How to Improve Your Credit Score

When many people think of credit reports and credit scores, they see them as important if you want to apply for a loan. And of course they are important when you apply for a loan. But your credit report and score are also absolutely critical to getting rid of debt. With a good credit score, you qualify for lower interest rates that can help bring down your total interest charges. With bad credit, you’re stuck paying double digit rates. So let’s look at some tips and tools that can help you:

#1 Understand Just How Important Your Credit Score Is!

As I explained above, your credit score is an important tool in getting out of debt as quickly as possible. Don’t believe me?  Check out these statistics from myfico.com for individuals with a FICO score of 660 (fair credit) versus 760 (excellent credit):

• Mortgage: The average interest on a home loan today is about 4.766% for excellent credit, but 5.379% for fair credit.
• Car Loan: With a credit score of 760, you can expect a car loan interest rate of about 6.3%. With a score of 660, the rate increases to about 9.8%.
• Home Equity: Excellent credit can expect a rate of around 8% or lower, while fair credit borrowers will pay as much as 11% or higher.

As you can see, your credit score matters!

#2 Get Your Free Credit Report!

The starting point is to get your FREE CREDIT REPORT and check it for errors.

#3 Get Your Free Credit Score!

Next you should get your FREEE CREDIT SCORE. You can get this from annualcreditreport.com., but you will have to pay for it.

#4 Pay Your Bills On Time!

There are a number of factors that go into a credit score, but one of the most important is paying your credit bills on time. (such as credit cards, mortgage, and car payments) Do whatever is necessary not to forget a payment, and make sure you make the payment far enough in advance of the due date so that there is no chance it will be late.

#5 Don't Close Credit Accounts!

As a general rule, don’t close credit card and other revolving accounts. One of the factors in determining credit score is the amount of debt you have in comparison to the amount of available credit. The greater the available credit, the better. You can always cut up some of your cards if you don’t want to risk using them, but don’t cancel them.

Contrary to Michael Scott's opinion, you can't declare bankruptcy by simply saying it in public!

But that is not the only Bankruptcy Myth that is going around.  It is important to know which Bankruptcy Myths are true and which ones are just plain silly!  Here are 4 common myths that are absolutely NOT TURE!

Myth #1: You Can Only File Bankruptcy Once

You CAN file bankruptcy more than once. In fact:

• You can receive a discharge from a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy once every 8 years

• You can receive a discharge from a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy every 2 years

Also, if you complete a chapter 7, you must wait 6 years before filing a chapter 13. And if you complete a chapter 13, you must wait 4 years to obtain a chapter 7 discharge. 

Myth #2: A Bankruptcy Hurts Your Spouse

If you’re married, filing bankruptcy doesn’t affect your spouse’s credit. However, if you’re struggling to pay debt that’s in both of your names, then you should file bankruptcy together. Otherwise, creditors will simply demand payment for the entire amount from the non-filing spouse.

Myth #3: You Can Go to Jail if you Don't Pay Your Debts

No matter what anyone says—especially an aggressive debt collector—it’s not against the law to owe money. There is no such thing as debtor’s prison in the United States. 

Creditors can sue you, take you to court, lien your property, and garnish your wages, but they can’t send you to jail. You can only be arrested if you commit a crime, like fraud, hiding property to avoid a judgment, or refusing to pay income tax.

Myth #4: Bankruptcy is Expensive

The filing fees for chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies vary, but aren’t more than $300. The real expense is hiring an attorney, which could range from $2,000 to $4,000, depending on the firm and the type of bankruptcy you choose. You can file bankruptcy without an attorney, but I don’t recommend it. A less expensive option is to hire a bankruptcy paralegal.  They can do everything an attorney can do, but usually charge much less!

While bankruptcy may be inevitable for you, there are other options that can help you to eliminate your debt without filing bankruptcy.  Debt Consolidation and Debt Settlement are some of the choices you have when you are struggling to pay your debt.  For more information, click on the link below or ask a question in the comments section at the end of this post!

Last week I discused the first two parts to getting out of debt FAST!

