5 Things You Can Do To Have Good Credit

The quality of our credit is a big concern for a lot of us these days. If you’re worried about the state of your credit, you should know that you’re not alone. There are lots of others out there who want to know what they can do to improve their credit. Here are the five most important things you can to to keep your credit in top shape and avoid problems.

1. Purchase LifeLock Identity Theft Protection Is identity theft protection really worth it? Many people would agree that identity protection is one of the most important services to have these days. More and more, criminals are turning to crimes involving people’s identity because it is a lucrative business. They are taking money from millions of Americans and American companies, and leaving you, the victim, to deal with cleaning up the mess. Get help and avoid identity theft with a service like LifeLock. It is really easy to sign up and definitely worth the money.

2. Check your credit regularly with your free report Residents in most states are entitled to review there credit annually through the reports given by each of the three credit bureaus. This means that you can write the bureaus, call them, or go online to retrieve your free credit report. Remember you get one from each of the three bureaus every year. Make the most of this by checking to make sure everything is accurate. If there is any wrong information, you can dispute it. You won’t get your credit score with these reports, but you will know what good and/or bad things may be listed on your credit.

3. Call creditors if you are going to be late One thing that many people don’t know is that if you know you are going to be late on a payment, you can call your credit company in advanced and let them know. Most times they will give you an extension, sometimes up to 90 days. This way they don’t report it to the credit bureaus, and it won’t affect your credit. Communicating with those that you owe money to is critical. You will find that most times people are understanding as along as you are honest and timely.

4. Try and only use credit for major purchases like houses and cars or in emergencies. Many people over extend their credit by using it for little things and everyday purchases. If you want to make sure you keep good credit, one thing you can do is avoid using it. Put only large purchases on a credit card or take out a loan only for major things. Keep a card on hand for an emergency rental car or hotel, but otherwise, keep away from your credit. Your score will thank you later.

5. Pay on time. It doesn’t get much easier than this, and yet many people break this cardinal rule. Late payments definitely get reported on your credit, unless you have talked to your creditors in advanced and made arrangements. Also, try and make more than the minimum payments when you do pay your credit cards. It will help you get out of debt faster, and help your credit score too.

LifeLock is an identity theft protection program that has been helping people protect their credit and their identities for years. It’s a great program, and many feel that Life Lock not only gives them a great program, but peace of mind as well. To learn more about LifeLock, go to www.lifelock.com.