3 Credit Hacks That Will Change Your Life

Posted by admin9 on Aug 19, 2021 in ARTÍCULOS, Blog | Comments Off on 3 Credit Hacks That Will Change Your Life If you spend much time on the internet, you’ll probably find a lot of life hacks. Did you know you can use a paperclip to easily mark the end of a tape roll? Did you know you can use chopsticks to avoid orange fingers while eating cheetos? While these are pretty cool, they’re not going to have as huge an effect on your life the way a credit hack will. No matter how daunting it may seem, it is absolutely possible to build, repair, and boost your credit scores. Anyone can have good credit, even you! In fact, it’s actually a lot more straightforward than you might think.  You can be amazed how a good credit score helps you to improve your financial status and change your life. Here are a few credit hacks you should be aware of that won’t just give your scores a boost, they’ll change your entire life! #1 Keep at Least Three Major Credit Cards By far, one of the best ways that you can repair your credit involves keeping several major credit cards open at all times. You may worry that having too many cards at once will hurt your credit. Actually, the opposite is true and you want several lines of open credit. As long as you make payments on time and avoid falling too far into debt, it is considered a good thing to have three or even four credit cards. Making three payments on-time every month will always raise your credit faster than a single payment to one card. #2 Understand “Credit Utilization” As you open more than one credit card, you’ll want to pay close attention to your credit utilization. This term refers to the percentage of your total credit that you are currently using on a regular basis. You want to use some of your total line of credit, but not all of it. For the biggest impact on your credit score, try to keep the total of all of your balances around 25% to 30% for as long as you can.  #3 Increase Your Credit Limits as Much as Possible Let’s say you really need to put $5,000 on a credit card, but the limit of the card is the same $5,000. You’ve now maxed out your credit limit, and your score is going to take a hit. Before you put the $5,000 on, you could request...
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6 Important Credit-Related Questions to Ask Yourself

Posted by admin9 on Aug 19, 2021 in ARTÍCULOS, Blog | Comments Off on 6 Important Credit-Related Questions to Ask Yourself Being an adult means dealing with very important financial-related topics. Understanding concepts like debt and credit are essential to a happy life and bright future. Do you know everything you should? Let’s begin by asking yourself a few questions. Can I earn a credit score without a credit history? For some reason, no credit is the same thing as bad credit! Consumers with no history can build credit in several ways. You can do this by getting a secured credit card, asking a family member to add you as a credit user, or getting a cosigned loan for a new car or credit card. Will bad credit affect a job application? Yes, and no. It is technically legal, though thankfully it doesn’t happen very often. The only time bad credit might affect a job application is if the job has fiduciary responsibilities. For a job like an accountant, a poor credit score may suggest you do not have the money management skills needed. Can collection agencies collect on my old debt? Each state has a law referred to as a statute of limitations that spells out the time period during which a creditor or collector may sue borrowers to collect debts. In most states, they run between four and six years after the last payment was made on the debt. If you make a new payment, the timeline begins again! Do too many cards hurt my credit? Actually, you want several lines of open credit. As long as you make payments on time and avoid falling too far into debt, it is considered a good thing to have two, three, or even four credit cards. Does bankruptcy affect my credit forever? Declaring bankruptcy can feel like a weight you’ll never truly break free from. We are happy to tell you that this is not the case. Be patient! Declaring bankruptcy does harm credit as it remains on your credit report for seven years. You’ll need to focus on credit repair. It takes time but can be done, and with great success. How can I avoid debt? This may seem impossible, but it is not. One of the most essential abilities to have for money management is cost control. Budgeting is learning to put cash aside for significant things first and then spending the rest smartly. Debt is not necessary and with proper money management techniques, you can avoid most...
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What to do When a Debt Collection Agency Knocks on Your Door

Posted by admin9 on Aug 19, 2021 in ARTÍCULOS, Blog | Comments Off on What to do When a Debt Collection Agency Knocks on Your Door In a perfect world, your home is your private place of peace and sanctuary. If you owe debt to a lender, though, this privacy is shattered. Phone calls become more frequent and then one day, debt collectors actually start coming to your home! This is truly a nightmare. What can you do? Is this legal? We’ll answer these questions, and more, right now. Can They Come to Your Home? To address your first question, yes. Debt collectors can show up in person where you live. That being said, federal laws say they can’t do any of this: Force you to answer the doorEnter your home without your permissionTake anything off your propertyTell your neighbors about your debtImpersonate law enforcementBroadcast your debt problems to the neighborhoodPost flyers about your bad debtThreaten to or actually do any physical harm to youHarass or humiliate you into payingRefuse to leave  There’s essentially no reason for them to come to your home, because there’s nothing they can do in person that they couldn’t do over the phone. They do sometimes try this tactic, though. Why? Because it is scary, so it works! This is what they can and cannot do, but what about you? What can you do? Know Your Rights First, one of the most important things you can and should do when a debt collector comes to your home is to know that you have legal rights. If a debt collector contacts you, either in person or over the phone, make sure you ask for basic information, like the name of the debt collection company they are representing and a written notice of your debt. Remember, debt collecting agents must not use improper methods or any form of harassment when contacting you. This means debt collectors agents are not allowed to use abusive language, to humiliate you in front of your neighborhood, or intimidate you with physical violence. If you feel your rights are being violated, or if you simply don’t want them on your property, tell the debt collector to leave immediately. They must comply with this request.  Repossessions Please note that property repossession and debt collection are two entirely different things, even though they both deal with a debt being owed. In this case, the lender or property title holder is legally within their right to take your property. For instance, they can repossess your car if you don’t pay...
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A Few Important Do’s & Don’ts of Credit Repair

