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Secured Credit Cards With Low Credit Score: 4 Features They Must Have

admin — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 08:41:47 +0000

Applying for secured credit cards with a low credit score does not mean that you must accept extremely unfavorable terms such as outrageous fees and absurdly high interest rates.

While the price of your credit is going to be higher, and while you are going to need to come up with a deposit, your secured card should, at the minimum, contain these four features:

No Application Fee

While annual fees for these types of cards are a given, try to find cards that don’t also charge you a fee just to apply for the card. More often than not, application fees are nothing more than “garbage” fees that credit card companies like to tack on get you to pay more. Unless the card has some other redeeming feature, like perhaps a rewards points system, then steer clear of cards with application fees.

Easy Approval Terms

Because your credit line is being secured by your deposit, it doesn’t make much sense for the credit card company to use your credit history at all. In many cases, your credit report will not even be run, which will save you a “hard inquiry” on your credit report which will lower your score further.

The most that the credit card company should require in order for you to be approved is that you confirm you identity and make the necessary deposit plus any fees due. Beyond that, anything else is excessive.

Decent Interest Rate

While you aren’t going to get interest rates as favorable as those with the best credit, neither should it approach 30%. Look for interest rates under 18% and minimize the effects of this by always paying off your balance in full every month.

Report To The Credit Bureaus

This next bit should really be obvious: your credit card company should report your payment history to all three credit bureaus. The only reason, aside from being able to have a credit card at all, for you to get a secured card is to build or rebuild your credit history. If the credit card company does not report to the three bureaus, then it won’t help your credit at all.

As you can see, you still have choices even when you are applying for secured credit cards with a low credit score. Make wise choices and within a year or two, your credit score should increase to the point where you will be paying less for your credit,whether it is on other credit cards or an auto loan.

Credit Repair Can Achieve Excellent Credit

admin — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 06:10:03 +0000

Have you applied for credit only to be turned down? Then find out that your credit score is too low to qualify for any credit at all. Maybe you are paying higher interest rates than other people you know and do not know what the reason is. Your interest rate is tied to your credit score the lower your credit score the higher your interest rate will be. This is where you may want to contact a credit repair company and enroll in a credit repair program.

No matter how bad your credit has gotten it does not have to be permanent. If you get in a credit repair program with a reputable company, you can repair your credit. In the current economy, having good credit is essential. If you have had lenders or other people tell you that you cannot get any help that is not true many companies can help.

A credit repair company will help you to set a credit repair program in motion. The program will help you get your credit score back to where it needs to be. Once you have your credit restored, you will be able to accomplish more with your finances. Once your credit is restored, you will want to be more cautious with future credit purchases.

Some of the advantages of a high credit score are that you will get a much lower interest rate. The interest rate on your credit cards will go down. Improved credit will help you with all of your credit purchases no matter what the product is.

If you need to replace your vehicle, you will now be able to make that purchase with lower payments due to the lower interest rate you will qualify for. You will now be able to get housing without the use of a co-signer. In addition, credit card offers will start pouring into your mailbox. Be cautious of shady offers though. These are just a few of the advantages you can look forward to when you complete a credit repair program.

A credit repair company will be able to find a program that will fit you income. In the beginning, you will have to budget and cut back on things that are not necessities. These things have to be done to get your credit score back up to where it needs to be. The counselor that the credit repair company assigns to you can help you with all of this.

As you go along with your credit repair program, you will notice the increase in your credit score. You will find that creditors are starting to contact you and will want to do business with you. You will then be able to obtain whatever products you need with credit. If you use a good company and stick to the program that they set up for you, you can enjoy all of these advantages again. Following the advice of the counselor, sticking to your budget and paying your debts on time are critical to the success of the program.

Credit Report Affected by Un-paid Utility Bills

admin — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:16:00 +0000

Your credit score report can be affected by more than your available credit history. We talk about how credit cards, mortgages, car loans, and any type of loan that reports to all 3 credit bureaus will affect your credit score. We don’t always talk about utility companies and how they can have a negative impact on your credit report. Here are utility companies I like to consider non-creditors. In other words these companies don’t give you a line of credit, they just provide a service.

