Getting My Free Credit Score Saved Me Big Time. Then last week I decided to do an online free credit score check and I couldn't believe my eyes...

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free credit score saved me big timeMy dad kept nagging me to pull my credit report but I always thought because I pay my bills on time and am responsible with my credit there was no point.

Then last week I decided to do an online free credit score check and I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was a bunch of stuff on my report I had no idea was even there.

I started checking into it and it turns out someone got a hold of my personal info and was trying to take over my identity. I’ve heard of identity theft but didn’t realize how getting my credit report could help protect me from it happening.

On a lesser note there was also one glaring error on my report in regards to an account I actually did have. I simply contacted the company and they fixed the error which soon after was also corrected on my credit bureau.

I’m now a firm believer in regularly getting my free credit score

Accept or Change Your Credit Score?

Accept or Change Your Credit Score?

accept or change your credit score“There are two primary choices in life:
to accept conditions as they exist, or
accept the responsibility for changing them”
Denis Waitley: is an American motivational speaker and writer

Are you going to accept or change your credit score being low?

Paying high interest rates?

Keep getting declined for credit?

Missing out on the best jobs?

Turned down for a new apartment or for getting utilities hooked up?

Had enough getting kicked around yet????

You may have had some bad breaks… maybe treated unfairly… maybe ripped off and taken advantage of.

My question to you is….

What are you going to do about it?

Are the people or the situations that got you where you are (besides yourself) jumping to your rescue to help remedy the situation?

Hmmmm… somehow I doubt it.

So the choice is yours…

Accept your conditions as they are…

OR…

Accept the responsibility to change them.

Accept or Change Your Credit Score

As unfair as your current financial scenario may be the only one who can initiate and drive the change necessary to pull out ahead is yourself.

If you want to change your credit score for the better you need to realize a couple things:

  1. Even if someone else… the economy… series of unfortunate events is the cause of a trashed credit score, you can’t blame any of those for it staying this way. You need to take the bull by the horns and rise above the adversity.
  2. A change in outcome requires a change in attitude, thought, and action. Doing the same thing that got you a poor credit score will never result in a better one simply by waiting.
  3. Time DOES NOT heal all things.. especially not a credit score. This requires work, choice and discipline.
So what’s it going to be?
I say it’s time to make a change for the better…begin today to change your credit score.

Chip Away at the Credit Score Stone.

Chip Away at the Credit Score Stone

chip away at the credit score stone“You are the masterpiece of your own life; you are the Michelangelo
of your experience. The David that you are sculpting is you. And you do it
with your thoughts.” — Dr. Joe Vitale: Motivational author and speaker

I realize that “chip away at the credit score stone” is a bit of a stretch for a post title but there are so many parallels I can run I just had to use it.

Michelangelo in 1501 began with a big ugly, cold, and rough block of Carrara marble… three years later he unveiled David… a timeless masterpiece.

Obviously more than just time, Michelangelo also poured in planning, dedication, vision, hard work and patience.

Without a crystal clear image in his mind of what he was sculpting do you think it would have been even remotely possible to shape something as detailed and beautiful as David?

When people talk to me of improving… or chipping away at the credit score stone, I can tell all they currently see is the “big, ugly, cold, block of rock” before them and haven’t taken the time to set their minds, thoughts and emotions on the masterpiece they are attempting to create.

In order to create a financial masterpiece in the real world you need to first create it with your thoughts…. then move the thoughts into a plan…. then begin to chip away… blow by blow of the hammer with patience and precision until the masterpiece is unveiled.

Do you know what it is you are wanting to create? Do you see it clearly in your minds eye? Can you feel the excitement in your soul required to carry you through the hard times?

Take some time to clearly define your “David”… then break it down into action steps… and with that image burned in your minds eye begin to chip away at the credit score stone.

Credit Score Project – Good Things Take Time

Credit Score Project – Good Things Take Time

credit score project good things take time“No great thing is created suddenly.”
– Epictetus, philosopher
We live in an “instant” society… everything has to be “now” or at least “fast”.
Instant meals… instant credit approval… instant communication…
We have become an impatient people.

Credit Score Project – Good Things Take Time

Working on your credit score project can seem like a long and arduous task and many who I speak with are going crazy having to wait.

