Archive for August, 2009

Top Five Components of Your Credit Score

Thursday, August 20th, 2009
by Wendy Polisi

Everyone in the world today has been troubled by the current state of the economy. The troubles we face have had a bad impact on our credit score leading us to financial strain.

If you have ever applied for a loan for a home or a car, you know the single most important factor in your approval is your credit score.

There has been a lot of confusion of what a credit score really is and how it is worked out. This article is aimed at clearing up all the myths in regards to what makes up a credit score, by providing you with the simple facts.

There are 5 different things you need to look at which your credit score is based on. These include your payment history to lenders, how much you owe to these lenders, your depth of file, how many inquiries have dinged your report and what type of credit you have applied for or have now.

These five variables affect or weigh on your score differently. Payment history at 35 % and outstanding debt at 30% are the heavy hitters. While depth of file is at 15% and both Inquiries and types of credit are both at 10%, these together make up the total score when all are weighted together.

Now, we will proceed into more detail for these individual categories and what they are based on.

Payment history needs no other explanation. It is the heaviest hitter at 35 % of your credit score. Basically it states if you pay your bills in a timely manner. A bill has a certain timeframe in which you are expected to remit payment, when you do so the creditor reports that. When you are delinquent by more than a month, this also is reported.

Outstanding debt ranks second in its effect at 30% on your credit report. Basically this tells how much you still owe the companies that lent money to you. In order to obtain new financing, this needs to be kept low in order to show that you can meet the repayment schedule. A large burden of debt can be your downfall.

The depth of file weighing at 15% simply looks at the time period of your credit history. Even if you dont want to use the credit card that you opened in 1986, you should keep the account active because the age of the account will reflect positively in your score.

At 10% weights in both inquiries and types of credit against your score. The Inquiries of New Credit show who and how often your report has been looked at in order to extend credit to you, this is called a inquiry; the fewer inquiries against your report the better.

At 10% weight is the final category called types of credit. This categorizes the type of financing you presently have and have held in the past. Some can hurt your credit while others bolster it. An instalment loan is held in higher esteem than a loan from a financing company.

Knowledge of how your score is derived helps you to be master of your money and future!

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How I Got Bad Credit

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
by Frances Lexington

A few months, I went through some rough moments in my life. I got laid off after the company I worked for went down. The bills piled up and I was unable to make my monthly payments. Eventually, all of my credit card accounts were charged-off and sent to collection agencies.

My life became a living hell of collection calls and non-stop harassment from debt collectors. Finally, I filed bankruptcy and was relieved of my debt, but the damage to my credit was already done.

For years I was denied the chance to own a home, get a new car, or even take a vacation ” all because my credit scores were too low for the banks to even consider giving me a loan. Getting turned down for loans over and over was frustrating and embarrassing.

A neighbor told me about SBFC Law Group and was ranting and raving about how wonderful they were. I was skeptical at first, but after seeing what they did for him, I knew I had to give them a try. So, I got online and looked them up.

SBFC Law Group Changed My Life

I called the 1-800 number at their website and talked to a credit repair expert who was very nice and understanding of my circumstances. She was also very knowledgeable. So, I went ahead and signed up. Boy, am I glad I did! After about 3 weeks, I started receiving letters from the credit bureaus stating that negative accounts had been removed from my credit reports!

SBFC Law Group did such a great job with my credit score, I would recommend them to anyone who is in the same circumstance. It is so worth it. After the first little while I was able to get a car loan. A year later, and I can now get a home loan. Imagine that.

Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance Guide

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
by Natalie Totty

People with bad credit who are looking to refinance their mortgage should not think it isn’t possible due to their adverse credit. Despite the economic outlook there are still lenders with which bad credit mortgage refinance is still an option. There are companies with refinancing possibilities available to homeowners with a bad credit history. They will provide you with the available options to refinancing your mortgage.

There are many lenders that are reluctant to loan any money regardless of the type of borrowing you are looking for, especially when you have a less than perfect credit history. When you find yourself in a situation of bad credit rating, there are still lenders who have expertise in finding you a mortgage refinance option even with bad credit. Sourcing these lenders might not be easy but with a bit of effort it is possible.

Any type of loan, with bad credit will have a higher interest rate along with higher closing fees compared what you could get for having good credit. You may even have what is called a pre-payment penalty that could last up to three years with a large amount of interest that you may have to pay for a couple months before being able to pay off the loan.

A lender who deals with bad credit home loans, is able to help get a loan approved regardless of how bad your credit is. They should be able to help you find the best company that can either refinance or purchase a home. Going through a bad credit mortgage refinance can help the homeowners to save considerable amount of money in the long run. It can help them save thousands of dollars, for the duration of the loan. Should you have better credit at the time of refinancing then your interest rate could drop drastically and that makes for a lower home payment. That will help the homeowner and their family live a more comfortable life through the hard times that can be financially trying.

Just like any other loan that you apply for, the borrower is going to be looking at your credit report along with many other things that you must have documentation on. They will be looking at your employment history, your income or incomes and the amount of debt that you are currently in. You should make sure to keep pay stubs to prove your income, and deposit slips or bank information. You should also make sure that your credit score is accurate and everything on your credit report is correct. Even when doing a bad credit refinance you’re required to have an accurate credit score.

Since you are trying to refinance with bad credit, the lender may also be looking at how much cash you actually have to hand at the time of refinancing. Of course the lower that your credit score is, the more cash you are going to have to have to hand to secure the home loan or a bad credit mortgage refinance. You may have to have a pretty hefty down payment, this can be anywhere from 20-25% down payment instead of the usual 10%. Doing it this way will let the lender know that there is not as much risk when it comes to lending you the money for a bad credit mortgage refinance.

