Fix Your Credit history With A Handful of Easy Suggestions… advice number 15 of 76
Before going with any specific debt consolidation company, check their records with the Better Business Bureau. There are a lot of sketchy “opportunities” in the debt consolidation business. It’s easy to go down the wrong path if you aren’t careful. The BBB and its reports can help you weed out the bad from the good.
Remember that even asking for credit has a negative impact on your FICO score. One or two inquiries are not that big of a deal, but keep in mind that these inquiries stay on your credit for 2 years and they will add up. Don’t apply for cards or loans just to see if you’d get approved.
To consolidate your debt, try taking out a personal or signature loan. This has become a limited option due to the credit crunch, however. Many lenders that used to offer unsecured, signature loans for consolidation do not anymore. If you find one that offers this option, be sure it’s not a high-interest loan, even if it helps you lower monthly payments by extending the terms.
If you own a home, boat, motorcycle, or the like with a clear and free title, you may be able to use a title loan. Be sure that you are getting the rate that you want. Make sure you understand the terms so that you know whether you get to keep your property or if it’s turned over to the lender for your term of loan. Understand your payment schedule, as failing to meet them can terminate the ownership of your property.
If you own a home or land and have built up equity, you may qualify to take out a line of credit or home equity loan. These loans allow you to borrow against the equity of your home giving you instant access to cash to pay off your outstanding debts.
If you make the decision to consolidate high interest debts such as credit card balances into a different obligation, do your absolute best not to begin racking up new debt until the consolidated amount is repaid. If you are doing nothing more than moving debts to different places while continuing to spend, you will not reap the benefits that debt consolidation really can provide.
If you are trying to repair your credit score, you need a major credit card. While using a store or gas card can be an initial benefit, especially if your credit is extremely poor, to get the best credit you need a major credit card. If you can’t get one with a major finance company, try for a secured card that converts to a regular card after a certain number of on-time payments.
Using a credit card responsibly can help repair bad credit. Credit card purchases all improve credit history. It is negligent payment that hurts credit ratings. Making day-to-day purchases with a credit and then paying off its balance in full every month provides all of the positive effects and none of the negative ones.
There are three types of debt consolidation available to most debtors. The first is a second mortgage or home equity line of credit. The second is a credit card or line of credit which pays off the debts and then has to be reimbursed. The last is a loan from a loved one.
If you are desperate to get out of debt, finance in terms of debt consolidation, you can borrow money against your 401k. That gives you the option of borrowing money from your retirement fund instead of from a bank. Be sure you’re aware of the details prior to borrowing anything, and realize that it can be risky because it may deplete your retirement funds.
With the current low home mortgage interest rates, you may be able to refinance your home and take out some of the equity. Be careful to avoid borrowing as much as possible on your new mortgage. If home values should drop even more, you may end up owning a home that is less than the amount you owe on it.
Choosing a consolidation loan means considering the rate. Not only do you need to know how high it is, but also whether it is fixed or variable. You never know what the future might bring as far as interest rates go, so a long-term variable loan can truly cripple you financially.
Know what you want your finances to look like in the future prior to consolidating your debt. If you’re thinking that your debt can be paid off and you’re going to take the time to do it, you may not need to get help with debt consolidation. But, if you are in a hurry to pay off debts so you can make a large purchase, such as a house or car, debt consolidation could help.
Can their fees be explained properly and understood? If the debt consolidation company’s fees are complicated and not easily understood, then there is a reason for this. Do not fall prey to one of these companies, but instead find a service that is going to upfront and make things easier for you.
A bad credit report could influence an employer’s decision when you apply for a job. Get the best job that you can, in order to secure a steady monthly income, that you can use to pay off your debt. Once you start making more money, finance you should be able to build up a better credit history.
Make sure to ask about the debt consolidation company’s privacy policy before getting involved with them. What will they do to ensure your information is kept confidential? Get a copy of their privacy policy and read over it before making any decisions. If you spot something you do not like, move on to another company.