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[Friday, September 05, 2008]
Bad Credit Takes Time to Repair
Despite that the average consumer debt holds up, research shows more people are trying to catch up with their card bills. The awareness of how much harder it is to qualify for a car loan or mortgage with negative payment records keeps debtors moving forward towards a better credit score and lenders' loyalty. But are people's efforts always that effective?
A person diligently working on his/her past due and current bills may be at a loss finding that his/her credit report still shows the bad payment habits even if all the accounts have been settled and closed. The question is, why doesn't the score go up after the hard work of removing mistakes of the past?
The system of improving bad credit works the same way for both, responsible customers and persistent non-payers. When it comes to raising FICO scores, they are in a similar position because the negative information goes off one's credit report after 7 years all the same. No matter if you paid off your bill or left it as it is, a potential creditor will not find it, once the 7 year period is over.
Such a system allows a person go through with a heap of unpaid bills and enjoy life as usual. It makes responsible cardholders frustrated at how much they lost trying to achieve a good credit report which would have cleared up by itself in due time.
Financial experts hold to quite a different opinion. Yes, a set of rules and regulations provides for the credit report automatic improvement after 7 years from the day the accounts became delinquent. But people who choose to stay inactive about their debts do not have easy times actually.
The big difference is that a responsible payer has those delinquent bills paid off and shown in the credit report, while a non-payer is still carrying big balances and displaying inability or unwillingness to settle them. It gives a responsible payer a good business. A potential car or mortgage lender or a bank card issuer will appreciate the efforts and means spent on improving one's bad credit, and despite it is still shown in the credit report, will more likely approve your application for low interest loan or rewards plastic. An instant approval is often the case.
All you have to do is keep on paying still due bills and wait for the 7 years to pass. Or you can apply for a balance transfer card and pay bills in full and on time, which will add on positive records to your report and put you far ahead of your less responsible opponent. For your convenience you can manage bills online, which saves time and ensures you are not late.
Think of another great advantage. People owing large amounts of money are often harassed by the brute debt collectors, taken to court and even issued a lien on their property. A minimum monthly payment on at least one outstanding balance would guard them from these troubles.
They say time is the best healer, but the gradual fulfillment of your payment obligations does not only cure your bad credit but also keeps you from the risk of losing your good name.
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