Tips to Get Out of Debt FAST: part 1

Tips to Get Out of Debt FAST: part 2

Now it is time to move on to part 3:

Get the Lowest Interest Rates Possible on Your Debt

While you are working to improve your credit, it’s important to be on the lookout for ways to reduce the interest rate on your debt. Whether the debt is a home loan, car loan, credit card or some other debt, getting the lowest possible interest rate will help speed up the time it takes to eliminate your debt. Here are some tips and tools to help you lower your rates:

1. Refinance Your Mortgage: The general rule is that you should refinance if you can lower your interest rate by 1%. While that’s a good starting point, it is important to also consider how long you plan to stay in the home and whether you need to convert from an adjustable rate mortgage to a safer fixed rate loan. Interest rates are still at historic lows, and it is easy to compare mortgage rates online.
2. Negotiate Lower Interest on Home Equity Lines of Credit: If you have a home equity line of credit, compare your interest rate with current market rates. If you think you can do better, step one is to call the mortgage company and request a lower rate. While there are no guarantees, it can’t hurt to try.
3. Lower the Interest on Credit Cards: Debt Consolidation Programs allows you to consolidate all of your unsecured debt into ONE LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT and offer the following benefits:

• PAY LESS: Better repayment terms are offered by most creditors. Most will lower interest rates, wave late and over the limit fees AND bring your accounts back to current without making up those missed payments. This can save you thousands over the life of the debt!
• PAY OFF YOUR DEBT FASTER: You’ll be able to pay off your debt in three to five years rather than the average 25 years it could take without our program.
• REDUCE YOUR STRESS: Our customer’s are relieved when the collection calls disappear.
• ONE EASY LOW MONTLY PAYMENT: Your credit cards and other unsecured debts are consolidated into one monthly payment so you don’t have to juggle payments.

Although getting to know your debt and creating a plan are two very important steps in gettin out of debt FAST, this third step is the most important one.  Getting your interest rates lowered will make the money you are paying towards your debt go further, and you simply can't beat that!

Would you like to know how we can help you Get Out of Debt FAST?  Click the link below for a FREE Debt Elimination Summary or simply give us a call:

1-877-492-4109 

The most important thing you can do to IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT SCORE is to eliminate debt!

One of our customers resently sent us an email stating:

"My credit score according to my credit tracker just JUMPED to 693! That's the highest it has been in fifteen years."

This client had just completed the DEBT SETTLEMENT program, and his credit report showed all of his accounts had ZERO BALANCE! 

According to the FICO, there are several factors that determine your credit score:

PAYMENT HISTORY

This makes up 35% of your score and is determined by:

• Past due accounts
• Bankruptcies
• Judgments
• Wage garnishments
• Paid as agreed accounts

AMOUNTS YOU OWE

This will account for at least 30% of your credit score and includes:

• The total amount you owe on all of your accounts

• The number of accounts you have opened with outstanding balances.  (Too many accounts hurts your score, so be careful when offered the next STORE CARD!)

LENGTH OF CREDIT HISTORY

• If you have established a decent credit score for several years, you will be rated higher than someone with little or no credit history. 

• If you have not established credit (credit card, auto loan, home loan), then you should consider opening a couple of accounts.

BE CAREFUL!  Many people get caught up in the nightmare of too many credit cards and not enough money to keep up.  The best way to start establishing your credit history is to open ONE CARD, use it wisely, and pay it off each month!

Your are  proving that you have the ability and discipline to manage your credit and will be rewarded with a higher score in the future.

NEW CREDIT

This goes with the previous category, but is a little different and makes up 10% of your credit score.

If you open too many accounts in a short period of time, this is seen as a negative on your report, so take it easy! Also, if there are several inquiries about your credit score in a short amount of tim, this will hurt your credit score.

On the other hand, if a creditor inquires about your credit in order to offer you a "pre-approved" card, this will not hurt your credit.

Too learn more about how inquiries affects your score, click here.

TYPES OF CREDIT USED

This accounts for 10% of your score.

• Having too many store cards and "easier-to-get" credit cards will hurt your score.

• If you have a home mortgage and have a good payment history, this will be a positive for your credit score.

The best way to improve your credit score is to eliminate debt!

If you would like to find out what options are available to you, we can help!

1-877-492-4109

Do you want to Get Out of Debt FAST?

Here is one of the most frequently asked questions we get: “How do I get out of debt?” The answer if pretty basic. Eliminating debt is about following a few simple steps:

1. Stop going into more debt
2. Spend less than you make
3. Pay off your debt with the difference

This sounds simple enough, but the problem is that following these steps isn’t always so easy.

In fact, tackling your debt may be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. You have to control your emotions. You have to educate yourself about everything from home loans to credit cards to credit scores. And you have to discipline yourself in the way you manage and spend money. The fact is that controlling your spending and paying off your debt is not an easy thing to do. But the good news is that you can do it. If you want to be debt-free bad enough, you can make it happen.