Utility companies
- Phone companies
- Electric companies
- Security companies
- Cell phone companies
- Water companies
- Gas companies
- Cable companies
- Internet Companies

Let’s assume you are having a tough time currently, and you stop paying your cable bill. The cable company will give you a little time to pay off the debt for service rendered, but will eventually turn that debt over to a collection company. The collection company in return will report that obligation to the 3 credit bureaus wanting their money. This is how it works with any of the companies mentioned. Once this collection reports to the credit bureaus your credit rating just dropped about 100 points. Utility companies on the other hand don’t help your credit when you are in good standing, but will also hurt your credit score if you don’t pay. Once the collection hits your credit report, and you finally decide to pay off the collection, the collection will be on your credit report for 7 years. 7 years of negative information will be on your credit report. If you don’t pay the collection, the collection company can sell the collection repeatedly to different collection companies which will ultimately drive down your credit score even more.

Pay your bills on-time
If you get behind, call your creditors immediately and work out a payment arrangement with them. They will typically work with you, especially during tough economic times. A creditor or utility company would rather get some form of payment versus nothing. If you don’t pay your bills including utility bills it will affect your credit score report. With lending getting extremely tough currently, your credit scores are more important than ever. If you have credit issues, the banks may look at your credit history as too big of a risk for there portfolio.

Don’t assume if you don’t pay utility it will not affect your credit. Because it will affect your credit, and will not go away until you pay it off. If you are unsure what is on your credit report, get a copy of your free credit score report today.

Credit Repair and Your Identity

admin — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:15:59 +0000

Identity Theft Concerns

There are a number of reasons you might have a concern about the illicit use of your identity. A lost wallet, unexplained accounts on your credit report, mysterious transactions on a credit card; these can all give rise to very reasonable worries about fraudulent activity. These events may be of little consequence, or they may be quite serious. Either way, there are a variety of credit repair solutions that you should implement immediately. Credit repair solutions include investigative, preventative, and curative, and all three should be employed.

Investigate the Issue

If you discover activity on your credit report that is not yours it may be the result of a file merger error. This means that someone else’s credit data has been merged with yours. As awful as this may sound, it is pretty innocent and has an easy credit repair cure. So, before you jump to conclusions about identity theft take a few minutes to investigate. Get copies of all three credit reports, circle the unknown accounts, call the creditors, and ask them if they have an account in your name. If they tell you that they have no record of the suspect account you are a victim of a file merger error. This is easily cured with a bit of credit repair. Just write to the credit bureaus telling them that someone else’s credit is showing on your report, and ask them to correct the error. Be sure to provide your identification. File merger errors are surprisingly common and the credit bureaus will most likely resolve the problem for you right away.

Cure the Problem

If on the other hand, the creditor acknowledges that the questionable account is yours, you may have been a victim of identity theft and should implement a more serious credit repair cure right away. The Fair Credit Reporting Act provides a very powerful solution for identity theft victims. You need to go the police station with a copy of your credit report and ask them to provide you with an Identity Theft Report. You will need to send this to the credit bureaus along with your identification and a signed statement affirming that the accounts in question have nothing to do with any transaction of yours. The credit bureaus will block the suspect accounts within a few days and initiate an investigation.

Prevention of Identity Theft

If you have been a victim of identity theft, or are just concerned about preventing the problem from occurring there are two easy and effective credit repair solutions. The credit bureaus offer a simple warning system called a Fraud Alert. A Fraud Alert is a statement inserted into your credit report requesting that prospective lenders contact you before extending credit. All you need to do is ask the credit bureaus to include this statement on your report, provide them with a contact phone number, and you are all set. There is no charge and the alert will remain on your credit report for 90 days. After 90 days you may extend it if wish. You may also cancel it at any time if you feel that the threat has passed. Fraud Alerts, however, are not foolproof, and some lenders may ignore the alert and extend credit regardless. An excellent ancillary credit repair solution you should implement simultaneously with your Fraud Alert is credit monitoring. Credit monitoring is a service offered by the credit bureaus which will alert you to any activity on your credit including inquiries. You can expect to pay less than $20 per month for this service. If someone attempts to use your identity you will be contacted in time to correct the issue.

