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Your Credit Score

There are many misconceptions about credit scores out there. There are people who believe that they don’t have a credit score and many people who think that their credit scores just don’t really matter. These sorts of misconceptions can hurt your chances at getting some jobs, at good interest rates, and even your chances of getting an apartment.

The truth is, if you have a bank account and bills, then you have a credit score, and your credit score matters more than you might think. Your credit score may be called many things, including a credit risk rating, a FICO score, a credit rating, a FICO rating, or a credit risk score. All these terms refer to the same thing: the three-digit number that lets lenders get an idea of how likely you are to repay your bills.

Every time you apply for credit, apply for a job that requires you to handle money, or even apply for some more exclusive types of apartment living, your credit score is checked.

In fact, your credit score can be checked by anyone with a legitimate business need to do so. Your credit score is based on your past financial responsibilities, past payments and credit, and it provides potential lenders with a quick snapshot of your current financial state and past repayment habits.

In other words, your credit score lets lenders know quickly how much of a credit risk you are. Based on this credit score, lenders decide whether to trust you financially - and give you better rates when you apply for a loan. Apartment managers can use your credit score to decide whether you can be trusted to pay your rent on time. Employers can use your credit score to decide whether you can be trusted in a high-responsibility job that requires you to handle money.

The problem with credit scores is that there is quite a bit of misinformation circulated about, especially through some less than scrupulous companies who claim they can help you with your credit report and credit score - for a fee, of course.

From advertisements and suspect claims, people sometimes come away with the idea that in order to boost their credit score, they have to pay money to a company or leave credit repair in the hands of so-called “experts.” Nothing could be further from the truth. It is perfectly possible to pay down debts and boost your credit on your own, with no expensive help whatsoever.

In fact, the following 101 tips can get you well on your way to boosting your credit score and saving you money.

By the end of this online guide, you will be able to:

• Define a credit score, a credit report, and other key financial terms,
• Develop a personalized credit repair plan that addresses your unique financial situation,
• Find the resources and people who can help you repair your credit score, and
• Repair your credit effectively using the very techniques used by credit repair experts.

Plus, unlike many books on the subject, this guide will show you how to deal with your everyday life while repairing your credit. After all, credit repair does not happen in a vacuum.

This guide will teach you the powerful strategies you need to build the financial habits that will help you to a keep a high credit rating. It really is that simple.

Start reading and be prepared to take small but powerful steps that can have a dramatic impact on your financial life!

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Your credit score - introduction Where does your credit score come from? The 3 major credit bureaus & an action plan How to raise your credit score Keep your credit score safe: identity theft Check your credit score regularly Common credit score mistakes Credit score boosting mistakes that hurt Checking & disputing errors on your credit report How to contact credit bureaus and creditors Your credit score after a big, bad problem Repairing your credit score after a financial upset Credit repair is big business: where to turn to Beware these credit repair scams

Why good financial habits equals a good credit score How to boost your credit rating by saving money Protect your credit score by preparing for emergencies Understand your credit score by thinking like a lender Raise your credit score by avoiding frequent changes Repair your credit score by being organized How loans affect your credit score How to make credit repair easier on yourself Credit repair for students How debt affects your credit score Detach any emotion from credit repair How to deal with collection agencies