5 Suggestions for Maintaining Great Credit
2:55 AM
The quality of our credit is a big concern for a lot of us these days. If you're worried about the state of your credit, you should know that you're not alone. There are lots of others out there who want to know what they can do to improve their credit. Here are the five most important things you can to to keep your credit in top shape and avoid problems.
1. Purchase LifeLock Identity Theft Protection Is identity theft protection really worth it? Many people would agree that identity protection is one of the most important services to have these days. More and more, criminals are turning to crimes involving people's identity because it is a lucrative business. They are taking money from millions of Americans and American companies, and leaving you, the victim, to deal with cleaning up the mess. Get help and avoid identity theft with a service like LifeLock. It is really easy to sign up and definitely worth the money.
2. Monitor your credit annually, with your free credit report Residents of most states are entitled to a free annual credit report. You can get yours over the phone, through the mail, or online, from all the major bureaus. Worried about other people getting a copy? Don't be - you'll have to answer quite a few questions to prove your identity and make sure you're the one who should be reading this report. You won't get your credit score included in this report, but you will find out if there are any black marks on your record.
3. Call credit companies if you know you are going to make a late payment One thing that many people forget is that if you know you are going to be late on a payment, you can call your creditors and let them know that you are going to be late. Many times they will work with you to either make up a payment arrangement or will allow you a grace period in which to make your payment. In addition, they won't report anything to the credit bureaus. Otherwise, if you don't call, they will report this information. So save yourself the pain and communicate with these people.
4. Limit the use of credit to major purchases Lots of people all over the country are experiencing problems because they cannot afford the debt that they have accumulated. This is largely due to making small purchases, like clothes, food, and outings, on credit cards. Credit should truly only be used to purchase big items like cars and homes. Otherwise, you are digging yourself into a hole that will be difficult to get out of whenever an emergency comes along. Try to pay cash for smaller items, and leave credit for the big stuff.
5. Make on-time payments When you do have to use your credit cards never make only the minimum payment, unless you absolutely can't afford to pay more. Also, never skip a payment without talking to your creditors first and making sure that it's okay and won't be reported. All of these will together help to improve your score and get you out of debt.
1. Purchase LifeLock Identity Theft Protection Is identity theft protection really worth it? Many people would agree that identity protection is one of the most important services to have these days. More and more, criminals are turning to crimes involving people's identity because it is a lucrative business. They are taking money from millions of Americans and American companies, and leaving you, the victim, to deal with cleaning up the mess. Get help and avoid identity theft with a service like LifeLock. It is really easy to sign up and definitely worth the money.
2. Monitor your credit annually, with your free credit report Residents of most states are entitled to a free annual credit report. You can get yours over the phone, through the mail, or online, from all the major bureaus. Worried about other people getting a copy? Don't be - you'll have to answer quite a few questions to prove your identity and make sure you're the one who should be reading this report. You won't get your credit score included in this report, but you will find out if there are any black marks on your record.
3. Call credit companies if you know you are going to make a late payment One thing that many people forget is that if you know you are going to be late on a payment, you can call your creditors and let them know that you are going to be late. Many times they will work with you to either make up a payment arrangement or will allow you a grace period in which to make your payment. In addition, they won't report anything to the credit bureaus. Otherwise, if you don't call, they will report this information. So save yourself the pain and communicate with these people.
4. Limit the use of credit to major purchases Lots of people all over the country are experiencing problems because they cannot afford the debt that they have accumulated. This is largely due to making small purchases, like clothes, food, and outings, on credit cards. Credit should truly only be used to purchase big items like cars and homes. Otherwise, you are digging yourself into a hole that will be difficult to get out of whenever an emergency comes along. Try to pay cash for smaller items, and leave credit for the big stuff.
5. Make on-time payments When you do have to use your credit cards never make only the minimum payment, unless you absolutely can't afford to pay more. Also, never skip a payment without talking to your creditors first and making sure that it's okay and won't be reported. All of these will together help to improve your score and get you out of debt.
About the Author:
LifeLock is an identity theft protection service that has been helping people protect their credit and their identities for years. It's a great service, and many believe that Life Lock not only gives them a great service, but peace of mind as well. To learn more about LifeLock, go to www.lifelock.com.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.