Nobody likes to talk about finances and credit card debt! If you happen to have a good job, an 800 FICO score, and own multiple properties then you might be an exception to the rule. Americans are literally drowning in debt with the average person carrying over $9,000 in credit card debt - not to mention car loans, student loans, and mortgage payments. Most of us are just a couple of paychecks from being Homeless (a scary thought) and yet we just keep spending money. If you want to take control of your financial future and get a plan together then we hope our research will be able to help you a little bit. If you need some help finding a legitimate credit repair service the internet is a great place to start and we have gone over some of the most important info below. If you have bad credit, good credit, or even perfect credit you should still get a credit report once a year just to make sure everything is accurate and up to date (current job, address, etc.). Don't worry if you hate dealing with finances or balancing your check book because nowadays they even have "dummy kits" (short and informative guides) available that can help anybody. There are many websites online that offer credit repair services, but we have discussed some of the better ones below. A great place to get started and check your credit score for free is Freecreditreport.com.
Best Credit Repair Service - Credit Repair & Debt Consolidation Companies:
Are you trying to buy a new home? Maybe you want to refinance your current mortgage? Whatever financial decision you have to make, you can bet that your FICO score is going to come up in the conversation with any lender you approach. If you have had some credit or financial problems in the past (filed bankruptcy, late payments, foreclosures, etc.) then now is the time to find a good credit counseling specialist. It is usually a lot cheaper to hire a credit repair agency versus paying a lawyer or attorney to help you fix your credit problems. A credit repair company will basically do the same things that a debt consolodation company will do for you, except that debt consolidation organizations are more interested in bargaining with your creditors and saving your credit before it's too late. If you need the help of a reputable credit counseling professional then check out www.consumercredit.com. Their website is loaded with useful information and secrets to help you repair any credit problems you might have. They offer a free budget analysis, live chat, and even help understanding the home buying process. We found another website that specializes in debt consolidation help and advice online at godebtfree.com. Before you jump into any programs that promise to eliminate your debts or save you all kinds of $ you definitely need to do some research. There has been a lot of problems in the past few years with consumers being taken advantage of or misled by so called "debt consolidation agencies". Try to avoid paying any up front fees, signing a contract, or allowing somebody else to completely handle your finances while you are getting your credit back in order.
Ways To Improve Credit or FICO Score:
Once you have some blemishes on your credit report (late payments, tax liens, bankruptcy, etc.) it can be a tough and expensive road to get it cleared up. It is always easier to maintain a good credit rating compared to the hassles involved with trying to improve or repair a shady credit history. There are many variables when it comes to fixing your credit so I have listed the easiest and most general ways to raise your FICO score.
pay down your highest credit card (interest rate) 1st, but don't close the account
make sure to pay all your monthly bills on time - 35% of your credit score depends on this
clear up any mistakes or collection accounts on your credit report - especially fraud
quit charging items on your credit cards, learn to live on a budget and use cash - debt ratio is 30% of score
consult a professional credit repair agency (listed below) and follow their instructions
Where Do I Check My Credit Score? - Order Free Credit Report Online:
Do you need to check your credit score? Are you curious what "Fico Score" really means? FICO is short for Fair Isaac Corporation, the company that supplies the most widely used credit score system in America. Typicall credit scores can range from 400 to 850 with 850 being perfect and 400 being incredibly low. Your FICO score is calculated by applying numbers and statistics from your personal banking history (debt, late payments, total credit, etc.) and the higher score you have then the better loan you can get. Equifax, Transunion, and Experian are the 3 major credit reporting agencies in the U.S. Every legal resident in America is allowed to receive a free credit report once a year. There are literally hundreds (if not 1000's) of websites that offer free credit reports and data, but the best one we found online was at annualcreditreport.com. or you can call 1-877-322-8228. This is a government sanctioned credit reporting website and that's about as official as you can get. Another effective credit website is myfico.com where you can check your credit score fast (in case you are in a financial emergency). Myfico also offers a bunch of other helpful tips like identity theft protection, fraud help, FICO forums, calculators, and much more.
How To Keep a Good Credit Rating - Building a Good Credit History:
The best way to avoid having bad credit is to take care of it early on and build a solid credit history. I have had a credit card since the day I entered college (back when I was 18 years old) and over the years I've built a good credit history and an average FICO score of 789. The average FICO score in America is about 675 so if you are above 700 you are sitting pretty and if your score is below 600 then you really need to consider consulting a professional credit advisor. There are a lot of things that will help you build a good credit score, but we have listed the top 3 ways to ensure you build a clean credit history. 1. Don't have any late payments - that means even being late on your Target card is bad, if you have to borrow the $25 from a friend to make your monthly minimum payment. 2. Don't apply for credit accounts too often - every time you apply for credit whether it's for a credit card or a cell phone account your credit shows an inquiry, more than 2 or 3 inquiries in a 6 month period shows signs of desperation and bad money management. 3. Don't close any credit accounts - it's ok to pay down a credit card or whatever, but if you close an account it will hurt you because it cuts into your credit history length and raises your overall debt ratio - this is still one of the biggest misconceptions today where consumers constantly close old credit accounts once they are payed in full thinking it will help because then they have less accounts. Keeping your credit in good standing can become a part time job so don't get behind or you could be in real trouble down the road.