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How can you improve your credit score, coming out of a bankruptcy?

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  1. Get one of those credit cards that you pay them 150 dollars and they give you 300 dollars credit. They more you pay the more credit you get. If you cancel you get your money back as long as it is payed off. This will help re-establish your credit.
  2. Credit cards, such as, Aspen and Tribute are excellent ways to re-establish your credit. I will warn you, it took me almost two years out of a bankruptcy to even get approved for those cards.
  3. -Close all department store accounts- Even if they have a balance! (Most major department stores will accept Visa or MasterCard). **Send the closing request in writing, asking that your account(s) be closed and reported as closed by the consumer. -Try not to exceed more than FOUR open accounts- This includes auto loans and other types of loans. -Avoid opening any accounts with a Finance Company- It lowers your credit score and the interest charge is phenomenal if your account isn’t paid off in time. -Don’t ignore a bill you can’t afford to pay!- Make arrangements to pay even the smallest amount until it’s paid off. *If you do end up with a Collection Account or a Judgement against you, pay it off right away, before you pay off your credit cards! -Pay off any collection or medical account ASAP- These accounts being listed as "paid" n your report will help set them aside to lenders. -Remember, pay history is 33%- Pay history is about 33% of your score. Don't put $200 on one card to pay it off if you can't pay another. Pay at least the minimum pmt on each to begin a clearer pay history. -Negotiate if possible- Some companies (especially credit card companies) will negotiate for balances if they know you are apt to file bkrcy. They will take the lower payoff and close out the account.
  4. You should check out www.lifeafterbankruptcy.com. Stephen Snyder is the expert on helping people recover from Bankruptcy and begin the process of rebuilding their credit. He conducts free seminars nationwide and sends out an excellent newsletter for people to learn what's happening in the credit world. In fact, many people who haven't filed bankruptcy subscribe to his newsletters because he is one of the few people that know what's going on in the "inside" of the credit industry. As far as credit reporting goes, go to www.annualcreditreport.com and get copies of all 3 of your credit reports. You should begin by disputing any items that are not reporting correctly. Your immediate goal should be to get any account that was discharged in your bankruptcy to report as "Included in Bankruptcy" or to be deleted. Once you have done that you should begin the process of rebuilding your credit. Your goal should to be have 3-6 revolving accounts with a balance of less than 35% of credit line. (Zero balance is best) and 1-2 installment accounts (car, mortgage) It can be done within 2 years! Good Luck
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