Credit Finance

Archive for the ‘Credit Tips’ Category

Credit card debt is very easy to get, as a matter of fact, it’s free. You start with one of the free offers that come in the mail, max out the card by getting lots of cool stuff and there you have it. The second and third cards are just as easy. Perhaps that third card or even the forth was intended for paying off the first but human nature kicks in and now you are in debt. Granted you have lots of new stuff or had some good times but now it is time to pay up. Great job, that is exactly what you were supposed to do and now you are a long time, if not a lifetime member of the “pay the man” club.

Credit cards are big business and the companies that issue them know all your buttons, when and how hard to press them. Getting out is an option though but it is a mind game and you have to be very strong. Having someone else’s money at our disposal makes it very easy to live beyond our means and to develop spending habits we can’t afford on our own. The best way to get out of the cycle of debt is to take a realistic inventory of these habits. If this is done with diligence you may be able to expose subtle routines and mental triggers that result in unhealthy financial behaviors.

Being able to differentiate between the things you need and the things you simply want can be a liberating experience. Acting on this knowledge is another story. It takes a solid mind set with specific goals in place in order to conjure up the perseverance and discipline necessary to change your lifestyle to the point where you no longer spend beyond your financial means. Once you get your lifestyle back into check you still need to pull it back another notch in order to get out of the debt hole you been digging with borrowed money and the accumulated interest.

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Have you ever read your credit report? Okay, have you read it and understood what is contained on its pages? If not, continue reading to gain an understanding of how to read your credit history and to understand certain terms, such as “charge-offs” and “inquiries,” which may be included on your report.

You may be wondering why it is important to review your credit report. The reason is that it is the key to your financial success! Everything you do financially will hinge upon your credit score. (Unless you are independently wealthy, of course!) Therefore, it is vitally important that you understand what is contained on your credit report.

So, the first step is to obtain a copy of your credit report. You can do this by contacting one of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to request a copy. These credit reporting bureaus are legally required to provide you with one free copy of your credit report once every year, upon your request. Alternately, you can contact Annual Credit Report at (877) 322-8228 to obtain a copy of your credit report.

Reading a credit report can be confusing to say the least. So, let’s take some of the mystery out of this process. A credit report is broken up into several different sections. These sections pertain to identifying information, credit history, public records, and inquiries, and should be readily identifiable on your credit report by their title or heading.

Normally, the first section you will come to deals with “identifying information.” This section pertains to personal information such as your name, address (both current and previous), and date of birth. You will need to check this section for accuracy. Make sure that all the information is listed correctly, even down to zip codes of previous addresses. Believe it or not, something as small as an incorrect zip code can have lasting effects on your credit history and your ability to obtain a loan!

The next section should pertain to your “credit history.” This section will contain all the financial information that the credit bureau has on file for you. The items listed will report information such as what type of credit account (Is this a mortgage, car loan, credit card, etc.?), the amount owed (What is your balance?), payment details (Are you behind? Do you pay on time?), and the current status of the account (Is this account current, paid in full, past due, charged off, etc.?).

Are you wondering what a “charge off” is? Having a charge off on your credit report means that a credit company has suspended the account and written off the debt. Once the credit company wrote the debt off, they likely passed the debt on to a collection agency. Once this has been done, the only way to remove the “black mark” from your credit history is to pay the debt in full.