There are untrustworthy lenders in the market whose priority is not about the welfare of homeowners looking to refinance their mortgage, but rather looking to exploit their financial predicament for their own gains. For this reason care should be taken when choosing the mortgage provider and particular attention should be paid to the finer details of any financial agreement entered into. Be aware of any possible fees and penalties involved in the future should you have trouble meeting your obligations. When investigating what options are available for a mortgage refinance be sure to look at all the options thoroughly before making any decisions.

With the best intentions in the world, sometimes even the most financially sensible of homeowners can find themselves in a situation of bad credit due to unforeseen circumstances, such as divorce, unemployment or illness. But adverse financial situations can be reversed. But also be aware that circumstances can be made worse by making the wrong decision when carrying out a bad credit mortgage refinance. Be sure to investigate the market thoroughly before making your decision, make sure that your financial situation is improved and that any loan agreement entered into will not put you into worse debt than before.

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How to Avail Protection from Identity Theft

Monday, August 17th, 2009
by Jean Nicholson

A protection from identity theft is crucial to some people. This type of thievery has been in existence since the earliest days of human civilization. In these modern times, the crime has already infected the internet where a lot of innocent people had unfortunately met their untimely demise. It is important for people to have protection for the crime has already spread all over the world like a malignant disease.

There are still a lot of online users who still do not get it. They are still careless and negligent that they eventually become helpless victims of these criminals. These identity thieves are people who make business by defrauding other human beings. Most online users have already had their encounter with these scammers for these crooks also pose as social networkers or site owners but with dubious identity.

The protection from identity theft may include in its coverage the members of the family. Your family needs this type of insurance for they can also become victims and that even include your children. To be covered with this type of plan, any person can seek the advice of insurance companies specializing in this aspect.

You and the entire family enjoy peace of mind being far from worrying about becoming victims of unscrupulous people. The insured individuals can always have the feeling of confidence in applying for loans or credit cards. Being aware of having a protection from identity theft you gain peace of mind and can continuously enjoy a good name and good credibility standing.

This type of insurance plan is very affordable compared to the tremendous loss that could occur when an identity is lost or stolen. You can browse and check online for information regarding this plan and how to acquire one. There are certainly available offers than can be provided by websites that are into the business of giving protection from identity theft.

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10 Ways to Fix your Credit

Sunday, August 16th, 2009
by Mark Michigan

With all the financial strain of todays economy, chances are your credit might not be where it once was. Maybe you used to have a credit score in the 700 range, and, unfortunately, now it has dropped to the 600 levels. However, a decrease in your credit is simply not something you can shrug off because good credit is a valuable asset. Therefore, if your credit is suffering, take the following steps to repair your credit and get your score up.

The first place to start when it comes to fixing your credit is your actual credit report. Fortunately, the law allows us access to this report free of charge, and you can obtain a report from various companies including, Equifax, Exeprian, and Trans Union. Once you receive your credit report, review it to make sure that it is completely accurate. Then, be aware of the flags that are affecting your score and keep those in mind as you take the necessary steps to fix your credit.

When someones credit score is determined, the majority of the score involves the persons ability to meet obligations to creditors. Society has a negative view of creditors ” we see them as hateful people who only want to make our lives worse. However, most of the time the creditors are willing to work with you if you will talk with them. Although you may not be able to pay the entire payment, be honest about what you can pay and try to negotiate with them ” you might be surprised by what you are able to work out.

Also, if you do negotiate an agreement with your creditors, make sure to get the agreement in writing. The last thing that you want to happen is for someone to verbally agree to lower payments when it is not ok and it will affect your credit. A written agreement will give you a defense if lower payments end up affecting your credit.

Your next step on the road to credit recovery involves scissors and your credit cards ” yes, that is right, cut them all up! Credit cards only provide you with more temptation to spend money you do not have, which will put your further into debt. When you cut up your cards, you remove the temptation to spend what you dont have and you will not add more liabilities to your list.

Although you are going to want to get rid of the majority of your cards, you might consider cutting them up instead of closing the account. To build your credit wisely, you should try to close one or two accounts approximately every six months. And, if you try to keep the cards you have had the longest open, you will better the most credit.

With debt and credit issues come bills and payments. It is easy to make excuses for late payments or neglect credit card bills. However, credit cards payments should be a priority; because, when your payments are not received on time or made in full, your credit is affected.

One of the biggest issues involving credit card payments is regarding how much to pay. Some people seem to think that paying the minimum payment is fine, however, although it is all that is due, it is not always the smartest practice. When you pay only the minimum amount it will take you much longer to pay off your balance and you will pay a lot of interest. Instead, pay more than the minimum, even if it is just a little extra.

After you have done your part to eliminate debt, there are steps to take to establish better credit and financial records for the future. One idea is to try getting a secured credit card ” a credit card where you have to deposit money towards your credit card balance. Because your money is invested in the credit card, you will be more likely to pay it off.

Also, another great thing to do to help fix your credit is start budgeting. A proper and effective budget accounts for your future income and expenditures so you are better prepared for the financial future. In addition, when you budget, you will be more effective at paying off your bills and meeting your obligations.

It has never been easy for anyone to repair their credit, and it has definitely required sacrifice and patience. In the long run, it is necessary and worth it. Be diligent. It is more difficult in our current economy, but it is definitely possible.

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