Consult a Professional

If you have concerns about fraudulent use of your identity you should consult a credit repair professional. Most credit repair services offer a free consultation which you should take advantage of. There may be considerations other than have been mentioned in this article, and every situation is unique. As your credit rating is important you should always make informed choices.

Credit Rating Scores – How to Monitor Your Rating and Improve Your Score

admin — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:15:58 +0000

We’ve all been hearing a lot about credit rating scores lately, but do you really know what they are and why you need to understand your own score?

It’s pretty basic. A credit rating score is just a three-digit number that ranges from 300 to 850, and it indicates your ability to repay a loan or mortgage. Be assured that your credit score can have a significant effect on your life.

How Credit Rating Scores Affect You

Your credit report will be requested by any money lender that you come into contact with, including auto loans, credit cards and mortgages.

If your credit score is low, you may find that you are unable to acquire any of these things. Even if you are lucky enough to get credit, you will find that the interest rate is extortionately high.

For some, a bad credit rating has even been the stumbling block for getting a dream job. It is well worth thinking about your credit rating and the effects of bad credit on your life: no home, no job, no car!

How Credit Rating Scores Are Calculated

There are a great number of factors that are brought into consideration when calculating your credit score. However, the principal elements are:

Your payment history (all bills and loan repayments)
Types of credit you have Amount of money that you owe
The number of years you have held credit
Variety of credit that you have

This information is collated from either one credit bureau or all three of the credit bureaus. A 3 bureau credit rating is typically more reliable, as it is calculated with figures from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Essentially, your credit rating, also known as Fair Issac Corp. (FICO) score, indicates your ability to repay monies borrowed. If your credit score is low, you are perceived as a high risk to lenders.

Where to Get Credit Rating Scores

As you may notice from a quick search on the internet, there are a large number of credit monitoring companies available. The vast majority of these companies seek a subscription payment which will then allow you to view your credit report regularly throughout the year.

If you are the kind of person who finds it difficult to keep abreast of your finances, then this kind of credit monitoring may prove very useful to you, because it not only allows you to review all the money you owe, but it also allows you to quickly view all of your accounts and ensure that there is no suspicious or dubious activity.

This could help you to prevent instances of identity or credit card theft. A regular perusal of your credit report can offer peace of mind.

It is always wise to research several credit monitoring companies before selecting one. Ensure that you have read all of the terms and conditions and know exactly what services you can expect to receive.

There is no broad rule over which services are best; it very much depends upon your individual circumstances and personal needs. So, make sure that you are getting what you want out of the deal.

Credit Repair: the Time for Action

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:08:09 +0000

Jump in With Both Feet

The moment you make the decision to start the credit repair process you will feel great; empowered, light, and hopeful. For many people it is a hard step. There may be uncomfortable emotions associated with past credit issues, and revisiting old events can be difficult. But there is nothing more rewarding than regaining control over your life. How do you feel? We suggest you jump in with both feet. You’ll be glad you did.

Knowledge is Power

The first step in the credit repair process is taking inventory. You must get copies of all three of your credit reports. Did you know that each credit bureau reports a different mix of account information? Some creditors report to all three bureaus, others report to only one or two. You need to examine all three of your credit reports to get a complete picture as you begin the credit repair process.

Clean Up Your Credit

A truly effective credit repair and restoration plan may include catching up on past due accounts, evaluating collections to determine if they should be paid, negotiated, or ignored, contacting creditors to discuss rehabilitation options, and more. But before you take any of these steps you should make an effort to identify and remove errors on your credit reports. Finding and removing errors on your reports is an important and powerful step in the credit repair process. It may also be the most difficult.

Spotting Errors

An often-quoted statistic from the National Association of State PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups) states that 79% of all credit reports contain errors. It is also a fact that people with legitimate credit problems are considerably more likely to have errors on their reports. This is because late payments, charge offs, and collections trigger activity such as re-coding of accounts for special handling, and sale or assignment to outside parties for collection. These procedures dramatically increase the likelihood of errors. Credit reporting errors translate into higher interest rates on every dollar you borrow, and many of these errors are hard to spot. Doing the job halfway should not be an option. If you do not feel comfortable tracking down errors on your report you should hire a credit repair professional.

