Handling Credit and Credit Score Problems

Credit has become an almost indispensable tool in our society.  Almost everyone uses some form of credit whether it is in the form of credit cards, car loans or mortgages.  Credit allows us to purchase goods and services by paying for them later which can be very convenient to buy big ticket items or stretch our monthly budget.  But credit can cause money problems if not managed wisely.  Money problems are often the immediate result of too much debt with unmanageable monthly payments.  … [Read more...]

Severe Negative Information in a Credit Report

One of the four main components of credit data in a credit report includes public record information.  Public records include items such as bankruptcies, tax liens, legal judgments and other legal proceedings recorded by a court.  These records are often the biggest drags on a credit score.  Some of these accounts may be able to be cleared up or removed from the credit history or credit report with a little bit of work.  Most of these public records unfortunately, can not be altered or … [Read more...]

Credit Score Help and Non Profit Debt Consolidation Programs

For some individuals, trying to improve their credit score and credit history can be a difficult task.  Often the problem of improving a credit score is that the cause of the problem or low credit score has not be fixed.  For these individuals, fixing the cause of the delinquent debt and bills, which is the predominant factor used to calculate a credit score is the number one issue to address.  The delinquent debt payments are often the result of a mismatched budget.  One of the best … [Read more...]

How Your Credit History May Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates

Auto insurance companies often consider your credit report when they are determining the proper rate to charge you for your auto insurance.  If you are shopping around for auto insurance, be aware that potential insurers may be looking at your credit report.  There is a statistical correlation between consumer's credit history and possible auto insurance claims.  Insurers assume that customers with better credit records are also more likely to be good risks for auto insurance policies. Not … [Read more...]

Bad Credit Options

Once your credit score is turned truly terrible and new credit appears to be unlikely, there are a variety of options to consider.  First, don’t ever let bad credit get you down.  There are millions of consumers who are having the same financial difficulties and struggling to review what options are left.  There is always hope for someone who has a bad credit and bad credit score.  Regardless of how bad a credit or debt situation maybe, there are always some actions that can be taken.  … [Read more...]

Increase Your Credit Score While Removing Delinquent Credit

Generally the biggest component of credit repair and improving a credit score is eliminating the delinquent credit accounts from your credit report.  Removing delinquent credit accounts requires written disputes to the credit reporting agency and entails patience, good execution and time.  While this process is taking place, it is prudent to work on the rest of the credit report and credit accounts to improve the credit score.  Two approaches that can help measurably with the credit report … [Read more...]

The Big 3 Credit Reporting Agencies

A credit reporting agency is a repository of information that holds an individual’s credit or payment history.  An individual’s credit report is created when a request for a report by a lender, credit card company or other authorized party requests it.  Credit bureaus or credit reporting agencies hold the consumer's credit data in their databases.  The data is always there but the credit report does not really exist until it is asked for.  It is then compiled by the credit reporting … [Read more...]

What are FICO Scores

FICO scores are one of several credit scores that are used by lenders, banks, insurers, credit card companies and other companies to measure consumer risk objectively.  A credit score can be created by different companies based on information in a credit report, but FICO® scores are the most used credit bureau scores in the world.  According to the Fair Isaac Corporation, the creator of the FICO score, more than 100 billion scores have been sold by the company and three out of four US … [Read more...]

Beware of the Little Things that can Hurt Your Credit Score

Countless articles regarding credit inform consumers about the big events that can have a negative impact on their credit score.  But, many consumers fail to realize all the little transactions or little known transactions that may have a fairly significant and harmful influence on their credit score.  We all now the importance of good credit and a good credit score in our society with its wide ranging impact from credit and borrowing to employment to insurance and housing and more.  Most … [Read more...]

Rules to Follow with Debt and Debt Collectors

We all want to pay our bills on time but sometimes due to some financial crunch it is not possible to make even the minimum payments and meet due dates.  If a debt goes unpaid for an extended period of time, creditors may turn your account to a collection department or agency.  It is true that debt collectors have the right to demand payment and take legal action if necessary, but often they would rather collect a portion of the debt than have to take more drastic actions. Before you start … [Read more...]