Coop's Corner 

Coop's FICO Tip

We need to understand the un-written rules of credit. What do I mean?  According to Ms. Khalfani-Cox reading the fine print is quite crucial to your credit. When you reserve a hotel room or a rental car and pay with your debit card using the MasterCard or Visa feature, the computer can automatically recognize that you are not paying with a regular credit card.

What does this mean? Companies may require additional monies (deposit) placed on your debit card (between $200 to $500), but this is not the worst of it, they may have included in the fine print that they can run your credit just by paying with a debit card. I know, you think you are doing the right thing by paying cash, but from the company's side, you may not even own (or qualify for) a credit card and they want to reduce their risk. So, please read the fine print!

"Better Understanding your FICO Score" 
By Linda Min

What is Bad Credit?

1 out of 5 Americans have very poor credit, do you fit that category? Anyone who has ever had bad credit knows just how difficult it can be to get approved for a credit card and qualify for any type of loan. The good news is that it is never too late to improve your FICO credit score. Raising your FICO score is a bit like losing weight; it takes times and it does not happen overnight. The best way to improve bad credit is to manage it responsibly overtime. Here are some tips that can help you improve your credit score:

Payments History        

Pay your bills on time, the longer you do, the better your credit score will be. Paying your bills late results in bad credit and can affect your FICO score in many ways.  For example, if you have poor credit and carry $3k balances on your credit card, your default rate can be up to 28.99%, compared to someone who has good (700-759) to perfect (760-850) credit who may have an interest rate of 8.9%. As a result, the person with good credit pays around $27 monthly while the person with poor credit will be hit with charges of $87 each month. In 5 years time, a person with good credit saves $3,600 in interest.  Delinquent payments and collections will have a major negative impact on your FICO score as well.  In fact, once you pay off a collection account it will not be removed from your credit report.  Instead, it will stay on your report for 7 years. Are you having trouble making ends meet? The first thing you can do is contact your creditors or see a legitimate credit counselor.  Your credit score will not improve immediately, but managing your credit and paying your bills on time will increase your scores overtime.

Amounts Owed

It is vital to keep the balances low on credit cards and other "revolving credits" because high outstanding debt can affect a credit score.  It is recommended to keep your debt to credit ratio below 30%. Paying down your revolving credit is one of the most effective ways to improve your credit. In addition, it is also recommended that you keep between 3 to 5 personal credit cards.

By following these tips, you can start improving your FICO score and start receiving the financing you deserve. Continue paying your debts and over time you will see an improvement in your FICO score.

 

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Quotes  

"The only difference between a rich and a poor person is what they do in their spare time."

-Rich Dad "The Cashflow Quadrant"

 
    

 

 Perfect Credit

By

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox

 

 Perfect Credit 

    

 Upcoming Topics:

 The Next issue will be part of a series "Better Understanding your FICO Score" by Linda Min 
     
Series 4: What is Bad Credit?
     

Turkey 

Steven D. Cooper
Cooper's Accounting Service
562-436-2600