Welcome to the Credit Tips Blog !
Keeping good credit can make all the difference in how you live your life.
Good credit can get you a new house, a new car, or a business loan. Bad credit can make it impossible
to get anything you want. But many people don't know many of the requirements for maintaining good credit. Furthermore, many people have special credit situations that require some analysis to figure
out what exactly to do. The purpose of this blog is to provide some answera and some resources for further exploration.
Filed Under (Credit) by admin on 07-05-2009
Bryce asked:
I always thought at 18 they love to give you credit cards, I’ve tried Capitol One, Chase, a QT credit card, and a Best Buy one. All deny due to no credit history. I obviously can’t get Credit history if they won’t let me have credit. I Work 2 jobs and just want to have one just in case and to actually build my credit. What’s going on and why do i keep getting denied?
Filed Under (Credit) by admin on 19-02-2009
Tay asked:
I just turned eighteen at the end of February, so I have limited credit history.
I was wondering what credit card is used for building credit, and would be the best choice for a person getting they’re first credit card.
Filed Under (Credit) by admin on 05-02-2009
Tamborine asked: I have decent credit but I had cancelled all my cards when trying to get out of debt. I am now free of all unsecured debt but I need to have a card so in the future I won’t be hurt by having no credit.
I’m thinking I want a card with no annual fee and a low APR. The card would only be used very occassionally and paid off immediately. I have no desire to repeat previous mistakes.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a good card for this purpose?
Okay, as I said, but everyone is skipping, is that I have decent credit. My credit score is 700.
When I got into trouble I went into debt consolidation right away BEFORE my credit got screwed up.
But I do appreciate those of you who are taking the time to answer.
Filed Under (Credit) by admin on 22-01-2009
yeah!!! asked:
I have no credit history cause i’ve never had a credit card or borrowed money or anything and I want to establish credit now. well I applied for a credit card that required a deposit..secured credit card will that help boost my credit and how high will my score go once i start establishing credit?
Filed Under (Credit) by admin on 02-11-2008

Juan J .Medina asked:
In today’s finance industry, when applying for a loan, 95% of lenders will submit your application through an automated system. This automated system will determine if you will be approved or not based on your credit scores. Their automated systems do not look at credit history. HMMMM!
Most banks have set rules on how to qualify a borrower for the best loan terms, and those rules almost always place a major emphasis on your credit score. If their best rates are offered to borrowers with a score of 700 or higher and yours is a 697, those three points could cost you thousands of dollars when it comes to financing!
According to http://tinyurl.com/orderFICO , the consumer Web site of the Fair Isaac Corp. that created the FICO score (the most commonly used credit score), the interest rate difference between those two scores is one-half percentage point. You may also enroll for their great monitoring service. Just click on the link.
The good news: You can take steps to improve your credit score by applying easy self help techniques. T
There is several ways and variables that play into an individual score make it impossible to say that one particular action will increase a given score by a certain number of points. Sometimes, I have great results when a borrower pays down a credit card or pays off a collection; other times, it makes very little difference. But there are at least some good guidelines to try and follow.
Here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way:
1. The fastest way to a great score is pay your bills on time, keep account balances low, and take out new credit only when you need it. This is mainly about plain old common sense. People who do these things faithfully usually have very high scores. To lenders, high scores signify that you’re being conservative and cautious about credit. In turn, they see you as a lower risk borrower and will reward you with much better terms and a much lower interest rate.
2. What if you’re house hunting and you just need a few extra points to bump you over the line to the great rates? Start by having your mortgage broker, pull your credit report and your credit score to see where you are. If your score is above a 720, you’re golden. Even 700 is going to get you good terms. Improving your score from, say, a 720 to a 740 won’t get you better terms, though, so don’t waste your time doing that. Just continue to follow the guidelines above.
What you’re really looking for on your report are factors that could be negatively affecting your score. Look for errors in the report, such as accounts that aren’t yours, late payments that were actually paid on time, debts you paid off that are shown as outstanding, or old debts that shouldn’t be reported any longer (negatives are supposed to be deleted after seven years, with the exception of bankruptcies, which can stay for as long as 10 years). Every time I meet with a client, I go over their report with them to ensure that the information is correct. I can’t tell you how many times there has been old or downright incorrect information in the report! 75% of credit reports contain errors. Hmmmm!!
