It goes without saying that you won't be able to get the best credit products with advantageous features without good credit history. However, building hood credit history is not so easy as it may seem. It requires a lot of time and efforts.
Today many people face the problem of establishing sufficient credit history. It may seem quite easy to apply for a plastic. However, there is no guarantee that this or that credit card will be useful for building good credit. The fact is that plastics for no credit score are not so good, as those for good or excellent credit history. What is the best choice for people with no credit? In fact there are several tips for people who plan to establish credit. Learn how to build credit history and use your plastics responsibly.
It's true that it is almost impossible to get the best credit card, if you have no credit history. As a rule, creditors are extremely particular about this very point. And it is a kind of the endless circle: for obtaining plastics you need payment history, and to establish your credit history you need to carry credit cards. Nevertheless, you still have an opportunity to establish your credit history, even if most creditors are not willing to give you plastics.
Mind that there are banks and credit card companies specializing in credit products for people with bad or no credit history. And these credit products can be a helping hand for people who do their best to build a solid credit history. For example, credit cards from First PREMIER bank can be the best choice for you. Having these plastics you may be sure that all your credit activity will be reported to 4 credit bureaus.
Remember that since you don't have credit history, your creditors will take other factors into account. These factors help them to estimate your creditworthiness. For instance, one of these factors can be your employment history. Your steady income, the way you hold your job, and periods of your unemployment will be more important for your creditors than the words about your trustworthiness and responsibility.
Secured credit cards can also help you to establish your credit history. One of the peculiarities of these plastics is that to activate your account you are to deposit a sum of money in the bank. This amount of money will determine your credit line. These credit cards will prevent you from getting into debt, as you won't be able to spend more than you deposited.
So, no credit history is not a problem. You still have a chance to establish your credit history and build your financial future.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Is It Easy to Establish Credit History?
How Do You Establish A Credit History?
Getting credit can be a real Catch-22. You need credit to get credit. If you don’t have credit, you can't get credit. What do you do?
If you’re denied a loan or credit card because you have no credit history, consider establishing one. The best way is to apply for a small line of credit from your bank or a credit card from a local department store. Make sure you list your best financial references. Make payments regularly and make certain the creditor reports your credit history to a credit bureau.
If your spouse dies
Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), a creditor cannot automatically close or change the terms of a joint account solely because of the death of your spouse. A creditor may ask you to update your application or reapply. This can happen if the account was originally based on all or part of your spouse’s income and if the creditor has reason to believe your income alone cannot support the credit line.
After you submit a re-application, the creditor will determine whether to continue to extend you credit or change your credit limits. Your creditor must respond in writing within 30 days of receiving your application. During that time, you can continue to use your account with no new restrictions. If you’re application is rejected, you must be given specific reasons, or told of your right to get this information.
These protections also apply when you retire, reach age 62 or older, or change your name or marital status.
Kinds of accounts
It’s important to know what kind of credit accounts you have, especially if your spouse dies. There are two types of accounts - individual and joint. You can permit authorized persons to use either type.
An individual account is opened in one person’s name and is based only on that person’s income and assets.
If you’re concerned about your credit status if your spouse should die, you may want to try to open one or more individual accounts in your name. That way, your credit status won’t be affected.
When you’re applying for individual credit, ask the creditor to consider the credit history of accounts reported in your spouse’s or former spouse’s name, as well as those reported in your name. The creditor must consider this information if you can prove it reflects positively and accurately on your ability to manage credit. For example, you may be able to show through canceled checks that you made payments on an account, even though it’s listed in your spouse’s name only.
A joint account is opened in two people’s names, often a husband and wife, and is based on the income and assets of both or either person. Both people are responsible for the debt.
Account “users”
If you open an individual account, you may authorize another person to use it. If you name your spouse as the authorized user, a creditor who reports the credit history to a credit bureau must report it in your spouse’s name as well as in yours (if the account was opened after June 1, 1977). A creditor also may report the credit history in the name of any other authorized user.
If you’re denied credit
The ECOA does not guarantee you’ll get credit. But if you’re denied credit, you have the right to know why. There may be an error or the computer system may not have evaluated all relevant information. In that case, you can ask the creditor to reconsider your application.
If you believe you’ve been discriminated against, you may want to write to the federal agency that regulates that particular creditor. Your complaint letter should state the facts. Send it, along with copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. You also may want to contact an attorney. You have the right to sue a creditor who violates the ECOA.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Some Credit Information You May Not Know
Here is some credit information that you may not have heard of before.
Rights to Free Credit Reports
Under federal law, you’re entitled to a free credit report if a company takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance or employment, and you request your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company that supplied the information about you. You’re also entitled to one free report a year if you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; if you’re on welfare; or if your report is inaccurate because of fraud. Otherwise, a consumer reporting company may charge you up to $9.50 for additional copies of your report.
To buy a copy of your report, contact:
Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742)
TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800
Under state law, consumers in Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont already have free access to their credit reports.
If you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports.
Establishing a Credit History
If you’re denied a loan or credit card because you have no credit history, consider establishing one. The best way is to apply for a small line of credit from your bank or a credit card from a local department store. Make sure you list your best financial references. Make payments regularly and make certain the creditor reports your credit history to a credit bureau.
If Your Spouse Dies
Under the ECOA, a creditor cannot automatically close or change the terms of a joint account solely because of the death of your spouse. A creditor may ask you to update your application or reapply. This can happen if the account was originally based on all or part of your spouse’s income and if the creditor has reason to believe your income alone cannot support the credit line.
After you submit a re-application, the creditor will determine whether to continue to extend you credit or change your credit limits. Your creditor must respond in writing within 30 days of receiving your application. During that time, you can continue to use your account with no new restrictions. If you’re application is rejected, you must be given specific reasons, or told of your right to get this information.
These protections also apply when you retire, reach age 62 or older, or change your name or marital status.
Kinds of Accounts
It’s important to know what kind of credit accounts you have, especially if your spouse dies. There are two types of accounts — individual and joint. You can permit authorized persons to use either type.
An individual account is opened in one person’s name and is based only on that person’s income and assets.
If you’re concerned about your credit status if your spouse should die, you may want to try to open one or more individual accounts in your name. That way, your credit status won’t be affected.
When you’re applying for individual credit, ask the creditor to consider the credit history of accounts reported in your spouse’s or former spouse’s name, as well as those reported in your name. The creditor must consider this information if you can prove it reflects positively and accurately on your ability to manage credit. For example, you may be able to show through canceled checks that you made payments on an account, even though it’s listed in your spouse’s name only.
A joint account is opened in two people’s names, often a husband and wife, and is based on the income and assets of both or either person. Both people are responsible for the debt.
Account “Users”
If you open an individual account, you may authorize another person to use it. If you name your spouse as the authorized user, a creditor who reports the credit history to a credit bureau must report it in your spouse’s name as well as in yours (if the account was opened after June 1, 1977). A creditor also may report the credit history in the name of any other authorized user.
If You’re Denied Credit
The ECOA does not guarantee you’ll get credit. But if you’re denied credit, you have the right to know why. There may be an error or the computer system may not have evaluated all relevant information. In that case, you can ask the creditor to reconsider your application.
If you believe you’ve been discriminated against, you may want to write to the federal agency that regulates that particular creditor. Your complaint letter should state the facts. Send it, along with copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. You also may want to contact an attorney. You have the right to sue a creditor who violates the ECOA.