A Few Steps To Increasing Your Credit Score Starting From Zero PDF Print E-mail
Written by Marc Marseille   
Wednesday, 18 November 2009 20:24
Your credit score is the single most important factor that decides your financial success. The process of re-establishing your credit rating after having suffered a job loss or some sort of family emergency may seem impossible, but the truth is starting from scratch is more simpler that you think. The hard part when it comes to starting over and raising your credit score is maintaining a consistent payment regimen with the credit bureaus.
by MarcMarseille


Your credit score is the single most important factor that decides your financial success. The process of re-establishing your credit rating after having suffered a job loss or some sort of family emergency may seem impossible, but the truth is starting from scratch is more simpler that you think. The hard part when it comes to starting over and raising your credit score is maintaining a consistent payment regimen with the credit bureaus.

Step number one to tackling your credit issues is getting a copy of your credit report. You may find that getting a copy of your report may reveal several accounts that are reported erroneously or does not belong to you. Examples of common errors are; accounts being listed twice, paid accounts still showing balances, and bad reporting of late payments. The most effective way to remove negative is items is to seek assistance of a credit attorney.

The second step in the process of improving your credit bureau involves putting some positive items on your report. Your credit report may be clean as a whistle but without some positive accounts, you will not be able to generate a credit rating.

One way of getting positive credit is by applying for a secured Visa or Mastercard. There are many companies that are willing to open credit card accounts with a security deposit. A Secured card is backed by your deposit which will then become your spending limit. In some cases, the secured card company may even start you off with a limit that is $100 dollars higher than your deposit. Make sure you find a company that reports your on time payments to all 3 credit reporting agencies.

The third step is a little trick which is only possible if you know someone close to you who is willing to add you on as a co-borrower. The issues with using this trick is that you must make sure that the person you ask is reliable. If your sponsor misses a payment or stops paying, your credit will also be affected.

The fourth and final step to raising your credit score is making your payments on time. When creditors are looking at your credit report, they tend to look at your previous six months of payments. Your current payment history will give borrowers a picture of your present financial standing.

The credit bureaus will also continuously raise your credit score a few points for every month of timely payments. If you can afford to continuously make 2 years of on time payments, you will have succeeded in improving your worthiness with the financial institutions.

As you can see the formula to getting back on you feet and regaining your credit worthiness is as easy as getting a copy of your report, disputing negative items, adding new positive credit, and making on time payments. Once you have re-established yourself, you should also consider getting identity protection to prevent others from destroying your creditability.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.