and without using a costly credit repair service.
Beatrice Cox is a writer and stylist with a passion for the intersection between biology, technology and design. High in Swedish Bali and Heritage, it travels around the world encouraged and informed a global perspective on the future of fashion and its relations with planetary health. She is currently working for a sustainable fashion label in Bali, Indonesia.