Part 4: Establishing Good Credit
--------------------------------------------------
So you don’t have any credit to speak of, but you have big plans for the future. Maybe you’re a fresh college graduate or a young person eager to buy your first new car.
If you have never had to use credit before, first of all BRAVO! Of course, it’s best to pay cash for the things you need so that you don’t have to worry about credit card payments, loan payments, or interest rates.
But if you’re young, the chances of you needing credit in the future are very real. Someday you might want to buy a house. Perhaps you’ll want to buy a new car.
Chances are pretty good that you won’t have the cash outright to buy these high ticket items which mean you’ll need credit. Plus, it’s always good to have a little credit since many utility companies will look at your credit to turn on your power bill, for example, without a deposit of some type.
One great way to start establishing credit is to apply for a store credit card (Sears, JC Penney, etc.). Once you get the card, make a few small purchases and pay them off completely. Do this a few times over the course of a year and you’ll find yourself with some established credit with an excellent payment history. DO NOT go overboard and buy more than what you can pay for, though.
You can also apply for a secured credit card. These cards ask that you place a certain amount of money in your account for which you will receive a charge card. Then you can make purchases up to the amount of money that is in your account. Credit reporting agencies treat these cards just like regular credit cards and look to them as a responsible way for you to establish a good credit history.
You will have to have a checking account to establish credit. This lends to your credibility with lenders and shows that you are able to manage your money effectively.
When applying for a credit card of any type, be sure to ask if they report to any of the credit reporting agencies. As we’ve said before, they are not required to do so, and if they don’t, having one of these cards or loans won’t do you a lick of good even if you do make your payments on time.
For more information about credit, and The Fix My Credit Guide,please refer to my website: http:www.mygoodcreditmatters.com
Take Care,
Alphonso Smith
Good Credit Does Matter
Showing posts with label credit card. Show all posts
Showing posts with label credit card. Show all posts
Friday, June 10, 2011
Lesson 6- Ecourse
Part 6: Identity Theft and Your Credit
--------------------------------------------------
Criminals know the way to steal your identity, and the worst part is that it’s not all that difficult. You know all those credit card applications you get in the mail? If you don’t shred them, they can use that to steal your identity.
It’s not above them to sift through garbage just to obtain a social security number or a driver’s license number. Once they have these vital bits of information, it’s easy for them to steal your identity.
What they will do is scary. They will apply for credit cards in your name and max them out within days. They will obtain loans in your name and never make a payment. Then the loan company comes after you for the money. It’s something that affects millions and millions of people each year and it can be a real mess when it comes to your credit report.
As many as 85 percent of all identity theft victims find out about the crime only when they are denied credit or employment, contacted by the police, or have to deal with collection agencies, credit cards, and bills.
A study on the aftermath of an identity theft by the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center found that victims spend 600 hours recovering from the crime because they must contact and work with credit cards, banks, credit bureaus, and law enforcement. The time can add up to as much as $16,000 in lost wages or income.
The number of reported cases of identity theft is increasing steadily. There is no one reason for this, but rather this is due to several ways in which our lives have changed in recent years, all of which make it easier for people to obtain our personal information.
In the United States, Social Security numbers are used more commonly as a means of identification. The Internet has made the transmission of personal information easy and, at times, less secure. Online retailers store our credit card information and contact information in databases we assume to be secure.
Marketing databases not only contain personal information, but they aggregate information on our spending habits as well as contact information. But potentially nefarious employees of these companies could have access to that information. They can then sell it online in chat rooms where criminals meet to swap information.
For more information about credit and The Fix My Credit Guide, refer to my website:
http://www.mydebtcreditrepair750.com
Take Care,
Alphonso Smith
Good Credit Matters
--------------------------------------------------
Criminals know the way to steal your identity, and the worst part is that it’s not all that difficult. You know all those credit card applications you get in the mail? If you don’t shred them, they can use that to steal your identity.
It’s not above them to sift through garbage just to obtain a social security number or a driver’s license number. Once they have these vital bits of information, it’s easy for them to steal your identity.
What they will do is scary. They will apply for credit cards in your name and max them out within days. They will obtain loans in your name and never make a payment. Then the loan company comes after you for the money. It’s something that affects millions and millions of people each year and it can be a real mess when it comes to your credit report.
As many as 85 percent of all identity theft victims find out about the crime only when they are denied credit or employment, contacted by the police, or have to deal with collection agencies, credit cards, and bills.
A study on the aftermath of an identity theft by the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center found that victims spend 600 hours recovering from the crime because they must contact and work with credit cards, banks, credit bureaus, and law enforcement. The time can add up to as much as $16,000 in lost wages or income.
The number of reported cases of identity theft is increasing steadily. There is no one reason for this, but rather this is due to several ways in which our lives have changed in recent years, all of which make it easier for people to obtain our personal information.
In the United States, Social Security numbers are used more commonly as a means of identification. The Internet has made the transmission of personal information easy and, at times, less secure. Online retailers store our credit card information and contact information in databases we assume to be secure.
Marketing databases not only contain personal information, but they aggregate information on our spending habits as well as contact information. But potentially nefarious employees of these companies could have access to that information. They can then sell it online in chat rooms where criminals meet to swap information.
For more information about credit and The Fix My Credit Guide, refer to my website:
http://www.mydebtcreditrepair750.com
Take Care,
Alphonso Smith
Good Credit Matters
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)