How to Fix Bad Credit Using Credit Cards to Improve Your Rating

When somebody wishes to be knowledgeable about how to fix bad credit, among the first things they will most likely want to do is to get credit cards with a low limit and make certain to make the payments on a regular basis.

By doing this you will begin to raise your credit score ratings and in time you will be able to qualify for higher credit limits or even a larger loan amount if that is what you are hoping to do. Still, you need to keep in mind that when you apply for these cards, if you have too many credit lines or loans that are already open, you will only hurt your credit even more.

Shop around for the right card that will suit your own monetary needs.

There are countless different types of credit cards available and some of them will offer more incentives but may perhaps have a higher interest rate. Look for cards that have cash back incentives with a low interest rate. You may also want to find a card that has zero rewards but has the lowest interest rate if you plan to have a running balance on the card.

An additional thing to keep in mind is to always and I mean always read the fine print before applying for a credit card as some will offer a low limit and by the time you in fact get the card you will have previously been charged enough to have a zero available balance. Read the fine print!

Start Out Slowly.

Start off with a single account and use it often for purchases you may normally pay cash for. Make certain to pay the balance at the end of each month as this is what is going to help you to fix your credit. In other words, use the card but make the payments on time every time so that your payment history is in good standing when the credit card company sends your report to the reporting agencies.

When you apply for a loan, a lender will look at your payment history to see that you are a trustworthy person who makes their payments on time.

If you only use your card once or twice you will not have a good payment history even if you have made those payments on time. Your credit report will show several years of payments and this is what a lender is going to look for when considering you for any type of loan.

Another thing to keep in mind is to be sure not to use your card frequently to the point where you are maxed out and can’t make the payments because this will only serve to show that you may well just get yourself into a financial bind and lenders do not want to see this.

Keep your credit in good status.

Making these regular payments is just a slight part of your credit score ratings. Keeping your credit in good standing is something else you will want to be sure to do. You can do this by closing any card accounts that you never use any more for the reason that even if you are not using them they still reflect on your score as open accounts and that means you will have less available credit when it comes time to buy a car or purchase a home.

Get your credit report each year. You are eligible to receive your credit report for free every year so take advantage of that and when you get it be certain to look at it in detail to be sure there are no errors etc. Catching any errors quickly will be the first step in getting them corrected quickly so that your credit score will always be in good standing.

Knowing how to fix bad credit actually isn’t as frightening as some may possibly believe but you have to know where you are at and begin to move forward from there.

Source by Miranda Wyseman