Building credit can lead to despair if you do not know where to get started. Creditors come in all forms and some of them are out to take you for a road, so this alone makes the struggle increase. If you have bad credit or no credit then you know how difficult it is to get ahead. Sometimes it may seem the more you try the harder it gets. In fact, this is sometimes true simply because too many people lack knowledge when it comes to building or repairing credit. Many people will take the wrong path when they are trying to build or repair their credit and this often leads to a bigger struggle. If you are in search of a solution to repair or build, your credit the first thing you will need to do is get in contact with reality. The fact is if you have no credit or bad credit the world is on your shoulders and it will take you to get them rascals off your back. Credit is essential nowadays and nearly every business asks for a major credit card. If you do not have, credit established or else your credit is bad then you are in trouble when they say, “all we accept are major credit cards.” The world has gone mad. Instead of giving you a job when your credit is bad to help you get back on your feet again, they will often turn you down. This is insane, but it is the way the world operates. When you apply for a loan to get out of debt you will also get turned down in most cases. The lenders figure since you did not pay your first debts you probably will not pay your new debts. Lenders rarely take into consideration that your situation is temporarily and could change at any time. When you do not have credit, few lenders do not assume that best possible option, rather they assume that you are a mishap in life. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part lenders look down on your when you have no credit at all or your credit is bad.
If your credit is bad, you might want to get started paying on your bills right away to repair your credit and get out of despair. If you do not have credit, it is time to start building for a better future as soon as possible. Instead of taking out a loan or else applying for a credit card on your own, you might want to take a trustworthy friend or family member. Taking a friend or family member with you will come in handy when the lenders say, “do you have a co-signer.” After you are approved for a loan or credit card, make sure that you pay your bills on time to avoid defaults on your credit files as well as avoiding enemies. If you miss payments, the friend or family member that co-signed your contract is obligated to pay your dues. This all sounds crazy if you think about. People everyday are filing bankruptcy, suffering debt issues, and so on, yet the system requires us to establish credit at an early age in life to stay up with the Smith and Jones. The system is set up to get you one-way or the other. Therefore, if you are building credit for the first time makes sure that you do not overdo yourself. If you are purchasing a car, make sure you know what you are getting into to avoid future debt issues. If you are purchasing a car, consider a car that is inexpensive and economical to avoid overpaying for a fancy car that will only last for a short time. None of us really needs a Mercedes Benz, but some of us can afford it. If you can afford a Mercedes and know that your future is prosperous by all means, apply for the loan. On the other hand, if you see that your future is shaky and you do not have the funds to support an outrageous lifestyle, then go for the Bug it is cheaper and it will save you despair in your future.
So you’ve gone through the long and terrible process of giving your details, only to find that you got turned down. This can feel a little insulting, like a rejection, especially if you feel like you could easily handle the card in question. So what can you do if it happens?
Try, Try Again.
Don’t get upset if you’re turned down at one company – they might have some strange requirement that you happen not to meet. Always try three before you start to despair.
Whatever you do, though, don’t spend a whole day applying for every credit card you can find, just to see if anyone will take you. Each check is counted, and lots of checks on your record make you look desperate, making it even less likely you’ll get a good card – this is known as ‘shotgunning’ your credit.
Get Your Credit Report.
Send off to the credit reference agencies to get copies of your credit reports. There might be something incorrect on there that’s making you look bad, and you need to get it corrected if there is. Make sure you do all this in writing, so there are records of it – don’t phone up and let them fob you off.
Phone the Company.
It’s not a good idea to always deal with credit card companies by post or on the Internet – you should try to phone them up and speak to a real person. This way, you can tell them all your circumstances, make sure everything went through correctly, and question them if you get turned down. If you directly ask why you haven’t been accepted, then they usually have to tell you.
If you’re willing to be pushy, you might even get the decision reverse. If the person you got through to won’t budge, then always ask for their supervisor before you hang up.
Apply for a Less Prestigious Card.
Yes, I know, it sounds bad – but you want a credit card, don’t you? Get a high-rate card from the company whose card you want, and then pay it off on time each month. You’re building your credit rating. The chances are that you’ll be able to persuade the company to replace your card with the lower-rate one after a few months.
If you have a very bad credit rating, you might find that you are only offered secured cards. These cards require you to make a cash deposit before you can start using them. It’s worth saving up the deposit and using the card for a while, though, as you’ll usually be offered a normal card quite quickly, as long as you don’t do anything terrible with the secured one.
If that all sounds like too much trouble, then you might like to try a pre-paid credit card. These cards must be loaded with money in advance, but from then on work like a normal credit card – except you don’t pay any interest or fees! Well worth it if you only wanted a card for the convenience anyway.
If you are having difficulty with your credit score and rating, or having a hard time getting a credit card you might want to consider a pre-paid card. Nowadays it is virtually impossible to purchase anything without a credit card. Lenders today are offering Pre-Paid Visa and Master Cards, which work like credit cards. The procedure works like put money into an account and then you are able to use the cards like a regular credit card. No one will know the difference. Prepaid credit cards can be purchased at many stores or online. The downside is you have to pay a small fee when you open an account. You want to be careful with which card you choose since some are expensive. After the account is open, you have to pay a small fee every time you make another deposit on your account. The upside about prepaid cards is that it can help repair your credit. Another advantage is, if your credit is bad then the prepaid may be the only the solution for repairing credit. The best solution is to continue paying your bills and avoid spending money on items you do not really need. Most people spend a fortune during the course of a decade on various items all to sell them later in a garage sale, or else toss them in the garbage when they realize they did not need it in the first place. It pays to consider all aspects of any decision made to avoid complications. Bad credit is an obstacle and in order to defeat the obstacle you have to take steps to resolve the issues.
