It's always a great idea to check the fine print of any contract before you take out a line of credit, but many people neglect to do this and owe a lot of money. There's no sense in beating a dead horse here. The important thing now is to work toward getting out of debt, so let's go over some useful information to clean up that credit score.

1. If you find anything on your credit report that you think is not correct you need to take the necessary steps to dispute the information. It would be a big mistake to leave it alone because the problem is not going to solve itself and it is something that reflects badly on you.

2. One of the largest causes of bad credit is fraud. Staying on top of your credit by obtaining free yearly credit reports from the three major credit agencies will alert you of any fraudulent activity early on. The most common thing to watch for is new credit cards issued through the theft of your identity. Taking preventative measures like this will help you maintain high credit and reduce the need for unnecessary credit repair.

3. Every time you open a new line of credit your credit score is going to suffer. Fight the temptation to get that credit card at the checkout when they offer you big discounts if you do it. You credit score is going to drop immediately after opening that new line of credit.

4. To repair bad credit, make sure you pay at least the minimum balance on your credit cards each month. It is always best to pay your balance in full, but sometimes this is not possible. Paying the minimum balance shows companies that you are at least trying to repay what was loaned to you.

5. You should check your credit report at least once a year. You can do this for free by contacting one of the 3 major credit reporting agencies. You can look up their website, call them or send them a letter to request your free credit report. Each company will give you one report a year.

6. Avoid filing bankruptcy at all costs if you are concerned about your credit history. Unless you have no other way out, it's better to try to work with your creditors to find a way to pay off your debts. A bankruptcy will stay on your credit history for 10 years, so it will be hurting you for a long time.

7. Paying your bills on time is a crucial part of your credit score. If you will set up payment reminders it will help you to not forget to make your payment. You can set up reminders in many ways. Set them up with your online banking portal, to be sent as emails to yourself, or many debtors will text you a payment reminder.

8. Request and review your credit report from all three major bureaus at least once per year. Legally, you are entitled to a free copy each year whether you are applying for credit or not. Because information providers submit data throughout the year, reviewing your reports annually helps you stay on top of your reports and correct any incorrect information as soon as possible.

9. An important tip to consider when working to repair your credit is to ensure that if you feel as though you do need close a credit account, that you make sure the company notes that it was closed by you on the record. This is important because when creditors check your record, they will much prefer that you chose to close the account as opposed to the credit grantor.

10. If you are just starting out with your credit, it will be very difficult to find a way to get credit. One option that is normally available, is to get a low balance credit card from a store at your local mall. The big department stores probably will not give you a card, but the smaller stores, such as Old Navy, Rue 21, and Footlocker likely will.

You may find it to be tedious and even a little difficult to clean up your credit and improve your name, but this is something you must do unless you want this bad credit score negatively affecting your progress for the rest of your life. Use the information provided in this article to change your life and to get back on the right track.

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