Posts Tagged ‘ credit ’


3 Simple, Yet Important Credit Tips

April 2, 2015 | Posted by Blair Warner | No Comments

You Need to Know these 3 Tips for Managing or Repairing Your Credit

3 Credit Tipsby Darren Robinson, Guest Contributor

Want to buy a house? Don’t miss these 3 valuable tips anyone can do for building great credit in order to qualify for the best mortgage rates!

When it comes to securing financing for a new house or an existing property, getting a great mortgage rate is at the top of all of our lists. This is probably because even a small difference in your mortgage rate can make a BIG difference to the total interest you’ll pay over the lifetime of your mortgage and overall amortization.

The truth is that getting a great mortgage rate often comes down to having great credit.

But did you know that having no credit can be just as damaging as having bad credit?

Did you know that credit reporting agencies don’t verify the information that is given to them? Or did you know that your credit can affect more than just your ability to qualify for loans? In fact, it can affect many of your everyday purchases, from cell phones to insurance to public utilities!

So if you’re looking for tips to improve or repair your credit, read on for valuable advice and recommendations to manage your credit and improve your financial situation you can start today!

First, always make at least your minimum payment on time on every loan, credit card or other debt you owe.

You may think that you can miss a month and then pay extra the following month—but that’s not how the credit card companies operate (or calculate interest). Instead, your required payment will be considered late or delinquent. Most companies will report even one missed payment to the credit reporting agencies – and this can damage your credit score. So make at least the minimum payment on every loan, no matter what, to keep your credit healthy and in good standing with any debtors you have, as well as have the best chance of a high FICO credit score.

Related Article: How Are FICO Scores Determined

Second, set up pre-authorized payments so your bills are paid automatically.

As I mentioned above, missing even one payment can affect your credit. Debtors don’t care if you intentionally or accidentally forgot to make a payment. They only care if you make your payments on time, every time.

Maybe you simply forgot to pay a bill because all of your bills are due on different days and you don’t have an organized system to keep track of them. In that case, setting up pre-authorized payments can be a lifesaver.

If you prefer not to use preauthorized payments, setting a reminder on your cell phone or computer can be another great way to make sure your bills are always paid on time. Paying your bills becomes effortless so you never miss a due date. You’ll also save money by avoiding unnecessary interest charges.

Lastly, request a copy of your credit report at least once a year and review it thoroughly.

In Canada, you can contact one of two credit bureaus (Equifax or TransUnion) directly to request a free copy of your credit report. In the U.S. you can go to http://annualcreditreport.com to get all 3 credit reports from Equifax, Transunion and Experian.  Verify the accuracy of ALL information, including your personal information, loans, credit cards, etc.

Take note: Credit bureaus don’t verify the information they get from your creditors so it’s up to you to make sure all the information is accurate! Otherwise, you could get a nasty surprise since inaccurate information or information about a loan you don’t recognize could signal that someone may have opened an account in your name, or even possible identify theft.

Address any inaccurate information as soon as possible so that you can be on your way to improving your credit.

For more tips on managing and repairing your credit you are in the right place. Upgrade My Credit is here to help. To get straight forward advice and tips so you can qualify for the best Barrie mortgage rates, visit my website or give me a call.

By Darren Robinson, Mortgage Broker

Darren Robinson is a Barrie mortgage broker, dedicated to offering the best mortgage strategies. He helps people qualify for difficult mortgages and loans. Visit his blog for home buying tips and mortgage renewal tips or call him at 705.737.6161!


What is a Mortgage Pre-approval?

October 7, 2014 | Posted by Blair Warner | No Comments

home buyer's checklist - pre-approvalIf you have even mentioned to a Realtor or mortgage professional that you are thinking of buying a home soon, you no doubt have heard the term “pre-approval”.

What is a mortgage pre-approval?

First, let’s clarify what a mortgage pre-approval is NOT. It is not the same as a pre-qualification. The pre-qualification process most often includes pulling your credit score and getting some information from you either verbally or from an application. No verification of any kind occurs. Mortgage pre-qualification happens when your lender approves you as the borrower for a certain amount to buy a house (how much house you can afford), and that you qualify on a least a preliminary basis. A pre-qualification is a minimal first step before most Realtors will begin showing you houses.

A mortgage pre-approval is more detailed. This process also includes pulling your credit score, but includes verifying income with paystubs or a W2 tax form, collecting bank statements, etc. and can sometimes even be submitted to underwriting. Mortgage pre-approval positions a buyer to better negotiate a purchase because the seller knows your offer is backed by a lender. Mortgage approval comes after pre-approval.