A Disturbing Cycle

The fact that errors are most likely to appear on the reports of those with past credit issues is one of the most problematic phenomena in the credit repair world. On one hand it creates significant barriers for those who can afford it the least; it is difficult enough to regain control over your life after a period of financial stress without the system placing extra obstacles in your path. It is also damaging in a more subtle and insidious way. People with credit issues often feel reticent about the credit repair effort. The emotional discomfort following a period of financial stress makes a critical examination of their credit reports difficult. As a result they live for years with innumerable errors on their credit reports. These errors reduce their scores, cost them money in the form of higher interest rates, and place unnecessary ongoing strain on their budget. But there is good news. Awareness leads to action, and a focused credit repair effort can turn things around quickly.

Rebuilding Your Credit

Another important step in the credit repair process, which is often neglected after a period of financial strain, is the rebuilding of credit. The overall content of your credit report will determine your FICO scores, the scores lenders use in underwriting loan applications and determining the interest rate you will pay. To build your FICO scores it is essential to have current open accounts in good standing on your report. Many people avoid opening new accounts due to fear of denial. This is a mistake. You can work for months to repair your credit, but if you are left without a measurable, current, history of on-time payments your FICO score will go nowhere. Secured credit cards are the perfect credit repair tool. Secured cards require a small savings deposit, and will typically provide a credit line equal to that deposit. These cards are designed for people with credit issues, so you don’t have to worry about being denied, and most importantly they will provide the track record the credit-scoring model is looking for.

Developing a Budget

Credit repair requires effort. You will want to insure your efforts continue to pay off well into the future. It is important to make payments on time, incur only manageable debt, and build savings to cushion your budget in the case of unforeseen events. A thoughtful examination of your costs versus your obligations is a perfect complement to the hard work you put into your credit repair. A budget does not have to mean hardship. In fact, you will soon see that it is quite liberating. The effort you put into understanding your finances will give you the information you need to make good decisions in your life, maintain your great credit, build savings, and ultimately allow you to build real personal wealth.

Finding an Instant Credit Report

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:04:41 +0000

Due to the increasing number of households having an Internet connection, instant credit reports obtained online have risen in popularity and are preferred when compared to the traditional methods of written requests and toll free telephone calls to major reporting agencies. An instant credit report allows a consumer to access their complete credit file within minutes or in some cases seconds with a click of their mouse. This is a vast improvement and is greatly appreciated by the consumer, especially if they are wanting to pursue a loan application and need an instant credit report to assess their chances.

There are currently two ways to obtain your instant credit report online, one is more cost efficient than the other depending on your specific needs. The first is a free annual, or even in some cases biannual, instant credit report. These types of free instant credit reports do not usually contain all three reports or a credit score. The second way is to pay a competitive fee including a three in one report from Equifax, Experian and Trans Union complete with a credit score. Paying for your instant credit report can be a little more complicated, as more choices accompany this option. You can go directly to the credit reporting websites or use a credit service company. With a credit services company, you will usually receive a free one-time instant credit report for agreeing to purchase many others throughout a set period, usually one year. However, with these companies you will not receive the free instant credit report information available at the major reporting agency sites.

Instant credit reports enable you to correct vital mistakes that may affect your financial future by submitting a request for an investigation into discrepancies online. They also allow you to update any or all information that has changed or been misreported since you last viewed the credit report. Even more importantly, an instant credit report can allow you to recognize if you have been a victim of identity theft faster than ever before.

Obtaining an online instant credit report requires that you have access to an online computer and have all your personal information ready to enter. It really is as simple as that to get your instant credit report. As with any online interaction that involves personal information it is always important to remember to check that the website is secure before entering any details and requesting your instant credit report.

Need Assistance From A Professional Credit Repair Agency?

