Your past financial decisions may feel like they are coming back to haunt you, and handling the complications that arise from having a less than perfect credit score can be rather stressful. Dealing with your past credit mistakes can leave you feeling extremely frustrated and hopeless, but the good there is re-establishing a good credit score can be done.
Ways to Improve Your Credit Score After Bad Financial Decisions
A credit score belongs to you and only you, and no matter what caused you to a have a less than stellar credit score it is only yours to improve. It is common for many Americans living with a low credit score to ignore the problem. The first step in improving your credit score is to face it head on and attack the situation with confidence. Here are a few steps to take when what to improve your score.
Look for errors in your credit report
The first step in repairing your credit is to thoroughly carefully review your credit report to determine that all information is yours and it belongs to you. By law, credit reports have to be timely, accurate, and verifiable, and even though the particular item may belong to you finding an error may allow the item to be removed entirely from your report. You will want to pull all three credit reports from each credit reporting agencies, Experian, Transunion, and Equifax. Make sure you review names, addresses, social and look to make sure the dates on the accounts reporting are correct. If you determine there is inaccurate information reporting you will need to dispute the information.
High Balances
Often having a low credit score can be caused by utilizing too much of your available credit. You may wanted to buy that 60″ TV, but did you understand what maxing out your credit card would do to your credit score. 30% of your credit score is based on your available credit, if you have credit cards with balances greater than fifty percent of the maximum, you should pay those down as quickly as possible. Creditors like to you see you using your available credit, but still keeping the balances under 30% of the allotted credit.
Not able to get credit?
If you do not have enough trade lines, the key number is to have two installments and two revolving; you will want to try and obtain credit slowly. So don’t rush out and try to get all four at once! Start out with one. If your credit score is too low and you do not qualify for a loan or credit card you do have options. Obtaining credit with a low score can be done if you are willing to put up a security deposit. Many banks have secured credit cards and or a CD Building loan. Since your credit score is like a report card and you are graded on your payment history, you will need to make certain you can pay the monthly payments and make sure you can pay on time. One late payment will significantly impact your score.
Pay on time
Earlier I mentioned that credit bureaus grade you on how you pay your trade lines. Making sure you pay at least the minimum balance and on time each month will significantly impact your credit score. One late payment could drastically lower your credit score and as much as 100 points.
Increasing your credit score doesn’t happen overnight and each individual score has a different circumstance. There is no cookie cutter way to follow and coming up with the correct action plan designed for you is the key. Once you have determined the correct plan of action, being disciplined will be extremely important. If at anytime you feel like you might backslide, remind yourself ut what motivated you to improve your score, maybe it is to buy a house, finally buy a brand new car, or to get the job you always wanted. Whatever your reason may be, once you have reached the light at the end of the tunnel it will be well worth it. If you aren’t exactly sure what steps to take reach out to one of our credit analysts and get a free consultation.
