Saturday, August 16, 2008

Idea# 1- Respect Your Credit

Category: Finance, Credit.

Many of us could stand to do some cleaning up with our credit. Actually, we have quite a bit of power when it comes to improving our credit scores.



However, all too often we think there is not that much we can do. Here are ten simple tips on how you can make a positive impact on your credit score. Idea# 10- Get A Better Paying Job. Chances are that at least one tip on how to repair bad credit will be right for your situation, and will hopefully motivate you to try some other ideas as well. One of the main reasons that a credit score goes down is because you simply owe too much money when compared to your annual income. Assuming that your level of indebtedness does not increase, your credit rating will improve, even if you don t make any changes in your spending habits.


One of the best ways to start correcting that situation is to find a job that will allow you to realize more income during the upcoming year. Idea# 9- Make More Than The Minimum Payment. At the same time, your credit rating will go down a few points, even if you are consistently making those minimum payments. As your credit balances go up, it becomes harder to make more than minimum payments on your credit card accounts. In order to bolster your credit rating, always pay more than the minimum amount, even if it is only a few dollars. Along with paying more than the minimum amount each month, cut back on how much you use the cards.


Idea# 8- Curb Your Credit Card Spending. Chances are this will mean having to cut back on entertainment and eating out, but those are things that most of us could stand to do anyway. Calculate this amount by taking the most recent calendar month, adding up all the credit card charges you made, and divide that amount by two. Start out by setting a maximum amount that you will allow yourself to charge each week. That will be your monthly allotment for credit card purchases. Do not carry over an unused amount from one week to the next, or you will defeat the whole point of the exercise. Divide by four and you will have your maximum amount of charging for the week.


Idea# 6- Separate Needs From Wants. That is fine, as long as those expenses are paid in full each month. Many people use credit cards to pay for essentials like groceries or gasoline. For the rest of your charges, learn to ask yourself if you really need what you are about to purchase on credit. If you cannot honestly say yes, put it back on the shelf and move on. If you do not need it, but still want it a great deal, ask yourself if you will still want it as much next week or next month. Idea# 5- Get A Copy Of Your Credit Report.


There is a good chance that something on your credit report is not right and is negatively impacting your credit score. So many people don t get around to doing this. If you don t get the report, you won t know about it until you are turned down for something you really need. Even people who do get one credit report each year often don t get a copy of their credit report and score from each of the three main agencies. Idea# 4- Get A Copy Of Your Credit Report From All Three Main Bureaus. It is very possible that there are line items on one report that are not on the others.


Get a copy from each bureau and go over it in detail. Looking at one credit report is not enough. Idea# 3- Correct False Information. One bad note can knock you out of getting the best mortgage rate, or getting a car loan with the best terms. If there is anything on any of the three credit reports that are not correct, report it immediately and take the necessary steps to have the information updated. Idea# 2- Pay Off Credit Card Balances At Every Opportunity.


If your income is obviously tied up in making a series of payments to ten different credit cards, your chances for getting what you need are much better. Keeping low balances will help to make you more attractive when you need to make a major purchase on credit. Idea# 1- Respect Your Credit. Creditors are not obligated to extend credit to you, and it can be revoked if you choose to abuse it. The simple fact is that credit is a privilege, not a right. Failing to treat your creditors with respect and meeting your obligations will only lead to a bad credit score. Limit the amount of credit you use, pay off all accounts in a timely manner, and always remember to be grateful for the credit you have been granted.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

What Are The Most Important Things That Lead A Person To Credit Card Debt

Category: Finance, Credit.

The debt situation in USA is particularly grim. What are the most important things that lead a person to credit card debt?



According to a study an average American owes about$ 10, 000 in debt and that too at a whopping 14% interest rate. In this article we analyse few of them. Credit cards provide a very easy way to borrow money. Overborrowing. Just a swipe and you are done. Paying just the monthly minimum.


This ease drives impulsive buying and without any forethought a credit card holder goes on and on making purchases with his credit card, he doesn' t ever worry that this credit card money is a debt and has to be repaid with interest. Every credit card statement comes with a minimum payment amount mentioned in it. This is the minimum amount to be paid to the credit card company every month. This is generally a percentage of the outstanding balance on the credit card subject to certain conditions. The sad part is that people take it as the only thing to be done and continue with just the monthly minimum. Multiple credit cards and repayment defaults. If you are just paying the monthly minimums on your credit cards each month, a debt of$ 5000 will take you more than 30 years to repay and in this process you will have paid the credit card an interest of more than$ 500And if your credit card debt is$ 10, 000 and you just pay the monthly minimum chances are good that you will never be able to repay your debt in a lifetime.


Average American household carries around 5 credit cards, which is more than their regular needs. This makes getting further credit very costly. What happens is that with multiple credit cards they falter on repayments and are slapped with a late payment fees, high interest rates and negative remarks on their credit history. To make the matter worse, some people get new credit cards at exorbitant interest rates to repay their existing credit card debt, and are seriously caught in the debt trap. Credit card debt is growing at an alarming rate, the situation at the savings front is very grim and a crisis like the great depression is looming on American society.

Monday, August 11, 2008

So, You Get A Free Credit Report

Don' t get dejected when you find a rejection letter in your mailbox.



It is a real opportunity, waiting to be exploited, provided we look towards it with the right attitude. Strange it might sound but the rejection letter brings two major advantages with it. Now, you must be wondering that what two big advantages does a rejection letter brings? The first advantage that comes with a rejection letter gets its validity from a statute in the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Read on and enlighten yourself. This Act offers some good protection to credit card owners. So, if you are rejected because a particular credit rating agency has made adverse credit remarks in your credit report, the credit card company that has rejected you must state the name of related credit rating agency and their remarks to you.


According to this act whenever you are denied a credit for some reason, you have the right to know what circumstances or facts led to that rejection. Further, the Fair Credit Reporting Act states that every rejected person is entitled to request a free credit report from the credit rating agency listed in your rejection letter or denial report. The second big benefit that a rejection letter or denial report brings to you is the exact reason, which led to the unfortunate decision. So, you get a free credit report. The importance of this information can' t be understated, and it can be successfully used to rebuild your credit history. Why wait for a rejection letter to get a free credit report?


Attitude matters here, though the rejection letter or denial report gives you certain things that can become tools for your credit repair, but it all depends how well you use them. Every credit rating agency is legally bound to supply you a free credit report annually. Checking out the exact option that led to your disqualification or rejection might lead to certain discrepancies at the end of that particular lender, which might be corrected by providing the right information. Get it, check the discrepancies if any and use it to improve your credit rating. This might change how you look at your next rejection letter( if you get it) .