You may visit us online and have out team repair your credit at a low cost. Saves you time and headaches. After repairing errors, the fastest route to a better score is paying down balances on credit cards; in my experience, it’s possible to increase your score up to 200 points or more in 90 days by paying down your credit lines because it helps your debt to credit ratio. 30% of your scores are calculated by how well you manage that area. If you can’t pay them down then you must apply for new credit to offset your debt to credit ratio. What that means is that, the credit scoring system looks at all your credit card limits and your credit card balances and calculates what your credit limit vs. what your balances and shoots out a percentage. So for example, If you have a credit card limits that amount to $10000 and you owe $8000 on them, you are at 80% of the credit limits. Your debt to credit ratio in that case is at 80%. Typically you want to be at 30% or less. If you would like to apply for high credit limits to help your debt to credit rations visit www.ePublishingUSA.com . They approve anyone with a heartbeat. Let all your friends and family know so you can help them with their credit.
3. Had a few late payments in your past? No problem, call Attractive Credit and they may help. Visit Attractive Credit Secrets for self help.
From now on, do your best to pay your bills on time (or ahead of time) and keep your balances as low as possible. After 12 months the scoring module becomes immune to that late and your credit scores are not affected.
4. One thing you shouldn’t do if you’re just trying to boost your score is close unused accounts. If someone tells you to close unused accounts to improve your score, don’t listen. It won’t help you and it can hurt you.
Closing unused accounts without paying down your debt changes your utilization ratio, which is the amount of your total debt divided by your total available credit. You appear closer to maxing out your accounts. That’s why your score can drop. It doesn’t mean people shouldn’t close them, but don’t close them to improve your score.
If you do cut up cards, though, leave the oldest one open! The length of your credit history is another factor in your score. If you close the account of the credit card you got when you were a freshman in college and leave open the ones you just got within the last couple years, it makes you look like a much newer borrower.
Bottom line: know that you’re not powerless when it comes to your credit score. There are a lot of things you can do to improve your score and you need to understand what your credit is like now and what’s influencing your score today. Then you can go out and get that amazing interest rate!
Filed Under (Credit) by admin on 01-10-2008

Ken Black asked:
You need to know how credit scoring and your credit report works to get out of debt and improve your financial future. Here is what you need to know.
You may be wondering how some people can walk into a lending institution and get credit, or loans, while others that have the same income or job seem to get turned down or receive a higher interest rate. It is all about the risk factor and whether you are a safe risk, or a bad one, when you are being loaned money.
Creditors use a credit scoring system that gives them an idea of whether the person who wants to borrow money is likely to make their repayments, whether they have a history of not making repayments, or are likely to be unable to make the monthly repayments.
These credit scoring systems may go under several names. One of the most widely known credit scoring software applications is the FICO, or the Fair Isaac Corporation, and there are three variations of this software used by the three major credit reporting agencies.
What Exactly Is Credit Scoring?
Credit scoring is collected information about you and your credit history. Contained in a credit report is your bill paying history, as well as how many accounts that you already hold and what type they are. Things such as late payments, any collection actions taken against you, outstanding debts and how long you have had accounts are all considered. All of this information is compared with other consumers that fit the same profile as you to determine the type of risk that you are to the creditor.
The credit scoring system gives you points for each factor and the end result tells the creditor if you are likely to repay your debts. The total amount of your debt is then added up to give you a credit score. Your credit score is an indication on how likely you are to repay your debts and make your monthly repayments when they are due.
Find Out What What’s In Your Credit Report First - since you now know that everything in your credit report is vital to whether you are going to get the line of credit that you are applying for, it would make sense to get your credit report and take a look at what is in it.
Sometimes credit reporting agencies can make mistakes or place something on your report that is inaccurate. By checking your credit records for yourself, you can make sure that everything contained in it is true and accurate.
Before applying for anything, make sure that you obtain your credit report. An amendment in the federal fair credit reporting act now allows a consumer the opportunity to receive a free credit report when you request it, or at least each year.
You obtain your financial summary making a request to one or all of the major credit reporting agencies.
Read through your report and make sure that everything is accurate and you are happy with what has been included in the document. By reading through your report, you will also be able to see if there are good things or bad things listed on your report. This will have a bearing on whether you are likely to be given credit.
Why Credit Scoring Is Used, And Is It Fair?
Credit scoring is based on real information and statistics rather than the personal judgments of another person. Because of this, there is no variation in acceptance of a loan based on other things that are not statistically based facts. Different creditors often use different types of scoring models from agency to agency. Also, different models of the system are used for different lines of credit.
