Credit Report ? How to Improve Your Credit Score

One of the great mysteries of life is how the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) score credit. They all have secret statistical formulas for determining your credit score, but they are unwilling to divulge exactly what, exactly, constitutes your score. This can make it difficult for people with problem credit to try to improve their score in hopes of obtaining a home or car loan later.

While the exact formula is a secret, there are a few things you can do that will undoubtedly improve your score:

Pay off a home equity line of credit. These loans, which allow you to borrow more than once against your home's equity, are considered revolving credit, much like a credit card. Pay it down or pay it off; either should help your score.

Check your credit report regularly; you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report once a year. By looking over your credit report, you can make sure that debts you have paid on time are shown on the report, such as student loans, or auto loans that have been paid in full. You can also make sure that your credit limits on your credit cards are reported correctly. Lenders look at the ratio of debt to available credit, and if your reported credit limit is low, it could make it appear as though you are nearly at your credit limit.

Check for duplicate information on your credit report. If your mortgage has been sold to another firm, make sure that your report doesn't show your mortgage twice.

Keep balances on credit cards and other revolving accounts low. You do not want to be seen owing too much money to too many different lenders.

Don't have too many open credit accounts. Ten Visa cards will not help your credit rating. Try to keep a maximum of three revolving credit accounts.

By checking your credit report regularly, and by eliminating unusual entries, you should be able to increase your credit score. And with credit, every little bit helps.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including http://www.End-Your-Debt.com/ and http://www.HomeEquityHelp.net/

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:05:30 GMT

McCain takes stage, turns down heat - Boston Globe


The Gazette (Montreal)
McCain takes stage, turns down heat
Boston Globe - 1 hour ago
By Joanna Weiss For a man at the top of a presidential ticket, John McCain had an unusual task last night: to remind the nation that he was the star of his own show.
Palin Assails Critics and Electrifies Party New York Times
GOP welcomes McCain with enthusiasm Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
CBS News - Kansas City Star - ABC News - TIME
all 1,387 news articles

Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:20:31 GMT

Boeing Workers Are on the Brink - BusinessWeek


Wall Street Journal
Boeing Workers Are on the Brink
BusinessWeek - 1 hour ago
Despite being offered a relatively generous package by management, Boeing machinists are ready to go on strike. Here's why by Joseph Weber When a stunning 87% of Boeing machinists voted on Sept.
Motown Blues for Boeing? Wall Street Journal
Boeing, machinists union meet with mediator The Associated Press
Seattle Times - Bloomberg - Reuters - Chicago Tribune
all 1,406 news articles

Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:54:59 GMT

Data on defective genes make tailored remedies possible - Baltimore Sun


Voice of America
Data on defective genes make tailored remedies possible
Baltimore Sun - 41 minutes ago
By Frank D. Roylance Researchers cataloging the genetic codes of deadly human brain and pancreatic cancers say they have found several dozen defective genes that appear to work in concert to set off the tumor growth that eventually kills their victims.
In Long-Awaited Maps of Cancer, The Breakthrough Is the Problem Wall Street Journal
What You Need to Know About Mapping the Cancer Genome U.S. News & World Report
Reuters - The Associated Press - Bloomberg - Science Daily (press release)
all 209 news articles

Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:24:12 GMT

'1967 lines not up for discussion' - Jerusalem Post


Sydney Morning Herald
'1967 lines not up for discussion'
Jerusalem Post - 32 minutes ago
By JPOST.COM STAFF The July 4, 1967 lines are not up for discussion and are the very foundations from which direct talks between Israel and Syria will start, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Friday.
Video: Sarkozy in Syria : the press is divided france24english
Syrian sets terms of role on peace Philadelphia Inquirer
New York Times - Boston Globe - International Herald Tribune - Voice of America
all 1,039 news articles

Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:32:39 GMT

Schwarzenegger: Palin delivered 'fantastic' speech - San Jose Mercury News


KGET 17
Schwarzenegger: Palin delivered 'fantastic' speech
San Jose Mercury News - 1 hour ago
AP SACRAMENTO—Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday said Sarah Palin hit a home run with her acceptance speech for the Republican vice presidential nomination.
Video: Governor To Californians: Bug Lawmakers About Budget kcratv
California nears record in spending plan stalemate Sacramento Bee
San Gabriel Valley Tribune - Los Angeles Times - New York Times - City Watch
all 302 news articles

Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:14:17 GMT

Rice set for historic Libya visit - BBC News


RTE.ie
Rice set for historic Libya visit
BBC News - 3 hours ago
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is set to begin a historic visit to Libya as part of a North African tour. She is expected to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as part of the trip, which will also include visits to Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
Rice set to begin historic Libya visit AFP
Rice set to make history in Libya The Associated Press
Aljazeera.net - International Herald Tribune - WZTV - Bloomberg
all 425 news articles

Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:41:55 GMT

Wal-Mart acting on shifts in consumer spending - BusinessWeek


Los Angeles Times
Wal-Mart acting on shifts in consumer spending
BusinessWeek - 3 hours ago
By CHUCK BARTELS If the mood on Wall Street is grim, then consumers must be feeling even more bleak, right? Fuel prices remain high, inflation has hit food prices hard and consumer confidence is down.
August another disappointing month for retailers Los Angeles Times
Lower-cost stores gain from US shoppers' thriftiness Financial Times
Forbes - The Associated Press - Wall Street Journal
all 673 news articles

Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:48:39 GMT

Clickbank Content
Make Money Online


PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Easing Your Financial Burdens With Credit Counseling

It is a well-publicized fact that more of us are... Read More

Credit Repair Myths and Facts

There are no secrets to repairing your credit. Many shady... Read More

The Three Largest Factors In Your Interest Rate

There are three major factors that affect how much you... Read More

Credit Card Traps: How To Spot Them On The Spot!

They arrive in your mail - a conspicuous looking mail... Read More

Credit Education

Having credit education is like knowing how to read. It... Read More

Have You Ever Opened a Checking Account?

Maybe some of you are saving it in your trusty... Read More

Four Tips How Homeowners Can Rebuild Their Life After a Foreclosure

Let's face it, if you are facing the possibilities of... Read More

Bankruptcy Myths Busted

The average American knows very little about bankruptcy. Most people... Read More

Credit Cards - The Basics

How Lenders Operate ? And How They'll Make a Tidy... Read More

Always Avoid Payment Holidays

Once you've been paying off a credit card for a... Read More

The Hitchhiker?s Guide To Insanity

A new sickness is plaguing the UK called Denial. Denial... Read More

5 Things Your Credit Card Company Keeps Quiet About

Credit Cards can bankrupt you if you let them run... Read More

Give Yourself Credit

The Beginning of the Credit Card EraIn 1951, Diners Club... Read More

Dont Fall For A Scheme When Trying To Rebuild Your Credit History

For people with a spotty credit history or bad credit,... Read More

How A Prepaid Debit Card Can Help You Rebuild Your Credit

Consumers today are up to their eyeballs in debt. And... Read More

The Right Way To Credit Repair

If you have a bad credit rating, then you might... Read More

14 Common Credit Mistakes

Establishing credit and wisely managing your credit becomes easier when... Read More

What To Look For In A Credit Card

When you are deciding what type of credit card to... Read More

A Summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act

This summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act will explain... Read More

Bad Credit Loans For Those Who Seek Alternatives for New or Old Car

You can still save money on a Bad Credit Loan... Read More

How You Can Help Prevent Identity Theft

How can I prevent Identity theft from happening to me?... Read More

Credit Repair Scam - How To Avoid Being A Statistic?

A good credit history is critically important for the consumer.... Read More

5 Steps You Can Take to Get Paid!

There are always some companies that have past due invoices... Read More

Trade Credit: How to Determine if You Should Offer Net-30 Terms to Your Customers

What is trade credit?One of the major differences between consumer... Read More

Online Credit Report and Online Credit Reports

Online credit reports are easily accessible to those interested in... Read More