Do it Yourself Credit Repair
Many individuals are confronted with the challenging duty of credit repair. They may have fallen behind on their credit cards and must fix some late payments and poor credit history choices as a result of it. Credit repair is not as difficult as many people might think. It takes time, but it can be done.
Check your credit report for any errors
First, you need to obtain a copy of your credit report from either one or all three of the major credit reporting agencies. The big three are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. They can be found quite easily on the Internet and will provide you with a copy of your credit report. Once you have your credit report, go through it line by line and look for any mistakes. If you find any, dispute them with the credit reporting agency. You will need to provide documentation to support your dispute, but if the mistake is legitimate, it will be removed from your credit report.
The FACT Act that was passed by Congress back in 2001 allows all consumers one free copy of their credit report per year. For this, you will need to go to either www.annualcreditreport.com or www.freecreditreport.com. Sometimes one of the agencies will provide you with one or two reports for free, but you are best off using credit monitoring services that will give you all three reports, with credit score and even identity protection when you sign up.
However, if you are serious about credit repair, you will need to obtain copies of all three credit reports. Creditors are not required to report to any of the agencies, and often they will just report to one. Having all three credit reports on hand will help you make repairs to your credit more effectively and more thoroughly.
Dispute any errors on your credit report
Once you have these reports in hand, go over them with a fine tooth comb. Check for any errors such as accounts that have been paid off but are still appearing as delinquent or accounts that you never opened or used in the first place. If you do find errors on your report, you must contact the credit bureau to make the correction. If you want your credit repair efforts to be thorough, I recommend using our pre-written letters. After checking your credit report and writing your letters to the bureaus, the important part of making repairs to your credit is to change the way you are using credit. That includes making all payments on time and not using credit the way you used to. While its true that its virtually impossible to go through life today without using credit, you can use it wisely and not end up in trouble down the line again.
Create a budget and stick to it
The first way to change your credit habits is by creating a budget and sticking to it. You need to find out where all of your money is going each month and track your spending. This will help you figure out where you can cut back in order to make room for your bill payments. Some people choose to use a software program to help them keep track of their finances, while others simply use a notebook. Find what works best for you and stick with it, if you have fallen behind on your bills, the first step is to call your creditors and set up a payment plans. Many times they will be willing to work with you if you are honest about your situation and explain that you are trying to get caught up. If you have been avoiding your creditors because you think they will be difficult to work with, you may want to consider using a credit counseling service. They can often negotiate lower interest rates and monthly payments on your behalf and help you get back on track financially.
Pay off your debts as quickly as possible
The next step in do it your self credit repair is to pay off your debts as quickly as possible. You will want to focus on the debts with the highest interest rates first and work your way down. Paying off these debts will save you money in the long run and help improve your credit score.
Keep balances low on credit cards and other revolving credit
Another important part of do it yourself credit repair is to keep balances low on your credit cards and other revolving credit. Creditors like to see that you are using less than 30% of your available credit at any given time. So, if you have a credit card with a limit of $1000, try not to carry a balance of more than $300. This will help improve your credit score and make creditors more likely to work with you in the future.
Do not close unused credit card accounts
One mistake that many people make when they are trying to do it themselves credit repair is closing unused credit card accounts. This can actually hurt your credit score because it lowers the amount of available credit you have. It is better to keep the account open and just not use it.
Use a credit monitoring service to help you stay on top of your credit health
Do not forget to keep track of your credit score. There are also many credit monitoring services available that can help you stay on top of your credit health. You should check your score regularly to make sure you are on track with your do-it-your-self credit repair efforts. These services will send you alerts if there are changes to your credit report and sometimes even offer do it your self credit repair tips. If you see a sudden drop in your score, it may be an indication that something is wrong and you need to take action to correct it. This can be helpful in keeping track of your progress and making sure that you are doing everything possible to improve your credit score.
There are many credit monitoring services available, so do some research to find one that fits your needs. There are also many do-it-yourself credit repair books and websites that can offer helpful tips and advice. Whichever route you choose, just remember that do-it-yourself credit repair is possible with some effort and perseverance.
Get a secured credit card to start rebuilding your credit history
If you’re looking to rebuild your credit history, one of the best things you can do is get a secured credit card. A secured credit card is a type of credit card that requires you to put down a deposit, which becomes your line of credit. For example, if you put down a $250 deposit, your credit limit will be $250. Using a secured credit card can help increase your credit score in several ways. First, it shows that you’re using credit responsibly. Second, it helps improve your credit mix, which is the mix of different types of debt that you have. When lenders look at your credit report, they not only look at your payment history but also at the mix of debt that you have. Having a secured credit card can help give them a better sense of your overall financial picture. Finally, using a secured credit card can help increase your credit utilization ratio, which is the percentage of your available credit that you’re using. The lower your credit utilization ratio, the better it is for your score. If you’re looking to rebuild your credit history, getting a secured credit card can be a great way to start. Just be sure to use it responsibly and make all of your payments on time.
Hire a financial consigliere instead of a credit consultant when you short on time
A lot of people get into financial trouble and then seek help from a credit consultant. A credit consultant will help you increase your credit score so that you can get better interest rates and improve your financial standing. However, a credit consultant does not usually teach you how to manage your finances or how to avoid getting into debt in the first place. A financial consigliere, on the other hand, will not only help you improve your financial situation but will also teach you how to manage your money so that you don’t make the same mistakes again. A financial consigliere is someone who is invested in helping you change your financial habits for the better and build a solid foundation for your future. If you’re struggling with debt, a financial consigliere is a much better option than a credit consultant.
We hope you’ve found this article helpful. If you follow these tips, do-it-yourself credit repair will be much easier and more effective. It can be a lot of time and work to repair your credit yourself, but it is definitely worth it. And we want to make it as easy as possible for you. That’s why we’ve put together a free DIY credit repair book guide with over 30 template letters that will walk you through the entire process step-by-step. So download it now because it is well worth it, in the end, to have a good credit score and be able to get the credit you need when you need it. Get started on repairing your credit rating today!
Disclaimer: I would like to remind everyone that I am not a professional adviser and what I share here with you is based on my own personal experiences and research, and contains subjective opinion. Thus, I Ricardo Cortes and Consigliere Nomade, LLC are not liable for the information you decide to use or take from this site. Read, learn, surf, and form your own conclusions. If you find anything on this site that you disagree with, please contact me at [email protected]