Under the equal credit opportunity act, no scoring systems are allowed to use race, sex, religion, marital status or a person’s country of origin to determine an individuals creditworthiness. Age is sometimes allowed as a scoring characteristic as long as the system is designed properly and those that are over a certain age are treated fairly and given the same opportunities as younger applicants.
If you are not given credit, or your application is denied, the creditor must provide you with the reasons why your application was rejected, either by notification, or by you asking the creditor within two months of being denied. A creditor must also give you a fair reason by law. The credit report system has been designed to make sure that creditors are as fair and objective as possible with those who are applying for financial assistance.
How To Improve Your Credit Score - credit score criterion can differ between creditors, but there are a few fundamentals that can be used to make sure that your credit is in good shape. These include things like:
-Paying your bills on time: Because your history is always taken into account when a credit score is determined, you can improve chances of acceptance by making sure that you have good statistics on paying bills and previous repayments.
-Evaluate your debts: Calculate your outstanding debts and compare them to your existing credit limits. If you are almost at capacity, consider reducing some of your debt before applying for more credit.
-What is your credit history: How long you have had a credit history is also important. If you haven’t had one for long, it can still work in your favor by having all of your payments made on time and low balances on your already existing credit.
-Have you made a lot of inquiries lately? This can have an effect on how your score is determined. Try to avoid applying for too many accounts, or lines of credit in a short time.
The best way to keep a good credit score, or start repairing your records, is to pay your bills on time and try to reduce some of the debt that you already have.
If you have damaged your credit score, it will take some time and perseverance, but, you will be able to repair your credit score as they are updated and subject to change over time with new information that is contained in your credit reports.
Filed Under (Credit) by admin on 06-06-2008

Cornie Herring asked:
Have you check your credit score? Do you know how high your credit score is? Many people only pay attention to their credit score when they need it for any credit application. If you just realize you have low credit score at the time you need it for a loan or credit application, it might not help in getting the best rate because the best interest rate of any loan or credit always offer to the person with high credit score and time is needed to rebuild your low credit score. Hence, it’s better to pay attention to your credit score now and put your efforts to improve it if you found it low.
The three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion collect data from your lenders about your history of borrowing and paying back credit. The information is then being compiled into your credit reports. The company like FICO will then takes the information from your credits and applied a trade-secret formula to produce one score ranging from 300 to 850 based on your credit history. The more excellent of your credit history, the higher credit score you will get.
Top tier scores are range from 760 to 850. People who fall into the top tier scores are expected to get the lower interest rates as they are categorized as the lowest risk group by the lenders and this group has more choices to select their favorite loan package with more attractive offers. In general, a score about 500 to520 is the lowest acceptance level for many lenders to approve any loan or mortgage application. If your credit score is fall in this low acceptance range, you can be expected to be quoted significantly higher interest rates and may be offered with fewer varieties of loan offers. Any score below 500 has very low chances to be approved for any credit unless you go for secured loan.
Example below will give you a better picture on how the credit score will affect the interest rates of credit:
760 to 850 tier: Interest rate = 5.78%
700 to 759 tier: Interest rate = 6.00%
660 to 699 tier: Interest rate = 6.30%
620 to 659 tier: Interest rate = 7.10%
580 to 619 tier: Interest rate = 8.58%
500 to 579 tier: Interest rate = 9.50%
Let assume if you credit score is top tier (760 to 850) and you care being approved for $100,000 mortgage with 30 years term; the total interest for this $100,000 mortgage over 30 years is $110,772. Whereas, if your credit score is at bottom tier (500 to 579), the same $100,000 mortgage, the total interest over 30 years will be $202,709. You are paying about $92,000 extra interest just because your credit score is at bottom tier as compare to if you credit score is at top tier. That’s why you need to get the highest possible credit score so that you can save more money in term of interest for any credit you apply for.
Even your credit score is not as bad as fall into the bottom tier, as long as your credit score is not in the top tier, it worth for you to work it out to improve your credit score so that your credit score is fall into the 760 to 850 range so that you have more options to get the best offers whenever you need to apply for a credit.
Summary
Lenders measure your credit history based on credit score, the higher credit score the lower risk as seen by the lenders and you are at a better position to get better credit offers. Hence, it worth for you to improve your credit score if you r score is not fall into the top tier range.