Credit Reports
Don’t let bad credit ruin your life. We all have difficulties and sometimes we can’t avoid obstacles that get in our way. It is important that you know your credit report status first before taking steps to repair your credit. Building credit is important, but if you do not know the basics, it is almost impossible to get out of debt. Sure, you get bills in the mail everyday that tell you what you owe. You might even get annoying phone calls regularly to remind you of the mistakes made. Having your credit report on hand can save despair since some charges against individuals are mistakes. If you know what you owe, you are in the heading in the right direction to repairing your credit. Credit reports can be obtained at any of the three credit bureaus including Equifax, Trans Union, and expedient. Some people will tell you to apply for a loan so that you can get a copy of your report free. This is ludicrous since each time you apply for a loan or credit card it goes against your score. Why not pay $60 dollars now and save a fortune in the long run? Most credit reports cost around $20 or more, but if you think about it, it will cost less later on. If you are building credit, you need to consider both long and short-term obstacles. There is nothing in life that is free, and that includes making the right decisions. Prepaid cards are a great start in the right direction for building your credit, but for the most part the cards offer nothing in line of restoring ultimate credit results. The prepaid cards are treated like credit cards in one way, but it slowly builds or restores credit, so the process of credit repairing is only delayed yet obtainable. There are other types of credit cards available that claim to help restore your credit rating and score. Some of the card providers offer a lump sum of credit, but you have to pay around $200 or $300 upfront. The disadvantage is that some of these companies are fraudulent and work hard at taking your money, at the same time providing you no results. Consumers such as Trust Benefit have taking money from consumers promising them a repair solution on their credit report. Once the company takes the money, they may or may not send you a credit card. Be careful! It pays to check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) before you apply for a credit card to make sure the provider is not out to take you for a ride.
“How do I establish credit, when I don’t have a credit history”? This is probably the most commonly asked question by most consumers looking to open a credit account. Not having credit can be just as difficult as having bad credit unless you know how to go about proving yourself to a potential creditor.
The crazy catch twenty-two:
How can you get credit if nobody is willing to extend you credit because you don’t have any credit history?
A good place to start is by obtaining a letter of credit from a company that you have been dealing with already that does not report to the credit reporting agencies.
An example would be your electric company. It is possible to contact your electric company and request a letter of credit. They are likely to require that you have had an account with them for at least a year as with most companies that you are asking for a letter of credit. Your cable company may be another option for a letter of recommendation for credit. If you have had an open account for at least a year and have made on time monthly full payments, without payment arrangements, these two companies are good candidates to provide you with a letter of recommendation for credit.
To establish credit either with or without a letter of recommendation for credit, you could also start with your banking institution. All banks offer credit card and loan accounts. If you have banked with the institution for at least a year (sometimes 6 months) they may strongly consider extending you a line of credit. In the beginning of any credit account, your interest rate may be high, but don’t despair, after your first positive review in about 6 months, the interest rate may fall dramatically as well as your payments if you have been making minimum payments.
Just to get you started. Your new account may be very low. After about 6 months of on time payments, your lender may review your account for a larger credit line. The smartest technique is to start with baby steps. Start with just a small account, pay the accounts regularly, get used to the monthly obligation, and make on time monthly payments before jumping into any other credit account(s). You are very likely going to find creditors coming out of the wood work and hunting you down to offer you a line of credit, consider their offers with caution. Actually, the best recommendation is to give your self at least 6 months to a year before taking on a new account. Jumping in too fast can easily wipe out all of the hard work you have done so far to establish some credit.
Once you jump on the credit bandwagon, it is vital that you keep track of your own credit rating. You will find many great offers online for programs that can inform you, on a regular basis, of your credit standings. You could also request your free annual credit report and verify your status regularly.
Once your credit becomes active, keeping track of your credit report is crucial for many reasons:
1. It could prevent the use of a fraudulent credit account by an unknown user.
2. It could prevent the unfortunate event of somebody stealing your identity and using your credit.
3. It could help find a lost payment and assist you with keeping track of how your creditor is reporting your payment activity.
4. It is just good credit etiquette to know your own credit rating.
5. Knowing your own credit rating and status gives you bartering power when dealing with a new potential creditor.
Once you’ve established some credit, take caution with accepting credit offers from other creditors, look into the interest rate the lenders are offering, consider the monthly obligation in addition to your other financial responsibilities such as rent, utility bills, car insurance, groceries, laundry expenses, gas, day care, etc., and feel free to decline credit offers.
In the beginning of your adventure with new credit accounts, it can be very exciting to have several creditors offering advances, it can be an uplifting and powerful event, however, pursue with caution in order to maintain a healthy credit rating and score. Keep your credit history in mind and respect the great task that you have accomplished by establishing credit with caution.