One of the worst effects of a credit problem is the feeling of powerlessness it gives you. It could have been created by honest errors or life experiences out of your control, but bad credit can really stifle your lifestyle and act as a constant reminder of times you’d like to forget. Fortunately, you can move on with your life and fix your credit by applying the following advice.

If you have a poor credit history and can’t qualify for a credit card, get a secured card. This card will be more than likely be granted to you, however you must fund the account ahead of your purchases as a sort of “insurance” to the bank that your debts will be paid. A new credit card, used responsibly, will help repair your credit rating.

Make sure that you are never using more than 50% of your credit card’s limit. If any of your balances climb past half of your available credit limit, pay them down or spread the debt around other accounts, otherwise, your credit rating gets tarnished.

If someone promises you to improve your score by changing your factual history, this is a scam. Negative entries on your record stick around for a term of seven years at a minimum, even if you take care of the debts involved. It is possible, however, to remove errant information.

Contact your creditors and see if you can get them to lower your overall credit limit. By doing this it will stabilize you in your financial boundaries instead of letting you extend beyond what you really should.

When looking over your credit report, look closely at the negative report that are listed. You could find mistakes in dates and other factors which can cause the whole item to be removed from the report.

Dispute any errors that you find on any of your credit reports. You should compose a letter to the agencies that have made the errors, and provide proof that you are correct. Always send your dispute letters certified mail, so that you can get return confirmation. This will give you proof that the agency received your dispute paperwork.

Having a poor credit score can make you have negative feelings about your finances. If you follow these tips, you will be well on your way to improving your credit.

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