Filed Under (Credit) by admin on 11-03-2008

Cornie Herring asked:
Have you ever wonder why your online application for credit can be approved in 60 seconds? Or get pre-qualified auto loan for a car without asking you how much is your income? Or why your interest rates on loans are different from the interest rates of your friends or neighbors?
Your credit scoring is the factor that affect all the above. It is your responsibility to main a good credit score. You will need to use it to get you a best available rate when come to apply for credit.
What is Credit Score?
Most of time credit score is refer as FICO score (Fair Isaac Corporation), it is a number based on the information in your credit file that shows how likely you are to pay a loan back on time, the higher your score, the less risky you are. You credit score is derived from three major credit bureaus: Exprian, Equifax and TransUnion. These 3 major credit bureaus will compile your credit report based on the information provided by the companies that gave your credit in the past. Based on the information such as your payment history, the length of your credit history and the type of credit your have and the amounts owed, the credit bureaus will generate your credit report. And based on your credit report, a number or scores will be assigned to you; this number will be range from 300 to 850. This magic number is your credit score, the higher the number the better you are.
When Your Credit Score Count?
Your credit score will play an important part when comes to applying loans or other credits, it may save you a significant of interest if you are have good credit score. When you apply for mortgage, car loan, business loan or credit card, the lender or credit company will assess how risky you are as a potential borrower, the higher your score, the less risk you pose to the lender and the more likely you will get a better interest rate for application.
You will be offered at a relatively low rate if your credit score is above 700 and if your credit score is above 760, you will get the best available rates because you are the lowest risk borrower at this high of credit score. You loan will be approved with high loan rates if your credit score is below 600, and if your credit score is really bad, you may be not be able to borrow at all.
Maintain High Credit Score
Now you know how important your credit score is and when it becomes important and you can use it as a tool to save cash. Hence, it is important for you to maintain your credit score at high level. Things that you can do to increase your credit score include:
Pay your bills on time
Keep balances low on credit cards
Don’t open a number of new credit cards that you don’t need
Have credit cards - but manage them responsibly
In Summary
Credit score is not just a number, it is a tool that you can control and use to save cash. It will become important whenever you need credits and it is an important factor to be considered by any financial organization before they approve your credit application. Hence, keep your credit score all time high.
Filed Under (Credit) by admin on 26-02-2008

Liz Roberts asked:
In the simplest terms your credit score is your credit history calculated in figures. There are many methods which can be used to calculate your credit score but the most common method is the FICO. FICO was developed by the Fair Isaac Company and is the preferred method used by most lending companies. Your credit score determines whether a lender will approve your application or not or whether a lender will give you less rates on your payments or not.
Credit scores or FICO scores generally range form a low of 340 to a high of 850. Ideally, you should aim for a score of at least 700 or more. If you get a score of 600 and below, creditors will likely consider you as a high risk borrower.
Knowing how your credit score or your FICO score is calculated will help you become more aware of your spending and your payment habits. Let’s consider the break-down of categories used to sum up your credit score.
What comprises your credit score?
35% of your credit score depends on how good of a payer you are. If you make it a point to pay all your bills promptly, you should have no problem obtaining the complete 35% of your credit score. However, if you’re in the habit of delaying or skipping payments, or if you defaulted on some of your debts, your credit score will also be affected.
30% of your credit score is calculated based on the level of your debts. Do you always maximize the use of your credit limit? Were there instances that you’ve even exceeded your credit limit? If so, then you’ll likely get a low score on your credit utilization. Hence, borrowers are advised to keep spending below their credit limit. As much as possible, keep your balances at least 50% lower or even less of your credit limit
15% goes to the length of your credit history. How long has it been since you started your credit report? The longer your length of credit history is, the better your score will be. This is because, the more information your creditors can get out of your credit report, the better they can gauge you as a borrower. This is why it is very important to establish a good credit report as early as you possibly can. Also, this is the reason why you should always think twice before closing accounts that you’ve had for a long time.
10% of your credit score is based on inquiries. If you’re in the habit of submitting credit card applications just for the heck of it, your credit score can be affected. Also, whenever a creditor denies your application, it can also have an impact on your FICO score. Thus, before submitting any application, see to it that you really intend to get an approval out of it.
The other 10% of your credit score is based on mix of credit. If you have a credit card account, a car loan, a mortgage loan and various types of insurance policies, it will show your flexibility and dependability as a creditor. If you’ve been able to manage all these different types of accounts without any problems on your payments, then you’ll likely get a perfect score on this category.
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