It’s important to realize, behind your credit score number are Corporations that consist of people who are making decisions based on how you have handled credit and your finances in the past.

Your credit score isn’t some randomly generated number but is one based on history over previous years.

Going forward, in order for your credit score to increase you need to show these same people you are able to handle credit better than you have in the past.

This requires trust to be built and trust takes time.

In previous posts I have shown you other credit score tips like disputing credit report errors and adding missing positive information to your credit report but once this is all in line it really comes down to consistent financial responsibility.

To be successful in your credit score project of raising your score to where you get the best interest rates from the best lenders it is important to have an action plan for increasing your credit score and then follow that plan consistently for the rest of your life.

Once these habits and principles are set up in your daily routine it really is not even extra work anymore but rather a way of life.

The Great Wall of China, the Coliseum and the Pyramids were built with quality and the intention of longevity… they were not built in a day!

On a lesser scale but with significant importance to yourself and your family your credit score project is one that will also take time but definitely well worth the wait.

Credit Score Obstacle.

Credit Score Obstacle.

credit score obstacleThe size of obstacle says something about the size of your future on the other side.
~ John Osteen

I don’t know about you but my typical response to a large obstacle is one of…

…Holy Crap… now what?

….Oh great…

…I never seem to get a break!

I often sense the same attitude from those who come to me with their credit score obstacle stories.

You know what? I don’t blame you but the times in my life I have done great things are the times I’ve moved to a different attitude about the challenges I faced.

Yes… some things are out and out hard… no question about it. However if we realize that all the great victories in life were at one time on the other side of a difficult situation it gives us some motivation to try our best and to not give up.

See your credit score obstacle as a gift wrapped opportunity for success.

When you begin to rise to the challenge of improving your credit score by seeing what is available to you on the other side of the work, energy and effort you propel yourself in the right direction with your attitude alone.

There’s 2 ways to live life…

…Avoid challenges and try to squeak by as best you can.

…Take on challenges head on regardless of your odds of overcoming them or not.

The first approach is NOT the one that has written our history books of notable achievements.

The second approach is not only the attitude that gets things done but it also provides us the benefit of living with a sense of confidence, fulfillment, excitement, anticipation and accomplishment.

Sure, we may fail taking on obstacles bigger than ourselves but have you ever considered the option that you may NOT fail?

Take on your credit score obstacle today head-on than don’t look back on your way to financial freedom.

 

 

 

Fix Your Credit Score by Adding to Your Credit Report

Fix Your Credit Score by Adding to Your Credit Report

Fix Your Credit Score by Adding to Your Credit ReportMost people focus on the negative errors already on their credit report and like I showed you in a recent post how to use the sample dispute credit report letter I provided to have these items removed from your credit report in order to help boost your credit score.

Well today I will talk about a lesser known technique on how to fix your credit score by adding to your credit report.

Many people don’t realize if there is positive information about their credit history that isn’t on their credit report you can request to have it added so potential creditors will see the positive information and gain a stronger sense of your financial responsibility.

Similar to the post Raising Credit Score by Fixing Credit Report Errors you begin by acquiring your free credit score.

Once you have your credit score be sure to carefully review it and make note of any loans, mortgages or financial transactions including credit where you favorably dealt with the credit but it isn’t present on your credit report.

Any item of this nature are ones you will want to gather all supporting documentation and send a letter of request to the appropriate credit bureau asking them to add this information to your credit bureau.

You can use the sample letter below as a template.

Fix Your Credit Score by Adding to Your Credit Report

Date of letter

Your full name
Your mailing address
City, state and zip code

Name of Credit Reporting Agency [Equifax, Experian or Trans Union]
CRA Address
City, state and zip code

Dear Sir or Madam:

I recently acquired a copy of my credit report and have realized there is information from my credit history missing.  The information that has been omitted I believe is critical for potential creditors to be aware of when reviewing my credit report in the future.

I have enclosed specific data I would ask you to please add to my report:

(Be sure to add detailed account information you would like included here.  Be sure to supply the company name of the creditor, account number, dates, and the contact information for the creditor)

Supply the following personal information:

Full Name
Social Security Number (SSN)
Date of Birth
Full Mailing Address and Phone Number

Please contact me if you need any more information or clarification

Sincerely,

(signature)

Enclose a recent copy of your credit report as well as any supporting documentation relating to the information you addressed in the letter.

