The first step is pulling a credit report online to confirm if you have a credit score with all three credit bureaus. There are several websites you can pull from, inclduing fico.com. Once you confirm that you have or do not have a credit score then you can move forward with applying for a secured credit card either at your local bank or a creditor. Keep in mind that some banks have done away with secured credit cards due to the financial climate that we are in at this time. If your bank does not provide secured credit cards consider asking a parent, sibling, or spouse to add you on to their credit card if it has a positive payment history and low balance. If either a secured credit card was approved with your credit status or you were added on to an account as an ‘authorized user’ to someone else’s credit card you will then notice within 60 – 90 days credit scores will show up within your credit profile or your scores improve due to these options. It doesn’t end there that is why it is important to talk to our team in order to provide a full educational plan to help build credit.

Credit scores that are over 700 with at least three active lines of credit.

Credit scores that are 640 or less and have a lot of collection or charged off debt, as well as not enough active credit.

A secured credit card is when you secured a revolving debt with your assets or cash. An unsecured credit card is when the creditor approves you for a revolving debt that the creditor has given you with a set limit.

Yes, it is never good not to have credit since most lenders or creditors require that you have it in order to achieve the best financial terms available for financing either for a credit card, home loan or car loan.

Credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union).

Make sure that you always ask for at least three references before you begin working with a credit repair company. If they cannot provide references then stay away as it may be a scam company that promises false results.

Bankruptcy is when you default on your debt completely and do not have the financial means to pay off your debts. There are different types of bankruptcy and a bankruptcy attorney can guide you in choosing the best type of bankruptcy available for your financial circumstance.

There are ways to avoid bankruptcy. One way is to work with our firm to help you become debt free with our Debt Settlement program.

Yes, we have saved our clients over 25 million dollars with our debt settlement program within the 19 years that we have been in business.

Lenders are looking at several factors when approving you for a loan. Do you have high enough credit scores to qualify for this loan? Do you have enough credit history? Do you make your payments on time? Are you over-leveraging yourself with your debts? Do you have consistent employment?

You are risking your credit if the person you became a co-applicant for defaults on that credit card or loan.

If applying for a loan, regardless of the amount, the required financials and credit scores will always be an important factor. A personal loan of $500.00 may not be as hard to qualify for as a loan of $100,000.00.

With all loans, most lenders require at least a 640 credit score. It also depends on the bank or lender. Before applying for a loan you should always ask what the required credit score is so that you save your credit from damage due to this ‘hard’ pull.

Business loans have higher requirements for credit scores. For personal credit scores usually, the minimum credit score requirement is 680 but depending on the lender they may pull both personal credit reports and a business report. If they pull a business report they require an ’80’ paydex score as well.