A poor credit score can take the groove out of things in your life. Instead of being approved instantly for a loan, you’re treated like an irresponsible person. Even if you were irresponsible at one point in your life, something on your report from seven or eight years ago shouldn’t still haunt you. When…
When you’re ready to clean up your credit report, it can be confusing to know where to start. Depending on how bad it is, you may find yourself struggling to figure out whether you need to call the creditors yourself or just ignore it hoping that it’ll go away. Cleaning up your credit report will…
Part of being financially responsible involves staying on top of your credit report. Your report shows you what’s been reported by creditors and should never be taken lightly. It will include everything from missed payments and account balances to charge-offs and credit inquiries. Gaining access to your credit report isn’t as troublesome as it used…
Everyone is pretty familiar with what a FICO credit score is. But there’s a new credit scoring agency in town, and in the next few years it may replace the FICO score all together. What most people don’t understand is that there are many agencies who produce credit scores. FICO is just the most…
Have you ever considered getting a loan modification? If so, you’re not alone. Many people who fall behind on their loans are quick to turn to them, hoping they’ll provide some level of relief. But, many soon realize that a loan modification wasn’t quite what they expected. The Amount Owed Won’t Disappear: A…
Need to rebuild your credit? There are several ways to go about improving it. Some are obvious, some not as obvious. Here are two in particular that most people aren’t aware of: Go to a bank or credit union and get a prepaid credit card. This is where you give them $300 of your own…
One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to be ‘responsible’ with their credit is using too much of it. Most people believe that if they use their credit cards to the max and pay it off at the end of the month, this helps build credit. This is not true. This actually looks…
A shaky credit score means the difference between getting approved for a loan and being denied. And when you’re ready to go for that first home, or new car the last thing you want is to be denied. If you know your credit is bad, there’s no time like now to make steps towards improving…
Mortgage lenders have begun requiring home buyers to either make a 20 percent down payment or buy private mortgage insurance in the wake of the mortgage meltdown. Some mortgage lenders have reduced the required down payment in the last couple of years, and they will now accept mortgage loans with only 5 percent or 10 percent…
Are you throwing a lot of money at your credit card debt, but aren’t seeing a real difference? This is common where the borrower may be making the monthly payments on time, but still seeing a high balance. Here’s the issue. If you’re carrying around a $5,000 credit card debt where you’re making…