What do you do if you don’t qualify for a mortgage pre-approval?

If there are credit or debt road blocks to obtaining a pre-approval, or a pre-qualification, for that mater, now would be the time to start taking steps to improve your credit, and if necessary, contact a certified credit consultant. Don’t let it discourage you. You are on the road to home ownership and WILL eventually start looking for your dream home; you just need to get your ducks in a row, first.


For more details on mortgage pre-approval and why home buyers should get pre-approved for a mortgage go here –> (courtesy of Amerifirst Home Mortgage)


Posted by Blair Warner – Credit Consultant and Chief Editor of UpgradeMyCredit.com

Bad Credit Scores Costs You Money!

October 28, 2013 | Posted by Blair Warner | No Comments

A Great Credit Score Can Save You A Lot of Money

A good credit score can save you money!Have you ever considered how much Money You can Save by having a Great Credit Score?

If you currently have low credit scores, you may be wondering if you should pay money to improve your credit score. Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret: if you ever get any kind of loan, you will make your money back many times over!

The reason is simple. Creditors of all kinds will charge you more – sometimes much more – to borrow money if you have a low or even a fair credit score.

Having a 720 credit score instead of a 640 score could save you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Yes, it may seem unfair, but that’s the reality of the lending world.

As someone who has 12 years of experience in the lending world as a loan officer and manager, and now the editor of MyMortgageInsider.com, I could tell you countless stories of how people have saved tons of money by having great credit.

Let’s look at an example, taken straight from today’s rate sheets: Someone with a 720 score could get a $200,000 loan with a principal and interest payment of $1013 per month and a rate of 4.5% (4.652% APR)*.

The same person with a 640 score would pay $1073 per month and have a 5.0% interest rate (5.155% APR)*. The borrower with a 640 score would pay an extra $60 per month and an additional $21,700 in interest over the life of the loan!

How does that fee for credit repair services look now? Pretty low?

The bottom line is this: lenders want to see that you are a low-risk borrower. And it all comes down to the three little numbers on your credit report. The higher those numbers, the less you will pay for credit.

And a home mortgage is just scratching the surface when it comes to the money you’ll save by having a good credit score. Some other things you’ll save money on are:

    Car insurance
    Homeowner’s insurance
    Renter’s insurance
    Auto loans
    Credit cards

Heck, many employers look at your credit reports when you’re applying for a job these days, and some may even look at your credit scores! What if your bad credit cost you a great job? Reference NYTimes article on this subject.

When you add up all the money you could save and make over your lifetime by having a great credit score, the dollar amount could easily be six figures or more. This is no exaggeration.

Yes, it may seem like a lot of work to build, improve, and maintain your credit score. It takes a lot of discipline. But it’s that discipline that lenders are looking for. It proves you are a worthy candidate and will pay back the loan according to the terms you agreed to.

So if you can get help from an expert to improve your credit score, take that opportunity despite the time, cost and effort. You will get huge returns on your investment – more than you probably ever expected.

*Payment does not include taxes, insurance, or HOA dues. Rates are as of 9/10/13. Purchase price $250,000, loan amount $200,000, property in WA. Scenarios are 30 year fixed conventional loans.

by Tim Lucas – MyMortgageInsider.com

Tim is the Editor and Chief Contributor to the website MyMortgageInsider.com. He has been in the mortgage industry for more than 12 years as a loan originator and mortgage processor. He’s answered just about every kind of mortgage question over the years and has tons of experience to draw from. Please Send Mortgage Questions to: tim@mymortgageinsider.com

Has this been helpful? Please feel free to comment or share on social media. We like helping people.

Tweet for creditTweetable Takeaways Include:

  • Having a 720 credit score instead of a 640 score could save you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. (Click to tweet)
  • Lenders want to see that you are a low-risk borrower. And it all comes down to the three little numbers on your credit report. (Click to tweet)
  • Most employers look at your credit reports when you’re applying for a job these days! (Click to tweet)



Blair Warner – UpgradeMyCredit.com Editor & Chief Credit Consultant

Don’t make this credit mistake!
credit cards Arlington, Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas
This is going to be a really short post, but one of the most important you could read concerning maintaining, or building a good credit score. What is the worst mistake people routinely make related to their credit and credit reports? You may be surprised, for it is not obvious, and on the surface actually seems like a good thing to do. In fact, most people make this mistake when actively trying to rebuild their credit scores, and reduce their debt, making it very frustrating, to say the least. Click to Tweet

