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Archive for the ‘Credit’ Category

Credit cards have nowadays insinuated themselves into all corners of our lives, and it is rare for an adult these days to not carry at least one card. As well as being used in the traditional manner to buy goods or services in person, they are also now used online, over the telephone, for writing checks, and even for withdrawing money from cash machines. People use them in all sorts of ways – as a means of borrowing, as a convenient payment method, and even for earning money through cashback or reward schemes.

Despite their ubiquity in modern life, credit cards have a fairly short history, with the first general purpose credit card being introduced less than fifty years ago. In this article we’ll look at the origins of credit cards, and then at how they’ve developed over the years with the emphasis on the United Kingdom market.

The very first credit card was launched by Diners Club in 1951, and was limited to use in twenty seven New York restaurants. It wasn’t a huge success initially, with only 200 cards being issued. The real story of credit cards began in 1958 with the introduction of two major new products. The first was the American Express charge card, which boasted over a million users within five years of it being launched.
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If you’ve ever experienced financial problems in the past then the chances are that any mistakes you’ve made (whether you know you’ve made them or not!) will be recorded on your credit record. In many cases these mistakes will occur as a result of financial problems you may have experienced – but often you can get a bad credit history without really doing anything wrong.

The majority of problems that will give you a bad credit record will happen if you have problems managing your finances. So, if you miss a credit card payment, default on your mortgage, are declared bankrupt or are given a CCJ (county Court Judgement) against you for one reason or another then this will all show up on your credit rating, for example. These kinds of issues will all count as negatives.

But, other issues can give you bad marks on your credit rating. For example, simple factors like your marital status and whether you have children can give you plus or minus points. The fact is that it isn’t just what you do with your money that comes up on your credit rating – you can have a rating that is less than perfect from a lender’s point of view even if you have never had a financial problem before in your life!

But, there is a key issue here – no matter where your bad credit rating came from. If you have a less than perfect credit score then you look less attractive to lenders when it comes to taking out loans and other forms of finance. The first thing that the majority of lenders will do when you apply for a loan is to look at your credit rating – if they don’t like what they see then they could well turn you down flat. And, things could then go from bad to worse as every rejection that you get when you apply for finance also goes on your credit rating!
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Can a bad credit rating save you from bigger problems? Hasn’t it done just that for many young people? I’ll explain how with a couple true stories.

Good Credit Rating Story

My friend started his adult years with good credit. Soon he was able to get credit cards at will, as well as finance cars, snowmobiles and more. He made the payments, and went deeper and deeper into debt while he was at it. When he was 30 years old, he had over $20,000 in credit card debt, plus loans on cars and business tools.

Eventually it was just too much to handle. After considering bankruptcy, he was convinced that the credit card companies would reduce his balance due if he just threatened to declare bankruptcy. However, he had to stop paying on the cards, or the credit card companies wouldn’t believe he was in financial trouble. He did this, and then drafted a nice letter to the companies, explaining his situation. Most cut at least 30% off what he owed, but he had to pay the remaining balances immediately, which he did with a home equity loan.

As a result, his bad credit rating wasn’t as bad as if he had actually declared bankruptcy, so he was able to rebuild his credit score. He also started to rebuild his credit balances. His good credit rating enabled him to begin again the process of overburdening himself with debt. He lives a stressful life, to say the least.

Bad Credit Rating Story

Another friend had her first credit score based on the phone bill in her first apartment, which she never paid on time. It was eventually disconnected. This, along with a few other minor credit infractions, destroyed her credit scores while she was young. What has this meant for her?

Well, because she can’t borrow, she hasn’t had the pleasure of being overwhelmed with debt and at the edge of bankruptcy. She has to buy things for cash when she has it, or wait until she saves enough. Has the inability to have a bunch of things around that are worth a fraction of what she owes on them made her less happy? I don’t think so. She seems happier than most people, perhaps partly because she just doesn’t have the debt-stress that is so typical today.
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Various home loan programs are intended especially for homebuyers with less than perfect credit. To find a good home loan with poor credit, it is essential to choose the right lender or broker. Many new homebuyers are unfamiliar with different types of mortgages. Therefore, many assume that a down payment is required, and bad credit makes it impossible to get approved. However, many lenders offer 100% mortgage financing on bad credit loans.

How to Get Approved with Bad Credit

Getting a home loan with bad credit is not very hard. In fact, each day homebuyers are approved with low credit scores. The secret to finding a bad credit home loan is applying with lenders that specialize in these sorts of loans.

Subprime mortgage lenders have a range of home loans designed for bad credit applicants. These consist of loans that offer down payment assistance, closing cost assistance, loans for the self-employed, etc. Rather than applying with a mortgage company or bank, buyers should request quotes from subprime lenders. In most cases, the rates and terms are better.

Subprime Mortgage Loans

Subprime loans are perfect for homebuyers with no credit history, recent bankruptcy, or foreclosures. A low credit score will not qualify you for prime rates. Still, it is possible to obtain reasonable rates on your mortgage.
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Various home loan programs are intended especially for homebuyers with less than perfect credit. To find a good home loan with poor credit, it is essential to choose the right lender or broker. Many new homebuyers are unfamiliar with different types of mortgages. Therefore, many assume that a down payment is required, and bad credit makes it impossible to get approved. However, many lenders offer 100% mortgage financing on bad credit loans.

How to Get Approved with Bad Credit

Getting a home loan with bad credit is not very hard. In fact, each day homebuyers are approved with low credit scores. The secret to finding a bad credit home loan is applying with lenders that specialize in these sorts of loans.
Read the rest of this entry »