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:04:39 +0000

There are occasion where you are so deep into financial trouble that you feel that everything is just not right. It could be you having to deal with endless demand for payment or just one of those things that occur in your life and you will snap. Irrespective of what goes on, you need to consider credit repair to get you out of your financial mess and the insecurities that accompany it.
When it comes to credit, we could be doing well or badly but if you stick to certain credit mantra, such as paying regularly, on time and at least above the minimum, then you will be safe. On occasion you might get into financial trouble by missing a payment.
Don’t despair if you are frantic to get rid of your mounting debt or even eliminating negative credit information on your credit report as there are lots of similar people out there who are in the same boat looking for solution to their bad credit and they are all seeking assistance from professional credit repair agency.
Seeking the assistance of a professional credit repair agency is the right thing to do. It will embrace your credit problem and look for a solution and it will provide professional counseling as well. Through that you can pick up tips on the reason behind your credit trouble and area that you have done well.
Those things that you have problem with will be counseled and how you can prevent it from occurring again. Only a reliable and reputable credit repair agency will be able to provide such substantive services as they will be valuable to you. Besides that, they will be able to assist you in finding ways to set up a repayment plan and it imply that they will be buying over all your debt from your creditors, thus you will be dealing only with them at a lower interest rate as the debt is all consolidated.
It is easier on your part as you will only be paying your debt to the professional credit repair agency for you won’t have to handle separate credit cards bills and their monthly interest which will usually amount to higher rate. It is always better to seek the help of the professional credit repair agency as it is the fastest and best route in settling your debt. Once payment is done, you can then live the life you want.
One thing to note about credit repair agencies are that they can be found in television, newspaper and online that undertake to eliminate your bad debt, let you assume a new credit identity legally as well as getting rid of bad loans and bankruptcies from your credit report but then you can do it by yourself although it will require more effort.
Asides from saving you the extra charges that credit repair agencies impose, the personal journey might be worth it as you get to learn something that you will not like to happen in future. What you require is some effort, some credit knowledge, time and discipline to correct your negative credit standing.
The essential thing to watch out is scam. Although credit repair agencies provide a basic service by imposing charges so that you can get rid of bad loans or even bankruptcies and in time you will be able to get hold of mortgages, loans, buy insurance and even seek employment. The reality is that credit repair agencies are not empowered to do that and certain agencies will go all the way to scam you by promising to erase all you debts from your credit report but once you pay them, they will disappear from your sight.
If there is a promise to help eliminate your debt but you must spot genuine companies from those who are unscrupulous. There are certain signs that will point you to dishonest operators out there and be on the watch out so that you will not be deeper into debts.
The initial sign is that dishonest credit repair companies will seek prior payment instead of providing result first. Those unscrupulous credit repair agencies will not go all the way to provide legal rights and those choices that you can do it without any charges in getting your credit problem right.
You need to be wary of credit repair companies that ask you not to get in touch with the credit bureaus to acquire your credit report. One obvious sign is the promises of a completely new credit identity and totally clean up your credit report. If you come across it, be sure to report them to the authorities.
It is essential to note that the magic formula provided by that credit repair agencies are mostly illegitimate and you can be charged with acting in cahoots with the fraudulent credit repair agency. The legal path may require a lot of effort and time but it is the best way to repair your credit problem.

Get your free credit report

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:21:13 +0000

A credit report is an important document today. For availing any type of loan, home mortgage, auto insurance, or credit card services, a good credit report can save on money by lowering the interest rates charged.

The U.S. states allow a free credit report to be provided to any citizen by the three major credit report agencies. A special website allows one to apply for a free credit report.

A credit report is a summary of the credit history of an individual providing details like amounts due, payment history of credit bills, etc. The credit bureaus also provide a credit score that shows in a nutshell the ranking of an individual compared to others.

Credit bureaus like Equifax provide a number of services related to credit reports, and charge customers for the same. Visiting their online sites is the best way to acquaint oneself on issues related to credit reports and credit fraud.

It is important for consumers to keep a regular check on their credit reports as the number of online and offline credit frauds increase, especially identity theft. The bureaus provide services to counter such threats as well.

A good credit report can save one valuable dollars as it can be used to bargain a lower interest rate on credit card purchases and mortgages. A bad credit history can mean a higher interest rate, and may even result in denial of credit or mortgage.

