| In order to improve your credit score you're going to | | | | any outstanding debts which may be past due, or in |
| have to know your credit reports inside and out from | | | | other words anything that has gone into "collection". It's |
| all three of the major credit bureaus. That is step one | | | | very important that you get out of collections and get |
| in your battle. How do you get access to your credit | | | | into good standing with your creditor, the longer you |
| reports? Well, by law you can request a free report | | | | are in collections the lower your credit score is going to |
| from each bureau once per year, so that's really easy, | | | | drop. So, take care of debt of this sort before any |
| and of course free. | | | | other. |
| But, it's even easier to buy a credit monitoring service | | | | Getting in debt is a vicious cycle, and getting in over |
| which offers free access to your credit reports along | | | | our head's with readily available credit has been a trap |
| with credit alerts when something on your credit report | | | | that many people have fallen into. In order to start |
| changes. These services are the best way to protect | | | | improving credit score we have to make it a priority to |
| yourself from fraudulent and inaccurate debts | | | | begin getting out of debt. |
| mysteriously creeping onto your credit report. Think this | | | | The best way to do that is to begin budgeting and |
| doesn't happen very often? Well, think again because | | | | slowly pay down all your creditors. Why is this |
| well over 75% of all credit reports have some sort of | | | | important? Because your credit score is partially |
| inaccurate negative reporting. | | | | determined by the ratio of your debt to your credit limit. |
| If we notice that something just isn't right then we | | | | If you're debt ratios are higher than 50% of your credit |
| have to dispute the negative information by getting | | | | limit then your credit score begins to drop. You don't |
| directly involved with TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax | | | | have to be completely paid off, but it's very important |
| immediately. You can do it yourself or hire a | | | | to get your balances below around 30% of your |
| professional credit repair company to handle the job | | | | maximum credit limit. Do this and you will notice very |
| for you. Just remember this, if it's not accurate and the | | | | steady improvements in your credit score. |
| bureaus cannot verify that it's accurate by contacting | | | | Paying your bills on time is another very important |
| the creditor then they must remove the negative | | | | component of your credit score and credit history. So, |
| information from you credit report. It can be a slam | | | | you want to be absolutely sure that every single bill |
| dunk and really easy if you contact the creditor and | | | | gets paid on time, no matter what. In order to make |
| check their records. If they don't have any records of | | | | this easy, get organized, use online banking, and get on |
| the debt, then you should be good to go and you're | | | | automatic payments, that way you will never get hit |
| well on your way to improving credit score. | | | | will a late payment, slowly improving credit score over |
| Once you've taken care of any disputes, take care of | | | | time. |