Last Updated on July 12, 2024 by Asfa Rasheed
Your credit rating is one of the most important statistics in your financial life. It dictates many different things – whether you can get loans from lenders, how likely you are to get a mortgage, and even whether you can sign up for contracts with phone companies or consumer tech businesses. As you can tell, your credit rating is, therefore, an incredibly important number to keep track of. If you don’t know your credit rating, you will seriously struggle with living in the modern world. Luckily, it’s easy to check, and even if you do have a bad credit rating, you have options. Here’s how your credit rating can affect you and what to do about it if you have bad credit.
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Bad credit – why you should care
Put, credit rating affects many different aspects of your financial health and future. Here are some things you’ll need to worry about your credit rating to buy or take advantage of.
Loans
First and foremost, a bad credit rating makes it difficult for you to get a loan. You may find that you have less favourable interest rates on the loans you get, or you may even find that you’re rejected out of hand for a loan.
Luckily, there are places that can provide bad credit personal loans, so even if you are struggling with a bad credit rating, you’ll usually find a provider happy to take you on. Still, it’s a good idea to have a good credit rating just so that you can find more appealing interest rates.
Employment
That’s right – some employers will actually check your credit rating before hiring you. If they find you have a bad credit rating, they may see this as a disadvantage to bringing you on board; after all, if you’re in trouble, employers may see that as poor decision-making. It’s worth saying that not all employers will check what your credit rating looks like. Many are happy to take you based on the value and extent of your skills and experience. However, if you ask us, it’s not worth the risk.
Credit cards
Obviously, if your credit score negatively affects your chances of getting a loan, then you may also find that it’s harder to get a credit card with a poor credit rating. That can be a serious impediment to recovering your financial health if you’re stuck.
Once again, there are plenty of providers out there who will give you a credit card even if you do have a low credit rating, so you shouldn’t panic. Still, ideally, you don’t want to be in that situation.
What can you do about poor credit?
There are plenty of avenues available to you if you want to improve your credit score and shake off the chains of your financial history. Here are some of your options if you’re looking to boost your score.
Pay off your loans
The biggest barrier to increasing your credit score is any outstanding loans or credit that you have yet to pay. If you want to bring your credit score back up, you’ll need to look into paying loans. Prompt repayments make lenders happy, but paying off the entire loan in one fell swoop is also an option. Just make sure that however you do it, you’re creating a plan for getting your loans off the books because this is one of the biggest contributors to a poor credit score.
Spread out credit applications.
Lenders can see your credit application history. If you apply for too many credit cards or loans within a short period of time, then you’ll make lenders think that you use credit as a crutch and don’t have the means to pay it back reliably. This, understandably, will spook them, so try to make sure that you spread out credit applications if you can. Leave a decent space of time between applications – maybe around two months – and lenders won’t think you’re desperate.
Don’t use your credit card too much.
It’s best to keep your credit usage low if you’re looking to build a good score or maintain one. This means not using your credit card for every single transaction; instead, try to use credit cards sparingly and make payments as close to the credit card purchase as you possibly can. This will show lenders that although you do use credit, you’re responsible with your spending habits. That, in turn, will make them think you’re the right kind of person to take on a loan if you ever need one.
Pay bills and make sure your name is on them.
If you share a home with your partner, try to make sure that your name is on any bills that you pay. You should do this because bills like gas, electric, and internet are technically counted as credit, so making prompt, swift repayments in these areas counts as improving your credit score. If, however, you make payments without your name on them, then although you’ll be taking care of your financial affairs, nobody will know you’re doing it. Make sure you’re getting the credit!
Be vigilant for mistakes.
Believe it or not, one of the most common ways that your credit rating can be adversely affected is through simple mistakes. Sometimes, payments can be missed if – for example – you’ve used a different payment method or the transaction is done through a new third-party provider. Comb your credit score meticulously and make sure to rectify any mistakes you spot. These can be seriously deleterious to your credit score, and you’d be amazed what a difference it can make when you fix them.
A Quick Overview
Bad credit can be a huge financial burden for individuals, impacting everything from your ability to secure a loan to finding a rental property. Here are some of the ways that bad credit can affect you, as well as some practical steps you can take to improve your credit score.
- Difficulty securing loans: If you have a low credit score, getting approved for a loan can be challenging. This can impact everything from purchasing a car to buying a home, and may force you to pay higher interest rates on loans.
- Higher insurance premiums: Many insurance companies use credit scores to determine policy rates. Individuals with bad credit may pay higher premiums for car, home, and other types of insurance.
- Limited rental options: If you want to rent a home or apartment, bad credit can limit your options. Many landlords check credit scores and may hesitate to rent to individuals with poor credit.
So, what can you do to improve your credit score? Start by paying your bills on time, reducing your debt, and regularly monitoring your credit report for errors. You may also want to consider working with a credit counselor or consolidating your debts to make them more manageable. With time and effort, you can improve your credit score and take control of your financial future.
Apart from this, if you want to know about Personal Loans for Bad Credit then please visit our Finance category
