Will a Joint Credit Card Improve my Credit History?

February 21st, 2012

Becoming a joint user on a credit card is known as becoming an authorized signer. Once you become an authorized signer you will have the same access to the account as the original card holder has. You can even get a credit card in your own name that you can use to purchase things. The only difference between this card and your own credit card is that all the purchases made on your card as well as the original card holder’s card will be on the same account. Read more »

I have a good credit score with one credit reference agency but no score at all with another. Why would this be?

February 20th, 2012

It’s no very uncommon for some lenders to report to one credit reference agency and not the other. Lenders are actually required to pay money to add entries to your credit report. That’s why some companies like cell phone carriers and utility companies only choose to report to your credit if you miss payments. Often times a lender will only report to a single credit reference agency to save themselves some money. Read more »

Do I Need a Good Credit Score to Purchase a Manufactured Home?

February 18th, 2012

Like any other loan or credit the type of loan and terms of the loan will be determined based on your credit history. There’s really no set number you need to finance a manufactured home. The worse your credit score is, the higher your interest rate will be. The biggest challenge you will probably face is finding a lender that will even finance a manufactured home. Buying a manufactured home is a lot more like buying a car than buying a traditional house. They aren’t seen to have as much value is a traditional home would. It’s much more like a car where some level of depreciation is assumed rather than the appreciation in value you might experience when you own a real house. Read more »

Is It Worse to Not Pay Your Credit Card or Car Loan?

February 17th, 2012

Technically, it is probably worse to avoid paying your car loan. If you don’t pay your credit card bill they will give you a late fee and charge you interest. If you don’t pay your car loan they could potentially repossess it and then you would have no way to get to work. Most credit cards are unsecured, meaning if you don’t pay them back the account will go to collections. They may be able to take you to court but they won’t be able to take anything away without a court order. Read more »

What happens if I stop paying my student loan and it goes into collections?

February 11th, 2012

The very first thing that happens is your credit report will take a big hit. Odds are you already have a few entries for late payments associated with that account on your credit report which has probably already driven down your credit score. Once an account goes to collections it’s a huge red flag on your credit report and many companies will definitely think twice about lending any money to you. Read more »

Why should I keep a credit card open if I don’t plan on using it anymore?

February 10th, 2012

Having a credit card isn’t just convenient, it also helps you build and establish one of your greatest assets in life, your credit history. If you decide to close a credit card then all of your credit history associated with that card will eventually fall off your credit report. If you keep the card open instead and make small purchases occasionally and then pay the balance in full every month you can continue to build quality entries on your credit report and boost your credit score over time. Read more »

What options are better for building your credit than a car loan?

February 9th, 2012

A secured credit card may be a better option, especially for those with no credit or even bad credit. A secured credit card usually has a fairly low limit which will impact your credit score much less than an expensive car loan. As long as you pay your bill on time every month you can begin to build your credit history in as little as 6 months. Read more »

Is getting a car loan a good way to help build history on my credit report?

February 7th, 2012

Getting a car loan can be a good way to help build some credit, however it still takes some time to build your credit history. If you pay on time every month for 12 months or more you may begin to see your credit score rise as you build more positive entries on your credit report. It’s not to say that getting a car loan would be any better than getting a credit card though. In the beginning a car loan can even drag your credit down as it shows up as a lot of debt on your credit report.

How long does it take to start building credit after getting a credit card?

February 7th, 2012

It will take about 6 months before you start to build your credit report and develop a credit score after you open a credit card account. To build up good credit you will have to regularly use your credit card and pay your balance in full every month for a year or two. Even if you just charge a few small things every month, any activity is better than none at all. Be careful not to carry balances on your credit card every month as this can definitely hurt your credit score and will make it much more difficult to build good credit. Read more »

I pay my credit card bills in full every month but I do manage to go over the limit quite often. Will this show up on my credit report and does it affect my credit score?

February 6th, 2012

The short answer is that it will actually destroy your credit report and credit score. Going over the limit on your revolving credit accounts is almost as bad as 30 day late payments. They will definitely show up on your credit report and can be a huge red flag any time you are applying for a new credit card or any other loan. Not only that but every time you go over the limit you’re probably paying up to $35 in fees which would be much better spent on paying down your balance. Read more »