Carlos It is often said that we should be doing things to try to improve our credit score. However, it might all seem like a lot of hassle and you may wonder whether it is even something that you should be that bothered with. It is good to question these things but also you should think about whether you will benefit from giving it some thought.
What is a Credit Score?
It is good to start by having a good understanding of what a credit score is. It is actually not a thing at all, but we do all have a credit record. This shows details of our borrowing, missed payments, regular payments and things like this. It is something which will allow people to judge us and decide whether they are prepared to take us on as customers. There is no formal credit scoring process, but different people will judge us in different ways by looking at this information. These will be people such as lenders, landlords, employers, insurers and utility suppliers. Therefore, it can be important to make sure that they will have a good impression of you.
What Can I do to Improve it?
It is wise to start by looking at your credit report and making sure that all of the information on it is correct and get anything that is incorrect changed. Then if it is all correct see whether you feel that there might be improvements to be made. You will not be able to change things that happened in the past, so missed payment etc cannot be covered up. However, you can improve things now to show that you are changing your habits and more in control of your money.
To start with you could try to repay some of your loans early and that will show that you are capable of managing money well and that you are taking responsibility. It can also be a good idea to not take out any more loans or not too many. If you are thinking of applying for one, try to check with the lender first to see what the chances are of you being turned down as this will show up and work against you. So, try to only borrow if you are confident that you will get the money. However, avoiding borrowing can be even better.
You can also do other things to improve the look of your credit report. Make sure that you are registered to vote as this is often used as part of your identity checks when you apply for a financial product and you may be turned down if you do not appear on the voters role. Also make sure that your name is on some utility bills or insurance policies and that they are being paid on time so that there is some evidence that you can make payments on time.
Some of these checks and changes are easier than others. It is wise to consider all of them though as they could make a big difference to your future. It could impact your ability to borrow, move house, take out insurance, get a job or switch utility supplier. If you do not try to keep your credit score looking good you could find that your future is more expensive and lacks so many opportunities compared with the situation where you had a good credit report. You do not have to make all of the changes at once and you can take a step by step approach. By making sure that you are making payments on time and are not borrowing too much though, this will have a general positive impact on you, because you will be able to avoid paying so many fees, which you find you will get if you miss payments and repayments and if you borrow money.
