Last Updated on Apr 17, 2020 by James W
Having a bad credit score can have a number of serious consequences, making it harder to secure credit and loans. This in turn makes things like signing leases and pursuing business opportunities more difficult. It is important to understand what the effects of having a bad credit score are, especially because it is all too easy for any of us to slip into debt unexpectedly. You never know when you might need to obtain some financial assistance and having a poor credit score makes this difficult.
Credit scores are used by institutions in order to assess how reliable you are, and therefore how much risk they are taking on by lending you money. The higher your credit score is, the more reliable you will be considered by potential lenders, and the more likely they are to agree to lend you money at terms that are more favorable to you.
If you are concerned about your credit score, do not panic. There are a number of simple things that anyone can do in order to improve their credit score. Raising your credit score even a little bit can make a big difference to the kind of access you are able to secure regarding loans and other forms of borrowing.
Check Your Score
The first thing that you should do is to ascertain exactly what your current credit score is. With a more accurate picture of your current situation, you will find it a lot easier to set yourself goals, and to work towards them. The good news is that anyone can request a free credit report online. This report will detail your current credit score while also highlighting any outstanding debts you have.
Errors in Reports
It is surprisingly common for people to find numerous errors when they check their credit score. These usually occur because the information of someone with the same name as you has been attached to your file. If you spot any errors, you should contact the company that issued the report and include photocopies of any documents that might support your case.
Reduce Your Debt
Your credit report should highlight any outstanding debts that you have, allowing you to address them promptly. You should pay off any debts that you discover as soon as you possibly can as clearing away your debts will make a huge difference to your credit score. It is always worth asking those you owe money to whether they will allow you to pay in installments. Breaking the debt down in this way makes it much more manageable for many people, and most businesses would rather have something than nothing.
Of course, paying off debts isn’t always easy; sometimes you will find yourself in a difficult position financially, and therefore you might not be able to afford to clear your most pressing debts. If this is the case then it is worth consulting with a financial advisory service, such as Trust Point. If you know that managing money isn’t your strong point, you can save yourself a lot of hassle, and money, by hiring someone to help you manage things.
Improving your credit score is an important step to take in order to achieve financial independence. If you don’t know what your credit score is, it is free to find out and worth doing so.