What is this mistake? drum roll…..Closing credit card accounts. Go ahead, admit it. You have thought about it at least once, and understandably so. For a lot of us, it’s those darn credit cards that got us in trouble in the first place, (so we like to say). Therefore, why not just close them and cut them up? That’s what some of the financial and money management gurus on the net will say. Depending on your financial situation and goals, for most of us there is a very important reason you don’t want to close out your credit card accounts, especially if your goal is to repair and build your credit score. If you have other goals, like getting out from under an ill-controlled mountain of debt, and curtailing credit card spending, then you will want to talk with a credit and debt counselor first to put in place a comprehensive money management plan, including a budget. For this particular credit blog post with emphasis on credit score repair and building, closing out your credit cards could be a mistake. I am going to direct you to a well written CBS article by Adam Levin of credit.com that does a great job explaining why you don’t want to make this most common credit mistake.

Go here for the CBS News article

Check out this previous article for more information on How FICO Scores Are Determined

It is our sincerest desire that you found this article helpful for your journey to restoring your credit and reducing your debt.

By Blair Warner and the Upgrade My Credit team.

credit report imageThere are a lot of myths surrounding credit scores and how they are calculated, or, put another way, what information is and is not considered in your credit score. Credit scores are based upon information on the credit report. This is the only information used to calculate scores, and predict credit behavior. Since there is often confusion of what is and what is not used in credit score calculations, below should help out a lot.


Which data is and is not included in a credit report?

Personal Information such as name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number and employment data (where you work(ed) only) are included.

Account information. Account information includes loan amount, credit limit, balance, payment dates, payment rating and history, to name a few.

Collections by 3rd party collection agencies.

Public records like judgements, tax liens, bankruptcy, etc. are reported.

Inquiries, when and where, but not for how much, and why you applied for credit. Inquiries initiated by you are called “hard” inquiries, which are results from applying for new credit such as credit cards, vehicle loans, mortgage, etc. Go here for more on inquiries and the myth surrounding their impact on your credit score.

Information NOT included in credit reports:

No salary or income history whatsoever is included

Medical history is not included, although medical collections via a 3rd party collection agency may be.

No arrest or criminal records are reported.

Property tax records are not included.

Insurance premiums or insurance claims are not reported.

Personal information like gender, marital status, race, religion, nationality, political affiliation and personal lifestyle is not a part of your credit reports.

Payday loans (unless in collection), debit cards and prepaid debit cards are excluded

Inquiries initiated by you online, called “soft inquiries” are not reported and have no effect on your credit score.

Financial Institution accounts like checking accounts, savings accounts, CD’s, or investment accounts. NSF checks will appear if sent to collections.

While some of the above information like income and assets may be considered by lenders such as mortgage banks, and auto finance companies, etc., in their decision process, you need only be concerned about the information that is reported on your credit reports as far as your credit score in concerned. Information not reported on your credit reports does NOT impact your credit score.

By Blair Warner (see About US page for more info.)

Cut Utility Costs – Improve Your Credit

August 2, 2012 | Posted by Blair Warner | 2 Comments

Cutting costs to get out of debt

Click for a free credit evaluation

I admit, the title was designed to get you to read this posts. However, it’s true; when trying to get out of debt and improve your credit profile, it is often important to look at your finances and expenses and come up with ways to save money so that you can pay down any debt you may need to in order to increase your score and reach your financial goals. One of the biggest expenses we have, besides food and shelter, are utility bills like electricity, water, telephone, etc. Today’s blog looks at some tips for saving money on your electric bill, the biggest portion of your utility bills.

First, Reevaluate your monthly electric bills. Read through your bills and understand what all the charges are for. Start by determining how much electricity you use. Understand what each itemized fee is, and even look at the kilowatt usage. Compare each month and season’s usage, and use the monthly usage from the previous 12 months to determine the approximate value. (Follow the same process for your water bill, telephone bill and internet bill. Some people have an HOA bill as well.)

Consider the amount of energy you use at night. Many people burn a great deal of energy at night, leaving lights on and appliances running while they sleep. Make sure your T.V., computers, and any unused ceiling fans are turned off, as well as unplug gadgets such as cellphone and radio devices, as they can suck energy. (It’s not good for your device batteries anyway, to keep charging after a full charge).

Change your lighting. If you use a particular light more than 30 minutes a day it is economically worth it to replace the bulb with a high-quality LED or compact flourescent bulb to save money.

Pay attention to heating and air-conditioning. The heating and air-conditioning systems probably account for the largest portion of your monthly electric bill. There are several good tips you can follow to save electrical use for these items.

