Standard Factual Report Article



Fix Bad Credit After Bankruptcy

Declaring bankruptcy is not the end of the road for your financial future. By using new methods of handling your finances and avoiding old habits you can work on fixing bad credit after bankruptcy. Here’s a look at some of the rules that you should use for fixing bad credit after bankruptcy.

First, you should recognize that fixing bad credit after bankruptcy can take a while. It will take ten years for a bankruptcy statement to come off of your credit report. By working on fixing bad credit after bankruptcy over time you will be more likely to get good deals on financial tools or even more likely to get financial help in general. The longer it has been since bankruptcy, the more likely you are to have a better credit rating.

Another part of fixing bad credit after bankruptcy involves having a stable work history and having a stable schedule of paying off your debts. This will be figured into decisions on getting financial services.

Opening a savings account is one of the best things you can do for fixing bad credit after bankruptcy. When payments regularly go in through your work checks you can get more financial services and be able to secure more of your money. Some groups will take the money you save out of your account for payments, and by maintaining a savings account often you will get the services that you need.

A secured credit card can also help with fixing bad credit after bankruptcy. Money for credit will have to be paid to the credit card group as security for the account that is used after bankruptcy. The account can be opened with a cashiers check. A savings account can even be used as collateral for the secured credit card. It is important to keep credit limits low at first with the card though so that you know that you can handle the card. Credit increases will rise if you pay your payments for the card on time.

Taking out a small loan and paying it off in monthly installments will be another way to use fixing bad credit after bankruptcy. Using in store credit cards and paying them regularly will work too. Of course, you should not use too many cards or loans or pay back the loans or cards with low payments because the interest will add up over time.

The last tip for fixing bad credit after bankruptcy is to check to see what black marks on your credit report you need to get rid of. Updates will need to be made after your bankruptcy, so you should send information on your discharge to Equifax, Trans Union and Experian, the main credit reporting groups.

Don’t forget that a credit management course can be useful for helping with credit report after bankruptcy. You can learn more information from your banker about courses in your area that can give you more information on fixing bad credit after bankruptcy.