Advice for Cleaning up Bad Credit?

Question

Hi, I have pretty bad credit and want to clean it up but dont know where to begin (besides obviously paying off debts etc.). Is there a good online service that can provide you guidance on what steps need to be taken to clean up credit. Basically, I need someone to help me identify where to begin...thanks!

Answer 1

Hello! I got into debt over $20,000 with 3 credit cards. A friend advised me to call a debt consolidation service. I worked with CareOne credit service for the last few years. There are others to choose from too. They will start by asking you to declare how much you are in debt and to whom. Then, they'll ask for a statement of what your living expenses are, and your full income. They will contact your creditors, often by working with a service such as this, your creditors will reduce the interest amount until you get your debt payed off. Something they would never do just working directly with you! The debt management company will help you figure out what the most you can pay monthly. They'll arrange usually for a direct bank debit from your account, and they will disburse the money to your creditors. The management company I used only charged $9 a month for their services. I must say, I felt like the world was lifted off my shoulders when I signed up for this service. I'm now debt free! Good luck!!

Answer 2

As a mortgage lender, I can't tell you exactly what you need to do to clean it up without seeing your credit report. I can give you one basic tip, though. Do not pay off your balances completely. Closing out credit cards will actually lower your score. However, paying them down to 30% of the high credit limit will raise your score. Calling the credit card companies and raising the credit card limit after you pay them down will help too. And, paying off a collection will actually lower it, short-term, because the bureaus have to update it first... So, basically if it was sent to collections in 2003, it looks old and is not affecting your score as much. But, when you pay it off, it gets updated to 2006 and then paid, so it looks like a recent collection and really affects your score. If you aren't planning to buy a home for another 6-12 months, I would advise paying the collections now. But, if in the next 1-3 months you plan to purchase a home, don't pay them off now, and just pay them off at closing; ie, roll the debt into the financing of your home.

Answer 3

There are two ways to clean up your credit report: Look at your credit reports to find negative items that do not belong to your or should not be on your credit report. You must dispute them to have them removed from your credit report. That way they will no longer have a negative influence on your credit score. Second, you need to understand the factors used to determine your credit score. Once you understand these factors you will be able to take action to ensure that you do not act in ways to generate negative items but act to produce positive items. This strategy will raise your credit score. Pay down your credit cards. Use your cards lightly. To clean up your credit report, you'll need to order copies of your report from the three major credit bureaus, review the reports for inaccuracies or old information, and then ask the credit bureaus to correct the information.

Answer 4

First things first, you need to know the exact extent of your credit issues. The law entitels you to one free credit reports per year in most states. No subscriptions or any fee: simply contact one of the 3 major credit report bureaus for it.
Then identify all your debts and contact each one of those companies to work out a way to either consolidate or lower your debt. They will most of the time work out with you in your interest (and theirs) don't forget, they want to be able to get the money they helped you with back even if it's not all of it. So they will try to find a solution with you.
To consolidate you may get all your debts under one loan in a bank or credit card ocmpany that will help you pay back with no interests. You just need to find the right financial institution that will help.

Answer 5

First, sit down and write up a monthly budget. all your income on one side and all your bills on the other. Put $1000 in an emergency fund. Decide how much you have left over to pay your debts.

make a list of all your debts you owe.
Then sort them by balance owed.
Pay minimum payments on all of them.
Start with the smallest balance and pay it off first with your extra money.
Then, pay the second one with all your extra money.

This is called a debt snowball. For more information, go to www.daveramsey.com Good Luck

Answer 6

Don't try a credit consolidating company, it looks almost as bad as a bankruptcy. You can accomplish everything they can by talking to your collectors your self, and not have to pay them to help you. a lot of the times you can settle for less than half of your bill. work with them to set up a monthly payment that you can afford, not what they tell you they want. consolidating company's tell you the minimum payment you can make but when you work for yourself you set the payment.

Answer 7

Actually, don't start by talking to the creditors; they would love for you to call in so they can belittle and demean you. I recommend you check out the credit repair link at:

www.totaldebtsolutionsllc.com

Answer 8

CUT UP YOUR CARDS - PAY OFF YOUR DEBT - AND THEN DO NOT TRY AND GET MORE CREDIT FOR ANOUT YEAR OR SO

Answer 9

Plenty of good advice here.