Fixing Bad Credit

In recent years, more people than ever before have found themselves deeply in debt with no remedy in sight. For many of those people, unpaid bills mount up and turn into unpaid defaults and before you know it bankruptcy or a Part 9 or Part 10 agreement seems the only answer.

The good news is!

Bad credit does not have to last forever. Instead, there are many ways of dealing with it, although none of them are quick fixes. You must stop applying for more credit and instead focus on repaying the debts that are currently outstanding. Even as little as a 12 month history of paying bills on time across the board will greatly lift your credit score and better the odds of not having to sign up for cost prohibitive bad credit loan products, mortgages and also car loans.

Start by understanding your credit situation and finding out exactly what is owed and to whom. Your credit record is what banks and other lenders will review before you get a loan or even a mobile phone contract. You can get a copy of your credit report within a week or two and for free with certain credit information companies like Veda. Many will provide a quicker turnaround for a fee.

Your report will include information about bad debts, when you’ve defaulted on money owed or when providers have been unable to contact you regarding a debt. Contact them and arrange a payment plan to pay off the debt. Remember, if you owe money its in their best interest that you work out to pay them back – no matter how small the amount per week or month.

Here are some suggestions for maintaining good credit after the credit repair period is over

• Live within your means. Do not return to the bad financial habits that resulted in credit problems the first time.
• Create a budget. Know where all your money is going. Small purchases can add up and make it difficult to meet important obligations. Keep records of all money spent for one month. This detailed record will show where spending cuts need to be made. It will also alert you to any spending problems.
• Plan for financial emergencies by depositing a fixed amount of income to a special “emergency” account. Do this as if paying another monthly bill. This money will insure that emergencies such as illness or loss of job do not catch you totally unprepared. Try to accumulate enough in the fund to pay bills for at least six months.
• Finally, make a conscious effort to be “money smart”. This will be a lifelong task but will eliminate the chance of falling back into the bad credit trap of the past.

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“Lets Talk Bad Credit”

If you need help with Bad Credit, call Platinum Direct Finance on 1300 556 267 and they will “help you move forward”.