And to help you reach your goal of being debt-free, I’ve assembled a list of tips to GET OUT OF DEBT FAST.

Part One: Get to Know Your Debt

The first step in tackling any problem is to fully understand it. When it comes to debt, you should know everything about the terms and conditions of the money you owe. Here are some tips and tools to help you understand your debt.

1. Put Your Debt On Paper: The very first step is make a list of the debts you have. The list should include the following information: The name, address and phone number of the creditor; the outstanding balance; the interest rate; the minimum payment; and any other information you feel is important.
2. Take Advantage of Personal Finance Software: By now many people already have and use personal finance software like Quicken or YNAB (You Need a Budget). If so, you can use the tools within the software to record all of the debt you owe and to develop a plan to pay off that debt.
3. Use Free Online Tools: There are many budget tools available online for free. These tools can track your debt and are easy to use. And it’s hard to beat free!
4. Involve Others: It’s important that your spouse or significant other is involved in the process. If you don’t see eye-to-eye on finances, it can make getting out of debt even more difficult than it already is. It’s not uncommon for one spouse to take the lead in handling finances, and that’s fine. But you both should be on board, particularly as you develop a plan to tackle the debt.

Getting to know your debt is just the first step you need to take to get out of debt fast.  Check in tomorrow for the next step...Create a Plan.

Got Questions? We've Got Answers

1-877-492-4109

photo by: alancleaver2000

Top 10 Things You Should Know about CONTROLLING YOUR DEBT!

#1 Americans are loaded with credit-card debt.

The average American household with at least one credit card has nearly $11,000 in credit-card debt, and the average interest rate runs in the mid to high teens at any given time.

#2 Some debt is good.

Borrowing for a home or college usually makes good sense. Just make sure you don't borrow more than you can afford to pay back, and shop around for the best rates.

#3 Some debt is bad.

Don't use a credit card to pay for things you consume quickly, such as meals and vacations, if you can't afford to pay off your monthly bill in full in a month or two. There's no faster way to fall into debt. Instead, put aside some cash each month for these items so you can pay the bill in full. If there's something you really want, but it's expensive, save for it over a period of weeks or months before charging it so that you can pay the balance when it's due and avoid interest charges.

#4 Get a handle on your spending.

Most people spend thousands of dollars without much thought to what they're buying. Write down everything you spend for a month, cut back on things you don't need, and start saving the money left over or use it to reduce your debt more quickly.

#5 Pay off your highest-rate debts first.

The key to getting out of debt efficiently is first to pay down the balances of loans or credit cards that charge the most interest while paying at least the minimum due on all your other debt. Once the high-interest debt is paid down, tackle the next highest, and so on. Another option is to use the Debt Snowball.  This system focuses on paying off the smallest balances first. Either way, make a plan and stick to it.

#6 Don't fall into the minimum trap.

If you just pay the minimum due on credit-card bills, you'll barely cover the interest you owe, to say nothing of the principal. It will take you years to pay off your balance, and potentially you'll end up spending almost three times what you orriginally charged.

#7 Watch where you borrow.

It may be convenient to borrow against your home or your 401(k) to pay off debt, but it can be dangerous. You could lose your home or fall short of your investing goals at retirement.

#8 Expect the unexpected.

Build a cash cushion worth three months to six months of living expenses in case of an emergency. If you don't have an emergency fund, a broken furnace or damaged car can seriously upset your finances.

#9 Don't be so quick to pay down your mortgage.

Don't pour all your cash into paying off a mortgage if you have other debt. Mortgages tend to have lower interest rates than other debt, and you may deduct the interest you pay on the first $1 million of a mortgage loan. (If your mortgage has a high rate and you want to lower your monthly payments, consider refinancing.)

#10 Get help as soon as you need it.

If you have more debt than you can manage, get help before your debt breaks your back. There are reputable debt counseling agencies that may be able to consolidate your debt and assist you in better managing your finances.

NEED HELP NOW? 

Call 1-877-492-4109 Today!

I've heard a lot of buzz lately about the Debt Snowball method of paying off your debt.  Curiosity finally got the better of me and I decided to do a bit of research.  Here is what I discovered:

What is debt snowball?

Debt snowball is a process by which you list all your debts from lowest to highest and attack the lowest debt first. You need to pay minimums on each bill except for the lowest one. Pay as much as you can towards the lowest debt so that you can get rid of it as soon as possible. Next, you move on to the second lowest debt and the process continues till you are free from debt.

