Five tips to help Remove Negative Items from Your Credit Score
So you got into a little jam and your credit score took a tumble. It happens.
At the Ashland Community Credit Union, we know that sometimes bad things happen to good people. That’s why we urge you to visit with us, tell us your story, and let’s figure out something that works. We want to give you a loan, unless you can talk us out of it!
But that still leaves your credit score to deal with. While we don’t treat it as big of a deal as some big banks and lending institutions, it still matters, and you may want to clean it up if you can.
One way is to clear out negative items on your report.
Negative items can include late payments, collections, charge-offs, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and more.
Here are five things you should try to remove negative items from your credit score
First...Check your Credit reports
Look into it! Pull your credit report from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You're entitled to a free copy of each report annually through
AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for inaccuracies and outdated items or anything you think doesn’t smell right.
Next...Know Your Rights
You have the right to dispute inaccurate information on your credit report. You don’t have to live with the ramifications of something that isn’t true.
Now...File your dispute
The credit bureau websites will tell you how. When you do, include any supporting documentation that proves your claim. If the credit bureau can’t validate it, it must be removed from your report.
But...what if the negative item is accurate?
Like we said, sometimes bad things happen to good people. But don’t just sit there! Consider negotiating with creditors. They might be willing to remove the negative item from your credit report if you agree to pay a portion of the debt.
Finally...rebuild your credit
It won’t be enough to remove negative items if you keep adding more to the list!
A little bit of effort and a little bit of time can help. If you need help with any of this, we want to help you. Consider a debt consolidation loan. Or if you need a car to get to work on time so you can pay your bills, get an auto loan from someone who is willing to look past the credit score and see what’s really happening.
The Ashland Community Credit Union believes in people, and we believe in you.
Call us and let’s see how we can get things turned around to the positive, together.