Hopefully this little known technique will provide you with a much needed boost to your credit score.

You have nothing to lose so why not try to fix your credit score by adding to your credit report today.

The Free Credit Score Mystery!

The Free Credit Score Mystery!

free credit score mystery“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.”
– Lloyd Alexander
Many people come to me frustrated asking what is the free credit score mystery!
Usually what they are upset about is the seemingly illusive great credit score.
Often they have tried various tricks and tactics to no avail.
A common perception is if they have a bad credit score it should correct itself over time as if “time heals all credit score wounds”.
Or they will follow some cockamamie scheme they found on the internet… because we all know EVERYTHING you find on Google is rock solid truth.
OK… sorry if I’m being a tad harsh here but if you check out my blog you will see over and over how getting an impressive credit score is not rocket science but simply just following good financial principles like paying your bills on time on a consistent basis over a period of time.
A credit score does not decline for no reason.
In the same way a good credit score doesn’t magically appear on its own.

The free credit score mystery really is no mystery at all…

Check your credit score on a regular basis and make sure there are no errors…

If there are send a credit report dispute letter and have them corrected.

Beyond that be financially responsible.

Keep your amount of extended credit ratio compared to your credit limits as low as possible.

Don’t take out new credit frequently and don’t be quick to close old accounts if they are in good standing.

Look around on my blog as is it filled with great credit score tips and tricks that are proven over time again and again and not based on some fancy scheme to trick the Credit Bureaus.

In the end you will realize the answer to the free credit score mystery is simply …. common sense!

Raising Credit Score by Fixing Credit Report Errors.

Raising Credit Score by Fixing Credit Report Errors.

Raising Credit Score by Fixing Credit Report ErrorsMany people believe the credit bureaus are these high and mighty agencies who never make a mistake and are completely unapproachable.

Truth of the matter is they are very much human, are prone to making mistakes and are strongly regulated by a powerful Government organization called the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who have at their disposal a Federal law called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

The FTC is a very active organization who strictly enforces the FCRA. As a result the Credit Reporting Agencies (CRAs) are diligent in following the rules.

One part of the FCRA states if you submit a complaint about an error on your credit report the applicable CRA has 30 days to investigate and act on the complaint.

Some studies have shown as high as 79% of credit reports contain some form of error.

It seems tragic to me that so many people are suffering the financial affects of a lower credit score because of an easily corrected error.

If you haven’t done so recently…

  1. Click here now to get your free credit score
  2. Review it carefully
  3. Make a list of any error regardless how small
  4. Use the sample letter below to send a dispute letter to any of the applicable CRAs whose report contains an error.

Personalize the following letter and be sure to clearly explain each error, add or attach any supporting documentation, and be sure to keep a copy of all supporting information and the letter itself along with the date you sent it.

Raising Credit Score by Fixing Credit Report Errors Using the Sample Letter….

Date of letter

Your full name
Your mailing address
City, state and zip code

Name of Credit Reporting Agency [Equifax, Experian or Trans Union]
CRA Address
City, state and zip code

Dear Sir or Madam:

Upon reviewing my credit report received from your agency, I am formally disputing the following information I believe to be in error. I have listed each item I found incorrect as well as how I feel it should be corrected.

[Full Account name]  [Account number]  [Proper Information to be reported / Inaccurate information and why it's not correct*]

[Full Account name]  [Account number]  [Proper Information to be reported / Inaccurate information and why it's not correct*]

Please find enclosed all supporting documents.

Please forward supporting documentation and pertinent information to my dispute to the applicable credit furnishers pursuant to the FCRA.

Sincerely,

(sign here)

Your full name
Your Social Security Number (SSN)
Your Date of Birth

 Enclosures: (list documents you are enclosing – ex.: proof of payment, statements etc)
*Be as detailed and specific as possible in your description of any errors and send every piece of evidence you can come up with to support your claim.
Here are the mailing addresses of the 3 major Credit Reporting Agencies

TransUnion LLC

Consumer Discosure Center
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022-2000
(800) 916-8800

Equifax Information Services, LLC

Complaint Department
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374
(888) 873-5420

Experian

NCAC
701 Experian Parkway
Allen, TX 75013
(800) 583-4080Hopefully this post will take away the negative stigma of how big and scary the CRAs can be.
Get your free credit score today and insure it all checks out ok.

