Archive for the ‘Loans’ Category

How Important is a Good Credit Score?

Eric asked:


The most important factor that plays a deciding role in granting you a loan is of course your credit rating. A good credit score is a magic mantra in the loan market. It can help you get a low APR (Annual Percentage Rate) with negotiable payback terms. In other words, a customer with a good credit history is a safe bet for the lender as he is sure to get his money back on time. Which makes us ask this question – is there anything like a fixed credit score?

The general consensus is that there is no such thing as a fixed credit score. As of now, it’s the lenders prerogative. If you can measure up to the lenders expectation of a ‘credit happy’ customer, then you may get all the benefits associated with a ‘prime customer’. The recent figures of application rejection have reached alarming proportions. A recent research from Moneyexpert.com reveals that over 1.30 million people have had application rejections in the last six months. This makes it a staggering 320 application rejection per hour.

Generally, an unsecured loan application faces the chance of getting rejected at the verification stage as there is no collateral attached to this particular loan type. This means that the lender has no guarantee that his principal amount would be recoverable within the stipulated loan cycle. A good credit score has more relevance if borrowers are thinking of taking out an unsecured loan. This is because there is no question of collateral involved in this transaction. The only way to check the loan seeker’s credit worthiness is by his credit score. Although, consumers take care not to spoil their credit score, sometimes missed payments happen due to lack of understanding of the lender’s terms and conditions.

In fact, the general trend shows that people who have taken out unsecured loan deals are more prone to making such errors because their homes are not mortgaged against the loan package. They feel that a small missed payment will not affect their credit scores. But, it has been noticed that even those customers having good intentions of paying back credit on time sometimes default on the monthly payments.

To overcome this hurdle, APACS, a UK payment association site has unveiled a credit card statement guide which will provide valuable tips to customers to help them understand the financial terminology used in their statements like ‘payment date’, ‘APR’ and ‘allocation of payments’. Sandra Quinn, director of communications at APACS, feels that with this advice guide, consumers will be better equipped to understand the value of frequent check of credit statements and making payments on unsecured loan deals on time.



Lisa
 

What is a Good Credit Score for an Auto Loan

Ryan asked:


What is a good credit score for an auto loan? Unless you have a 760 or higher FICO score, it might be a good idea to review your credit report and see what you can do to improve your credit score.

Generally speaking, a 760 FICO score will get you the very best rates at the very best loan terms. Anything higher really will not change what an auto lender can offer you since you will likely already qualify for the very best deal. If you have a 720 credit score or so, you should still be able to get a pretty good rate on your auto loan and not have any trouble getting approved.

Where you will start to have trouble is if you fall below a 720, which is the national average credit score. When you fall below this less than perfect credit level, lenders start seeing you as a risk and will start charging higher interest rates in order to offset the risk. Depending on the credit grade the lender is willing to lend to, you may not even qualify for a loan.

Once you fall below a 700 FICO score, you have a greater chance of getting your loan automatically denied before a human even reviews your credit report. At this point your only resort is to seek a bad credit lender, or get to work on fixing your credit score. Luckily, there are a number of quick fixes you can make to improve your credit rating and get the loan you need at the rate you want.



Randy
 

Bad Credit Loans – How to Really Fix Your Credit Score

Liz Roberts asked:


Having bad credit can be a huge dilemma especially when it comes to getting a loan. Since lenders want to reassure the credit worthiness of their clients, those with low credit scores can be immediately declined. Yes, bad credit loans do exist in the market, but if you want to stay away from high interest rates, it is a far better option to work on improving your credit score first before applying for a loan. Unless you need the cash in a hurry, rebuilding your credit is definitely the best choice.

How to Fix Your Credit Score

Is there really an instant way to fix your credit score? Despite what some credit-fix companies may claim, the only safe and guaranteed way to fix one’s credit is to address the root of the problem. Why did you receive a low credit score in the first place? What are the factors that led to your bad credit?

Late payments and unpaid bills are the number one cause of bad credit. Excessive use of your credit limit can also affect the result of your credit score. Of course, defaulting on your debts completely means more damage to your credit history. So how do you really address these problems?

The best way to do so is to pay the debts you owe. If your current financial situation doesn’t allow for you to keep up with your repayments, negotiate with your creditors. Call them and request new repayment terms that you would be able to fit into your budget easily. Most creditors would be willing to make adjustments if they can see your willingness to pay your debts. Changes in your own spending habits and lifestyle will also be a huge factor in your attempt to repay your debts.

Avoid incurring new debts while you’re still in the middle of your repayment. If you have credit cards, put them away, some people who really worry about over using their credit cards will actually freeze them in their freezer. That way they have defrost them in order to make a purchase. If you must use them to keep them from closing, use them only for small purchases and be sure to pay back your charges in full before your due. Always be on time with all your payments to all your different creditors.

What else can you do? If you find it difficult to manage your own finances, getting financial advice from a legitimate and reliable credit counseling organization will help. To be sure, choose a government accredited credit counseling agency. Watch out for credit repair agencies that promise to give your credit the ‘instant fix’. As you can see, there is not instant remedy to fixing a bad credit problem. It would take some time, lots of effort and determination on your part in order to fix the problem.

You may need to allow at least six months of working on your credit score before you start seeing improvements. Obtain a copy of your credit report before and after you start working on your credit. Once you see an increase in your credit score, then that’s the time to start considering your loan options.

Even the smallest boost in your score will make a big difference in your plan to get a loan. A better credit score will enable you to get better rates when you do apply for a bad credit loan or a standard loan. It will also increase your negotiating power as a loan applicant.



Wilma