Credit Tips For Saving Money - Part 2
24/05/2008
Improve your credit score. By improving your score you will save significantly on finance charges and interest rates. Avoid having any debt sent to a Bad Debt Recovery Company or a Nationwide Debt Collection Agency, these also have a negative impact on your score.
Your credit score is usually based on the answers to these questions:
Do you pay your bills on time? The answer to this question is very important. If you have paid bills late, have had an account referred to a nationwide debt collection agency, bad debt recovery firm or have ever declared bankruptcy, this history will show up in your credit report.
What is your outstanding debt? Many scoring models compare the amount of debt you have and your credit limits. If the amount you owe is close to your credit limit, it is likely to have a negative effect on your score.
How long is your credit history? A short credit history may have a negative effect on your score, but a short history can be offset by other factors, such as timely payments and low balances.
Have you applied for new credit recently? If you have applied for too many new accounts recently, that may negatively affect your score. However, if you request a copy of your own credit report, or if creditors are monitoring your account or looking at credit reports to make pre-screened credit offers, these inquiries about your credit history are not counted as applications for credit.
How many and what types of credit accounts do you have? Many credit-scoring models consider the number and type of credit accounts you have. A mix of installment loans and credit cards may improve your score. However, too many finance company accounts or credit cards might hurt your score.
To learn more, see the Federal Trade Commission publication on credit scoring. Excerpts taken from Facts for Consumers.
Authored by:NCC Recovery, Inc.
Categories : Credit Tips, Debt Collection