Free Credit Score Focus!

Free Credit Score Focus!

free credit score focus“Nothing can add more power
to your life than concentrating all your energies on a limited set of targets.”

—Nido Qubein: is a businessman and motivational speaker

Dedicate 30 focused minutes per week to improving your credit score and watch it take leaps and bounds upward.

What happens when you harvest a small amount of the suns energy and focus it on a piece of paper through a magnifying glass? It intensifies the energy and creates a notable result.

The effort and attention required to boost your credit score isn’t all that great, so if as mentioned above you take a mere 30 minutes per week you will be spending about 29 1/2 more minutes per week than 99% of the population.

Once your score is up in the range you want it to be you can back off a bit and coast as you monitor your credit score to insure it remains at the level where you are receiving the best interest rates and allowing you the option to pick and choose the lenders that are right for you.

Free Credit Score Focus!

By focusing on your credit score until it is in the company of the elite you are really investing in your financial future and the lifestyle of your choice.

Once you position yourself to receive the best of the best in the lending world you now have the liberty to shift your focus to doing the things you want to do with your time and the financial flexibility to acquire them.

What have you got to lose? What have you really lost if you try taking 30 minutes per week for a credit score focus project and nothing really changes? You for sure won’t be any worse off but think of what you possibly have to gain.

Begin your free credit score focus today!

Credit Score Setback? Not Always Bad!

Credit Score Setback? Not Always Bad!

credit score setbackThe typical mindset is… credit score increase = GOOD… credit score setback = BAD

And while on the surface this seems to be the case I want to share a quote with you from this guy you MAY have heard of… he did a couple pretty cool things in his life so we might want to listen up to his advice…

His name is Walt Disney… ring a bell???

He said: “You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

Yah it’s another one of those “grow from our adversities” posts…

As much as I don’t really like coming to you with this sort of message I feel I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t remind you on occasion.

Since we all experience struggles and setbacks the question isn’t whether “will we” but rather “how will” we handle them… and the answer to this question makes all the difference in the world with what you do with something like a…

credit score setback

A credit score setback means one of 2 things…

Either you didn’t know the proper steps required to increase your credit score which therefore is only a lesson away from not repeating the same events in the future or…

You did know what to do but didn’t in which case is simply a matter of buckling down and creating more consistent positive action to get your credit score going in the right direction.

For most people it is usually not much more than a couple missed payments or a delinquent credit card payment that is making the difference so a few small corrections will go a long way to protect your credit score.

Yes, it is hard to go backwards but if this “kick in the teeth”, as Mr. Disney so eloquently stated, is what gets us motivated to push even harder in the other direction isn’t the temporary setback worth it?

So take that credit score setback with a smile on your face, then get out there and turn it around.

Be Smart About Your Credit Score.

Be Smart About Your Credit Score.

Be Smart About Your Credit Score.If a man empties his purse into his head no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. – Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790

Sometimes we work really hard but still don’t realize our dreams… many times this is because what we work hard on isn’t the most ideal place to focus our energy and resources.

If a farmer is diligent about watering and fertilizing his land but has yet to plant any seed how large do you think his harvest will be?

Our world is rapidly changing and is doing so more frequently as time goes on.

As a result it is important to keep up with how these changes affect our life, our finances and our future.

If you are working on improving your credit score but are doing so based on last year’s criteria you may end up missing the boat or at the very least mismanaging your efforts.

As stated in the quote above a person can never go wrong with an investment in knowledge.

Despite what many say… ignorance is not bliss… unless of course you are fine with allowing a crowd of sheep to dictate your future.

Knowledge is power and it also contributes to clear and focused direction.

Be smart about your credit score…

Talk to your banker about what he would recommend regarding your finances and credit history…

Do some online research…there is an unlimited wealth of helpful information on the Internet.

Pick up a personal finance book at your local bookstore or buy one online through Amazon

Make a point of learning something new at least once a month to help you more quickly and more efficiently reach your financial goals and dreams.

Be smart about your credit score and start learning something new today.