Obtaining a free copy of the credit report is therefore the first step toward keeping a check on one’s spendings and budget.

For more information, please visit: government free credit report

Credit Repair: Credit Score Secrets

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:21:11 +0000

FICO – More Than Meets the Eye

Fair Isaac and Company is the developer of the FICO score, the credit score used by most lenders today. The exact formula is not published, but Fair Isaac offers a breakdown of the categories of influence, and the relative importance of each. The breakdown is a helpful starting point for anyone in credit repair mode who wishes to optimize his or her scores, but it is only a starting point…

Credit Repair and the Logic of FICO

If you are in a credit repair program and aspire to optimize your credit scores it is handy to understand the logic behind the scenes. Fair Isaac is in the business of providing lenders with a measure of the risk they will incur in lending you money. Fair Isaac has spent years analyzing the implications of every measurable behavior and developed a formula to communicate risk with a single number. Here is a breakdown of the components of the FICO score along with some powerful tips you can apply to your own credit repair efforts.

Pay History

Your pay history makes up 35% of your score. Clear enough, but let’s take a moment to understand the implications. A late payment is an indication of financial stress. Financial stress translates into risk of default, and FICO communicates this risk to lenders by reducing your credit score. A lower credit score says, “don’t lend to this person.” But there is more involved. FICO weighs recent late payments more heavily than older late payments. A brand new late payment can send your credit score to a level that no lender will consider. On the other hand, anyone in credit repair mode should be happy to hear that the impact of a late payment fades quickly as time goes by.

Balances – Installment

Your account balances make up 30% of your score. Both installment and revolving accounts are considered. Let’s take a quick look at installment debt before discussing the far more important category of revolving debt. When installment debt, such as a car loan, appears on your credit report FICO sees it as an unknown and drops your score to warn lenders of the new risk. After a few months FICO acknowledges your ability to manage the payments and adjusts your score accordingly. Not a big credit repair concern.

Balances – Revolving

Revolving balances are tricky and may hinder or help your credit repair efforts more than you think. You can clean up your credit report, pay your bills on time, and still end up with a miserable credit score. FICO puts a huge emphasis on the relationship between your balance and your high credit limit. The latest FICO model acknowledges six balance-to-limit ratios: 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%, and the deadly over-100% category. The two lower tiers will increase your scores, the middle tier is neutral, 80% is bad, 100% is awful, and as for the deadly over-100% category – I think you get the message.

Credit Repair and Your Balances

People often get a credit card, and quickly use it to the limit. Sounds like fun! Unfortunately, a new account with a high balance is credit repair suicide. The new account warns FICO about unknown stress on your budget, and the high balance says that you are out of control. This may not be the case, but big brother is watching and he doesn’t like what he sees. But there is some good news too. If you take that same new account and keep the balance below 20% of your high credit limit for 6 months FICO will think you are fantastic and reward you accordingly. This is solid credit repair gold.

The Age of Accounts

This category makes up 15% of your score. There are a few credit repair angles here. There is nothing you can do about the age of installment debt; when it’s paid, it’s done. But revolving accounts are a different story. FICO loves old accounts as much as it worries about new ones. Many people start a credit repair effort and cut up their credit cards; a strategic error. Generally you would be advised to keep your accounts open. There are exceptions. If you have lots of established credit cards you should close the inactive ones. There is a bit of a balancing act; too many cards work against your score.

New Credit & Inquiries

This category weighs in at 10% of your score. If you are planning to apply for a mortgage or a car loan soon, or are in a credit repair program and watching your scores, you should minimize your credit activity. New accounts will reduce your score, and an inquiry is interpreted as the intent to open a new account, so FICO will downgrade you to warn prospective lenders that there may be trouble ahead.

Type and Mix of Credit

This is the final 10% of the calculation, and not much of a credit repair concern. FICO does not publish their idea of the optimal mix of credit, but if you really want to know what the perfect 850 credit score looks like, here you go! One mortgage over 5 years old, two car loans more than halfway through their life span, and five credit cards over five years old with balances under 20% of the high credit limit will take you to the summit!