What are the advantages of debt snowball?

According to personal finance guru Dave Ramsey, “Personal finance is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior”. Debt snowfall is based on this view. It rightly assumes that paying off smaller debts gives a sense of victory which motivates people to pay off all other debts.

It is relatively easy to pay off bigger debts using debt snowball method. Here you clear the smaller debts first. So by the time you reach the bigger debts, the extra amount that you can pay towards them increases. Consequently, it is possible to eliminate them quicker.

Another advantage of debt snowball method is the reduction of the total amount owed to creditors in a single month. This can save your neck in case you encounter an unforeseen situation like loss of job or medical emergency.

Is debt snowball the right choice for you?

Debt snowball is a simple debt reduction method which is suitable for people who have a wide range of balances. It gives you tangible results and motivation which is missing from other similar approaches. While is it most effective for people who need some encouragement in the form of quick results, individuals with a lot of patience will benefit more with avalanche approach because it is cheaper.

Debt snowball can certainly help you to climb up from the trenches. However, you should remember that it cannot make you debt free with the wave of a wand. But if you stick to it till the end then your patience will be certainly rewarded.

What if you can't even keep up with the minimum payments?

The debt snowball method sounds like a great idea, and for a lot of people it would make sense.  But what do you do if you can't even keep up with the minimum payments? 

If you need to get your minimum payments reduced, you should consider a Debt Consolidation program.  A Debt Consolidation program works along the same premise, but it also reduces your interest rates and monthly minimum payments!

If the payments of a Debt Consolidation program are still too high, then it's time to consider Debt Settlement.  A Debt Settlement program will significantly lower your monthly payment and eliminate your debt for less than what you owe. 

It's hard to decide which approach is your best option.  If you would like a free analysis of your current financial situation and some guidance in determining which option is right for you, our trained Solutions Specialists are here to help! 

Get answers TODAY 877-492-4109

What are your thoughts on the Debt Snowball?  Have you tried this method or are you considering it?  I'd love to hear from you.  Please post your thoughts or questions in the comment form below!

photo by: House Of Sims'

1)  KEEP MAKING MINIMUM PAYMENTS

The credit card industry loves this!  They know that if a consumer just makes the minimum payment each month, it may take 10-15 years before they ever pay off the account.

When you add up all of the interest and fees they charge, you could end up paying 3-4 times the original amount you charged!

2)  SECOND MORTGAGE OR EQUTIY LOAN

If you have equity in your home, you may be able to qualify for a 2nd mortgage or equity line of credit.

BUT BEWARE!  Right now, these credit cards are UNSECURED.  If you default, you have not pledged anything as collateral.

If you take out a loan against your home's equity and default, your home is at risk!

On the other hand, if you are disciplined enough to pay off the 2nd or equity line quickly, you could end up saving thousands of dollars in interest and fees.

3)  DEBT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

If you are able to make the minimum payments and maybe a little more, then you should consider a DEBT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

If you qualify:

• You will have ONE MONTHLY PAYMENT
• Th payment is disbursed to each of your creditors for you
• Most creditors will LOWER your INTEREST RATE and ELIMINATE late or over-the-limit fees
• Creditors will not be calling
• You should be DEBT FREE in about 48 months or so

 4) DEBT SETTLEMENT PROGRAM

It is not unusual for people in today's economy to find themselves in a financial situation they have never been in before.

This could be due to several factors including:

• Unemployment
• Reduced hours
• Medical bills
• Divorce

If this is the case and you CANNOT AFFORD THE MINIMUM PAYMENTS, much less the payments required by a Debt Management Program, the a DEBT SETTLEMENT PROGRAM may be you best option to pay off credit card debt.

In this program, an amount of money you can afford is set aside so that at some time in the future, an offer to settle your account can be made.

You may be able to settle your accounts at 50% of the balance.

But, DEBT SETTLEMENT IS NOT EASY and most people cannot do it by themselves.

You may want to consider seeking professional help.

5) BANKRUPTCY

If you cannot make the payments required by either a Debt Management Program or a Debt Settlement Program, then your only option may be bankruptcy.

DON'T PANIC!

Get an appointment with a couple of BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEYS in your area.

There should not be any charge for your initial consultation.

You most likely will qualify for a Chapter 7 or 13, and the attorney will explain the differences.

If you would like a FREE CONSULTATION with NO OBLIGATION, then click below and we will send you some information that may be very helpful.

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