For many people, the thought of credit repair seems like a daunting and expensive task. The good news is that credit repair doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. With a bit of time and effort, you can perform your credit repair and improve your credit score.
There are a few things you can do to get started on your credit repair journey:
1. Check your credit report for accuracy – You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus. Review your report carefully to make sure all the information is accurate. If you find any errors, dispute them with the credit bureau.
2. Understand what affects your credit score – By understanding how these factors impact your score, you can make informed choices that will help improve your score over time.
3. Make payments on time – Payment history is one of the most critical factors in determining your credit score. Make sure to pay all your bills on time, including rent, utilities, car payments, etc. If you have any late fees or collections accounts, work on paying those off as soon as possible.
4. Keep balances low on revolving accounts – Credit utilization is another important factor in determining your score, which is the amount of debt you have compared to your available credit limits. It’s best to keep balances below 30% of your total limit, so lenders see that you’re using a manageable debt.
5. Have a mix of different types of accounts – Lenders like to see that you can responsibly handle different types of debt, so having a combination of revolving (e.g., credit cards) and non-revolving (e.g., installment loans) accounts is helpful.
6. Limit new applications for credit – Too many recent inquiries can be a red flag for lenders, so it’s best to limit new applications for credit cards and loans. Suppose you need to apply for new lines of credit, and space out the applications, so they don’t all show up on your report at once.
7 . Fix any mistakes on your report- As we mentioned before, it’s essential to review your credit report regularly for accuracy. If you find any errors, begin disputing them with the relevant bureau immediately – it could take a few months to correct the mistake, but it will be worth it in the long run!
Credit repair may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By following these simple steps, you can begin repairing your credit and improve your score over time!
