Credit Reports

How To Build A Credit History

Back in our grandparent's day business was conducted in cash and a handshake was all the credit you needed but today you have got to have a good credit history if you want to obtain the best interest rates or credit in the amounts you might need for an emergency. If you have no reported credit history lenders are likely to consider you "high risk". This is because there is no past record for them to look back on. It's kind of like applying for a job. If you apply for a position higher up in the company but have no previous on-the-job experience, they aren't likely to hire you but if you apply for an entry-level job and work your way up. You get the point. You need credit history.

Certain types of people have more problems in this area than others. Generally, young people just starting their careers, older people who've always paid cash, and divorced or widowed women tend to have more problems than others. There often is no credit history for them.

The first thing to do is to find out what's in your credit file and credit history. Sometimes errors can be reported in your credit history or there can be some reports that you didn't realize would show up or that you had forgotten were there. Make sure, if you've had a different name or lived in a different location, that those past records were merged with your current record. Also, if you shared accounts with a former spouse, ask the credit bureau to list these accounts under your name as well. Many will perform these services for a small fee.

Remember that creditors are not required to report any account history information to the credit bureaus. However, if you have a joint account and the creditor does report it - it must be reported under both your names under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The best way to make sure this is done is to contact your creditor in writing (make sure to include account numbers and keep a copy).

If you do not have a credit history (or have a sparse one), you should start to work on one immediately. First, you must have a steady income and should live in the same area for at least a year. Then you can try applying for credit with a local department store or applying for a small loan amount from your bank. Often a local department store or bank will approve credit applications when larger ones will reject them due to a lack of credit history. Most importantly, before you apply, ask if they report credit history information to credit bureaus. If at all possible, you should strive to obtain credit that will be reported, as this will build your credit history.

If you are rejected ask for the reason why. There are often other reasons for a denial than lack of a credit history. For instance, your income may not meet the minimum or you may not have worked at your current job long enough. You can usually solve these problems with time or by simply applying with another creditor. In almost all cases, it is best to wait at least 6 months before making each new application because credit bureaus record every inquiry about you and inquiries can damage your credit by making it look like you are trying to obtain too much credit too quickly.

If you still are having problems developing credit, you may want to ask a person who has an established credit history to act as your cosigner. A cosigner guarantees that you'll pay and that if you don't - they will. This makes you look like a better risk for creditors. Once you have paid off this debt, try again to get credit on your own.