The first thing you need to realize is that your credit report is free to
you annually. Every 12 months you are entitled to view the details of your
credit history. Don't abuse this service however, as checking your credit
information more frequently will likely cause your credit score to
actually lower. When lending institutions see a large number of inquiries
to access your credit report, they assume you are frequently applying for
credit cards and loans. This leads them to believe you are a greater risk
to them, and your credit score gets lowered because of it.
Be sure to Get a 3-in-1 Report
When you do check your credit report, be sure to get a three-in-one
report. The three major reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax and
TransUnion each calculate your credit score in a different way. You need
to know what each of those reports are saying about you.
If you have plans to apply for a mortgage, car loan or borrow money for
any other reason, it is in your best interest to get ahold of your credit
report as early as possible. While some issues can take just days to fix,
It can sometimes take many months to clear up problems that are shown on
your credit report.
Never Hire a Third Party to "Fix" Your Credit
Don't make the mistake of dealing with companies who claim they can fix
your credit for you. Save your money. These companies charge a small
fortune to do very little to change your credit outlook. They don't have
any special capabilities that you yourself don't have. Do it yourself and
save the unnecessary expense.
Review your credit report line by line. Be careful to note any negative
issues. Your goal is to remove as many negatives as possible in the
shortest amount of time. Fortunately, most of the information on your
credit report should be accurate. But errors do happen frequently, and
erroneous information can do a lot of damage to your personal credit. A
common error is that you may have owed money on an old bill but have long
since paid it off. Sometimes this information is not updated, so it
appears to lenders that you have not met your obligations.
The worst scenario is when you discover that someone else has been using
your identity to hide from their own poor rating, or just living it up at
the expense of your good credit!
What to do if You Find an Error
Make note of any incorrect information you may find on your report. You
will need to write a short, but informative letter to the reporting
agency. You will need to state in clear terms what the truth of the matter
really is. Include any supporting documentation. If you have receipts or
cancelled checks, send along a copy. Be sure to mail the letter by
certified mail with a return receipt requested. Look for the same error on
the other two credit documents. If they contain the same error, you must
write to them as well.
Factors That Contribute to Your Credit
Score
Any time you pay a bill, any time you have an account balance, any time
you open new lines of credit, your credit history is updated. The age of
your established credit comes into play, as well as recent inquiries
and/or accounts that have been opened. These are the major factors that
determine your overall score.
Avoid offers that promise an instant discount by opening a charge account.
You'll often find such offers at retail stores trying to get you to use
their brand of credit card. The percent you might save on the purchase
usually isn't worth the negative impact it may have on your credit score.
Too Many Credit Cards?
There's no need to be concerned about having too many credit cards unless
you are unable to support them. In fact when used responsibly and
properly, having many credit cards can work to your advantage. Your credit
score is formulated by monitoring the balances on your credit cards. If
you've maxed out many of your cards, your score will probably be
negatively impacted. But closing your credit card accounts will not
necessarily change your rating either. The key is to regularly pay down
your balances as much as possible. It is recommended by experts that you
have at least 25% of your credit unused at any given times. Cross that
line and it begins to appear that you are unable to support your buying
habits.
If you manage to pay down a credit card to zero, don't close the account.
It will not improve your score to close it. In fact, it will reflect well
on you that you have an unused open credit source. The zero balance is a
positive factor in your score.
Consolidating your credit cards may be beneficial to you if it allows you
to reduce the interest rate you're paying, but don't assume that it will
help your credit score. Moving your credit around is often a red flag to
lending institutions and can hurt you more than it helps.
Lastly, to maintain the highest score possible, be sure to pay your bills
on time, every time. If you are the type of person who often forgets
deadlines, it would be extremely beneficial to set up a reminder system or
take advantage of automatic payment systems that are available from most
of your debtors.
Be patient, as it takes time to establish or improve your credit score.
But make no mistake, it will be well worth your effort and you will be
rewarded handsomely.