Posted by admin9 on Jul 27, 2021 in Blog | Comments Off on A Few Important Do’s & Don’ts of Credit Repair You may have gotten into some financial trouble in the past but that is all behind you now. You know your future depends on repairing your credit. Of course for many people, credit repair is easier said than done. You may have easily gotten into poor credit, but you don’t know how to work your way out of it. Do not worry! Safe Credit Solutions is here to help. With this in mind, we want to better inform you of a few do’s and don’ts of credit repair. When you follow this advice, you will be out of poor credit before you know it! DO… … Check Your Credit Report The only way to know for sure what your credit score is and why it is that is to look at your credit report. Many people with poor credit avoid doing this because they don’t want to see the bad news. Other people can see it, and you need to know what it is in it! …Take Proper Steps to Repair Your Credit Once you have your credit report, you can take the necessary steps to improve it. We offer services to help you with this, including credit guidance and debt payment plans. You will make a list of the debts you own and your current per month expenses. We work with you to put together a budget you can follow. Then, we contact your creditors and perform out a low interest rate for your expenses.  … Realize this will take time It is easy in your position to get frustrated and feel impatient. Be patient! Keep in mind that it took some time to build the debt amount that you currently have, and it will also take some time to pay it all off. Repaired credit doesn’t happen overnight, however, a commitment to a feasible plan will make it happen. DON’T… … Ignore Bills We know it can be tempting to simply ignore bills you know you can’t pay. This doesn’t help the situation! It may be possible to budget monthly payments. If your financial situation prevents you from doing so, you can still contact them to see if you can go on a longer payment plan or other arrangement. Many will work with you if and only if you communicate open and honestly with them. … Close All Credit Card Accounts Too often, people seeking to pay...
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How to Report a Collection Agency or Debt Collector for Harassment

Posted by admin9 on Jul 27, 2021 in Blog | Comments Off on How to Report a Collection Agency or Debt Collector for Harassment The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects you in several different ways. Essentially, the FDCPA protects consumers from abusive debt collection practices, such as foul language and misleading communication. They aren’t allowed to lie to you, nor wreck your life with harassing and embarrassing phone calls. Thanks to this Act, you control communication with debt collectors! You can limit when and how debt collectors contact you. It curbs lying, harassment, threats of violence, and other unfair behavior by debt collectors. All of this is great, but the real world often works a little differently than that. The truth is that debt collectors may not be following these rules to the letter of the law, even though they know they should be. While these protections are built into the law, they may not come automatically to you. That is where we come in to help. If you are repeatedly dealing with a debt collector or debt collection agency who is violating the FDCPA, it is time to do something about it. You don’t have to live this way, and they know it! You can take action in three easy steps: #1 Ensure they are in violation of the Act. Before you can move forward, it is essential to know for sure the collection agency is violating the FDCPA. To find out more about what these laws are and what collection agencies can do, contact Safe Credit Solutions. We know the law very well and can help you with collections harassment. #2 File a complaint. This complaint could be made to several different places, including with the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In fact, you may decide it is warranted to complain to all three! These government agencies seek to protect consumers, as well as promote fair competition within the financial markets by ensuring that the laws are properly upheld. The Better Business Bureau is a non-profit organization that works alongside businesses in all industries to promote ethical, trustworthy business practices with all business entities, including debt collection agencies. #3 Contact your state’s Attorney General. The FDCPA is a federal rule. In addition to it, some states have their own laws in regards to debt collection. To find out more about the laws in your state, contact your Attorney General. If you find that the debt collector in question appears to be...
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5 Ways the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Protects You

Posted by admin9 on Jul 27, 2021 in Blog | Comments Off on 5 Ways the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Protects You If you are in debt and struggling to keep your head above water, it is easy to feel like there is no one on your side. It is you against the world trying to get out of your ocean of financial trouble. In fact, there are people on your side, including us here at Safe Credit Solutions. This is why we want to tell you about a legal protection you can and should be taking advantage of called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). It protects you in several different ways you certainly want to know about. The truth is that debt collectors may not be following these rules to the letter of the law. That is where we come in to help. First let’s talk a little about what the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is, then we can discuss how it protects you in more detail.  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Essentially, the FDCPA protects consumers from abusive debt collection practices, such as foul language and misleading communication. They aren’t allowed to lie to you, nor wreck your life with harassing and embarrassing phone calls. Thanks to this Act, you control communication with debt collectors! How it Protects You #1 You can limit when and how debt collectors contact you. Debt collectors can’t contact you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., or at work once you ask them not to. They must communicate through your attorney if you’re represented by one. As well, they can’t communicate about your debt with third parties, such as your employer, neighbors, or even family. In fact, they must cease contact entirely if you request it!  #2 You’re protected from harassment or abuse. They are not permitted to use profane language, threaten to use violence, or call you repeatedly to annoy or harass you. This is defined as more than once a day about a specific debt, or within a week of having a conversation with you about a debt. #3 Debt collectors must be truthful with you. Debt collectors cannot use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation to collect the debt. More specifically, they cannot lie about the legal repercussions for not paying the debt or pass themselves off as another company, professional, or authority figure. #4 It curbs other unfair behavior by debt collectors. They cannot solicit postdated checks for payment to use as a threat or...
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