Improve a Credit Score and Check Your Credit Score Rating with Online Instant Credit Reports

Ever wonder how you get pre-approved credit card offers in the mail? Or how you can go on-line and be approved for a mortgage, auto loan or credit within sixty seconds? Or why you were denied a higher limit on your existing credit cards, but your interest rates were increased? Or why you get one interest rate on loans, while your friend gets another? The answer is credit score rating. Your credit score is a number generated by a mathematical algorithm — a formula — based on information in your credit report, compared to information on tens of millions of other people. The resulting number is a highly accurate prediction of how likely you are to pay your bills. If it sounds absurd and unimportant, you couldn’t be more wrong. The major drawback to credit scoring is that it relies on information in your credit report, which is quite likely to contain errors. But why should you work to improve a credit score? These credit reports are vital documents that provide a summary of your credit history, including debts, payment history, bankruptcies, tax liens and the like. This information dictates the interest rates you pay on credit cards, mortgages and car loans, the amounts loaned to you, and even if you get approved. An employer may also pull online instant credit reports when you apply for a job, and an insurance company may do it when you apply for a policy, so it is important to know the information is accurate. And, reviewing your credit reports is a great way to guard against identity theft.

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Surviving a Personal Financial Crisis

A financial crisis is a quick and painful way to learn the difference between wants and needs. It may be tremendously disorienting, overwhelming, stressful, depressing, heartbreaking and frightening. All of these feelings are normal and natural when unwanted events force you to restart your financial life. Unfortunately, they’re also likely to get in your way. It’s a vulnerable time and one in which some people strangely do further damage to themselves, due to denial. This is very common due to our pride and egos. Do whatever you can to separate your feelings from the action you need to take, especially if you're slipping into the “why me?” trap. We know it isn’t easy, but a financial

crisis is like a fire; the better you manage unruly feelings, the more effective your efforts will be to improve the situation. Once the initial shock and awe are over, the realization kicks in. Recognizing you’re in over your head is the first step. Assessing how far is the second step. No matter what circumstance your in—face your financial facts. It will be tough, and you’ll probably hate it, but the numbers will set you free. The advantage of knowing the facts, allows you to become more objective about your situation, which makes it easier to act on your financial priorities. It’s “financial progress not financial perfection”.

Starting over financially may be one of your most challenging dilemmas, but it’s not impossible. Like most problems, its best to ask for help. If you are feeling overwhelmed with your finances or need assistance with a budget, referral, financial counseling and/or any other kind of financial literacy education, please feel free to visit our website at www.acchelp.org or send an e-mail to info@acchelp.org or call toll free (877) X-MY-DEBT.