How to raise and maintain a credit score is a common question many people ask. You can take a few essential steps, but some companies can help you with that too. Various companies offer their services for free or with a free trial, and some have excellent customer service, which will help you with this. For example, Credit Karma, which was founded in 2008 by Kenneth Lin, does not charge any fees, and many customers said that their credit score improved within eight weeks with the help of Credit Karma customer service team.
A Brief Look At Credit Score
Before we look at ways to have a good credit score, let’s talk briefly about what a credit score is. The bank sets a so-called credit score for each client. This indicates how much risk there is that the person will not be able to repay the loan properly or on time. If the score is outside the required limit (usually from 300 to 629 is considered a bad credit), the bank may reject the client. Banks determine credit scores mainly based on experience with repayment of loans and advances from previous applicants.
You can positively influence your credit score by following these steps:
#1 Pay off all your debts
Most of us found ourselves in a situation where we had debts, and we did not know when we would be able to repay them. The best way to positively influence your credit score is to pay off all your debts. Sometimes it can be difficult, but it is crucial. The harder you manage to pay off your debts, the greater the impact it has on your credit score.
#2 Pay on time
Did you know that more than 30% of the credit score is based on whether you pay on time? This is a great reason why you should not forget to always pay on time; otherwise, it can negatively affect your credit score.
#3 Don’t close your unused cards
If someone advised you to close your unused cards, stop and think again. Among other things, your credit score is also calculated according to the length of your credit history. The older your account, the better. When we talk about an old account, we mean an account that is years old, not months old. If you have a new card a few months old, then you can consider closing it.
#4 Monitor your credit report
Errors on your credit report are actually quite common. They can occur at any time, even if you don’t expect it. Monitoring your credit report is very important and any error can affect your credit score. If you find an error, immediately contact the company from which you have the report as they are responsible for correcting inaccurate information or errors.
Choosing Credit Monitoring Services
There are a large number of companies that offer credit monitoring services and the benefits and fees vary from company to company. Some companies have excellent customer service but high fees. Conversely, some companies have very low fees or offer a free trial, but their customer service is at a very low level. And speaking of a free trial, if you forget to unsubscribe before the trial ends, you’ll have to pay either way.
If you are looking for a company, which doesn’t charge fees, and have excellent customer service, this is without a doubt already mentioned Credit Karma.
Credit Karma
Credit Karma is one of the best credit score monitoring services on the internet, offering a variety of unrivaled benefits. While most companies require a monthly subscription fee, Credit Karma does not want you to pay a fee for credit monitoring services.
Another of the dominant advantages is exceptional customer service. Credit Karma customer service is very friendly and can improve your credit score in an acceptably short time. Their outstanding assistants are available to you both by phone and by email.
I must not forget to mention the Credit Karma forum, which is really useful if you are looking for help from other consumers or financial experts. You will get answers to your questions about credit report, car insurance, bankruptcy, credit cards, retirement, or student loans.
Before we wrap this up – One last FAQ
One of the most frequently asked questions is whether the wedding affects your credit score. The simple answer is: no. If you are marrying a person who has a history of a bad credit score, it will not affect your credit score. Even changing your surname doesn’t negatively affect your credit score. You will probably only be in charge of more paperwork. However, you do not have to worry about a negative impact on your credit score.
Závěrem
Having a good credit score is crucial. However, it is also important to find a company that offers credit monitoring service and excels in great customer service. What are your tips on how to maintain a good credit score and experience with various companies?
