How to Improve Your Credit in Six Months

Fixing your credit is never easy and it is a process that you have to work at over time. However, it is possible to improve your credit in six months or less. In this article, we will discuss some simple actions you can take to improve your credit in the short term while you wait for the longer term results.

Start With Your Credit Reports

The changes in law are making it hard for consumers to repair their credit, yet some regulations to the law make it feasible to get all three of your credit reports for free. You want to get copies of your credit reports to ensure no false claims were made against you. By checking your credit reports, you will be able to see that all the information being reported is accurate and belongs to you. Should you find there is something incorrect, you will need to move on to the next step.

Dispute as Needed

Disputing is a move in the right direction for fixing your credit. Most information on your credit report is from credit card companies, utility providers, banks, judgments, and so on. Your information normally stays on your credit report no less than seven years. Positive results generally show on your credit report for about ten years. Tax liens generally stay on your credit report for approximately fifteen years and bankruptcies generally show for ten years.

If you have some debts on your credit report that don’t belong to you, it is smart to file a dispute as soon as you can. The bureaus will look into the accusations made against you and, if they find it is wrong, then they will remove the negative items from your report. If the creditor involved in the dispute does not respond, the credit bureau will generally remove the negative file from your report. This is why it is imperative to monitor your credit.

What if Everything is Accurate?

Once you have checked your credit reports to make sure they are accurate, you need to get to work on building better credit habits. Below are simple things you can do to improve your credit. If you follow these steps, you will see you credit score start to rise.

• Pay your bills on time. If you have a habit of paying late, making sure you have several months of on time payments will raise your score. The more on time payments you have, the more your score will increase.
• Make sure your accounts are not maxed out. If they are, work on paying down the balances. The more available credit you have, the better your score will be.
• Do not apply for new credit or loans. Every time you apply for new credit or loans, your score will be reduced.

What About Bankruptcy, Debt Settlement, or Debt Consolidation?

Avoid filing bankruptcy if at all possible. This has a huge negative impact on your score. Try to call your creditors and see if they will work with you if you are struggling to make your payments.

Consider debt settlement if you cannot pay your bills. You are taking negative hits every month if you are late or not making payments. Signing up for a debt settlement program will allow the debts to be paid off and you can start working to rebuild your credit.

You can also consider credit counseling. Two of the largest and most well known companies in he US are the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and Consumer Credit Counseling Services. The representatives are well trained in assisting consumers obtain a solution to take away debt. They will also help get the creditors off your back.

Improving your credit that is not great is hard but it is not impossible. Millions around the world in the past have had some financial issue that affected them negatively. You are not alone and there are many that are conscious of this fact. Do not be afraid to ask for help when you need and you will be able to improve your credit.