Here are the top DOs and DON'Ts to follow for building or improving your credit, protecting your identity, and guarding personal information from loss or theft...
1. Know What Your Credit Is
Did you know there are companies that keep track of whether or not you pay your debts and if you make payments on time? And that these companies make this information available in the form of a credit report and score? Good credit means that your history of payments makes you a good candidate for a loan, and creditors (those who lend money) will be more willing to work with you. Having good credit usually translates into lower payments and more ease in borrowing money. Bad credit, however, can be a big problem. It usually results from making payments late or borrowing too much money, and it means that you might have trouble getting a car loan, a credit card, a place to live, and sometimes even a job.
2. Understand Your Credit
Many people just starting out have no credit history and may find it tough to get a loan or credit card, but establishing a good credit history is not as difficult as it seems.You might apply for a credit card issued by a local store because local businesses are more willing to extend credit to someone with no credit history. Once you establish a pattern of making your payments on time, major credit card issuers might be more willing to extend credit to you. You might apply for a secured credit card. Basically, this card requires you to put up the money first, and then lets you borrow 50 to 100% of your account balance.You might ask other people who have an established credit history to co-sign on an account. By co-signing, the person is agreeing to pay back the loan if you don’t.
3. Read the Fine Print
When applying for credit cards, it’s important to shop around. Fees, charges, interest rates, and benefits can vary drastically among credit card issuers. And, in some cases, credit cards might seem like great deals until you read the fine print and disclosures. When you’re trying to find the credit card that’s right for you, look at the:
- Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - The APR is a measure of the cost of credit, expressed as a yearly interest rate. Usually, the lower the APR, the better it is for you. Be sure to check the fine print to see if your offer has a time limit. Your APR could be much higher after the initial limited-time offer.
- Grace Period - This is the amount of time you have to pay your credit card bill after the date of the credit card purchase and before the date the company starts charging you interest on the unpaid amount.
- Annual Fees - Many credit card issuers charge an annual fee for giving you credit.
- Transaction Fees and Other Charges - Most creditors charge a fee if you don’t make a payment on time. Other common credit card fees include those for cash advances and going beyond the credit limit. Some credit cards charge a flat fee every month, whether you use your card or not.
- Customer Service - Customer service is something most people don’t consider, or appreciate, until there’s a problem. Look for a 24-hour, toll-free telephone number.
- Other Options - Creditors may offer other options for a price, including discounts, rebates, and special merchandise offers. If your card is lost or stolen, federal law protects you from owing more than $50 per card for unauthorized charges.
4. Improve Your Credit Record
A lot of people spend more than they can afford and pay less toward their debts than they should. To get control over your finances, and to manage your debt, try budgeting and/or credit counseling
5. Keep Your Record Clean
It’s easy to qualify for credit if you have a good credit history, but what if you have never used credit before? It takes time to establish credit and build a record of consistency in making payments to demonstrate your creditworthiness. And it is much better to go slowly and develop a strong credit record than to apply for too many credit cards or a loan that is larger than you can handle. Start slowly, be cautious, keep track of your overall debt, and pay on time. Most importantly, remember that credit actually represents real money and has to be repaid with interest. Good credit is important, now and in the future. In most cases, it takes seven years for accurate, negative information to be deleted from a credit report.
6. Know What Creditors Look for on Credit Reports
Understanding what types of information most creditors evaluate is important. factors include:
- Your bill-paying history
- How many and the type of accounts you have
- Unused portions of credit lines
- Longevity of accounts
- Late payments
- Outstanding debt
- Collections actions
7. Obtain a Copy of Your Credit Report
Credit reporting agencies don’t share files, so you’ll need to contact each reporting agency to make sure the information about you is correct. The three major credit reporting agencies are: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. You can order your free annual credit report online www.annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form found on www.ftc.gov and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
8. Keep Credit Cards Under Control
Whether you shop online, by telephone, or by mail, a credit card can make buying many things much easier; but when you use a credit card, it’s important to keep track of your spending. Owing more than you can afford to repay can damage your credit rating. Keeping good records can prevent a lot of headaches, especially if there are inaccuracies on your monthly statement.
9. Protect Your Identity
Here are some ways to protect yourself from identity theft:
- Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared.
- Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time.
- Guard your mail from theft. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been delivered. If you’re planning to be away from home and can’t pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service toll-free at 1-800-275-8777, or visit www.usps.com to request a mail hold.
- For passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts, avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or telephone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. It’s a good idea to keep a list of your credit card issuers and their telephone numbers.
- Don’t give out personal information over the telephone, through the mail, or online unless you’ve initiated the contact or you know with whom you’re dealing.
- Never carry your Social Security card. Give out your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary.
10. Guard Your Personal Information
A lost or stolen wallet or purse is a gold mine of information for identity thieves. If your wallet or purse is lost or stolen:
- File a report with the police immediately and keep a copy.
- Cancel your cards. Call the issuer(s) immediately. Get new cards with new account numbers.
- Call the fraud departments of the major credit reporting agencies and ask each agency to put a “fraud alert” on your account:
- Report the loss to the fraud department of the bank where you have your checking and savings accounts.
- Review your credit reports regularly and have them corrected when necessary. Report a missing driver’s license to your state's department of motor vehicles.
- If your keys are missing, change your home and car locks.
