| The truth of having and using money is that good | | | | Troubles arising from fraudulent use of stolen credit |
| credit matters. Credit problems usually begin with a | | | | cards account for about 25% of all credit problems. |
| lack of communication between the consumer and the | | | | Check your bank and ask your creditors for any |
| creditor. | | | | safeguarding programs they may have with your |
| Contrary to popular belief, the consumer isn't always | | | | account. |
| responsible for credit problems. Losses occur due to | | | | By keeping track of your credit, you can actually save |
| mail issues, delayed payments and computer errors. | | | | a lot of money. If you have good credit, you will benefit |
| Those are some of the most common credit problems | | | | from lower interest rates and you can take advantage |
| that are blamed on the creditor. | | | | of sales and avoid future price increases. |
| Keep your address with every creditor. Get on your | | | | Get a copy of your credit report and comb over |
| banking site or log into each account with each creditor | | | | every entry. |
| and change the address. If you still write checks to | | | | You are advised to get your report from all three |
| pay your bills, then send the payment slip with your | | | | agencies. You are allowed one free report per year |
| change of address clearly indicated on it. | | | | and the others will cost you no more than $15, or so. It |
| If you are planning a move, then there should be no | | | | is very important to get reports from all three agencies |
| reason you can't call them ahead of time and let them | | | | so that you have a full picture of your credit history. |
| know. Get change of address cards from the post | | | | Why is this? Because some companies only report to |
| office to catch any leftover creditors that need to be | | | | one agency and others report to all three. If you are |
| notified of your residence change. | | | | committed to repairing your credit, you need all three |
| If you are unable to make the full monthly payment the | | | | so you have all you information. |
| first thing you should do is contact your creditor either | | | | Check to see that there are no errors such as a bill |
| in person, by phone or via email to explain your entire | | | | you have already paid and it is still listed as being |
| situation. | | | | owed. These are usually easy to fix. You can find |
| Don't put it off another day. Calling them immediately | | | | some reports online to fill out and send in to the credit |
| lets them know that you are being a responsible | | | | bureaus. |
| consumer. Pay as much as you can at that moment | | | | You should get your reports once a year. You will also |
| and if possible, bring it current by the next month. | | | | be able to see if there has been any suspicious |
| Record your account numbers, names, addresses and | | | | activity with your credit. Some people who have been |
| phone numbers of all your creditors on all your | | | | victims of identity theft have not even known until they |
| accounts. Be sure to keep this list separate from your | | | | read their reports and found purchases made in their |
| cards; a post office box is preferable. | | | | name and creditors they have never met. |
| Immediately report any loss or theft. You usually only | | | | It is actually kind of a relief and can be fun to see your |
| have a certain amount of time to report such | | | | score increase each year as you repair your credit. |
| instances. This reduces the possibility of fraudulent use | | | | Depending on how bad it was to begin with, it might |
| of your accounts and any personal liability. | | | | take awhile, but it is very worth it. |