  • Make sure and change your filters regularly. Don’t use the so-called permanent filters. They can cause your system to not function at full capacity, and put strain on the unit, even requiring a sooner-than-normal replacement.
  • Is your house properly insulated? A well-insulated home will not leak heat or cool-air.
  • Use a fan instead of an air-conditioner when you can. It is far less costly. Also, turning your thermostat up a little, to even 77 or 78 degrees and using a fan will do wonders in cutting costs.


  • Decrease energy use by your refrigerator and freezer. They use a great deal of energy. Of course, you can’t very well turn off the refrigerator. There are a few things you can do. Make sure the door is closed when not in use, and check all the sealing gaskets around the doors to make sure they seal well. Lastly, make sure there is plenty of ventilation by leaving plenty of space between the refrigerator and the wall.

    Use the oven and stove in ways that uses less energy. When using the stove, use the right pots for the right burner size. Turn the stove off five minutes before the cooking time ends. Keep the oven door closed as much as possible and try not to preheat it if possible. Finally, turn off the oven 10 minutes before the food is ready.

    Use energy-efficient appliances. Technology has come a long way in developing energy-efficient appliances, especially for the most often used ones.

    As a last tip, make sure the washing machine and dish washer are as full as possible before each use so as to reduce the number of times they are used. Furthermore, in most cases, it is ok to use cold water which will reduce energy use more than you would think.

    As David Horowitz says “Being energy-efficient is not only good for the environment, but is one of the most important ways in which you can cut costs.”

    I know this is not your typical blog topic you see on a credit repair and credit counseling website, but I hope you received some great ideas on how to save money.

    By Blair Warner

    The 10 Commandments of a Good Credit Score

    June 3, 2012 | Posted by Blair Warner | 5 Comments

    A common question I get asked is, “what is the secret to a good credit score?” I always hate to answer it so matter-of-factly and quickly because I know they are hoping I can perform magic. The simple answer is, though, the only way to get one is to demonstrate financial responsibility. “Creditors don’t care about how many millions you may have in your investment account, it’s how you use your credit,” says Maxine Sweet, vice president, public education for Experian.

    However, there are some tips for using your credit, and like many things in life, it’s what you don’t do that can have a positive effect on your credit score.


    Steer Clear of These 10 Things:

    1. Thou Shalt Not Avoid Using Credit. If you don’t use credit, you won’t have much of a credit score. To Quote Sweet again, “A credit score is an important tool companies use to protect themselves”. The lower the score, the higher the risk, and this can affect whether or not a loan is approved.

    2. Thou Shalt Not Miss Payments. Paying a bill late will hurt your credit, but missing a payment will damage it even more. “If you do so, you can’t make it up,” Sweet says. In other words, making two payments in the next billing cycle will not remove the blemish from your credit history. Whether or not you pay your bills on time determines 33% of your score.

    3. Thou Shalt Not Limit Loan Types. Despite what your bank account may think, a car payment and a mortgage may not be enough. Also managing an installment debt, such as a credit card, is a good indicator of credit savviness. There are five elements to the credit score model and revolving credit, which allows consumers to charge and owe different amounts each month, is one of them. “It’s 10% of the score,” says Gail Cunningham, vice president of public relations for National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

    4. Thou Shalt Not Close Unused Credit Card Accounts. Actually, just use caution, says Sweet. A factor in credit score models is your utilization, which is your debt vs. how much is available. For instance, if you owe $4,800 on a card with a $5,000 limit, you’re using most of your available credit and this “utilization” will have a negative impact on your score. Counting toward 30 percent, your utilization is the second highest factor in your credit score. You should charge no more than 30% of your available credit, recommends Cunningham.

    5. Thou Shalt Not Be A Credit Tease. Don’t run up charges all over town or apply for several cards at once while looking for the best rewards program. Recent inquiries means that you have accessed your credit and this can affect your score negatively. “This signals that you’re desperate for credit and don’t have enough cash available for your purchases,” says Cunningham. She adds that if you are shopping for a major purchase, such as a mortgage or car loan, the inquiries will usually roll together into one.

    6. Thou Shalt Not Rob Peter To Pay Paul. Don’t charge anything unless you know how and when you are going to pay it back. One of the benefits of credit is the ability to spread out payments on a big purchase, not to delay paying with hopes that the money will come in – from somewhere. If you need to use a credit card for convenience, use a prepaid card or a secured card that enables you to make payments to your own line of credit.

    7. Thou Shalt Not Get On The Call List. When a debt turns into a collection account, it’s an indication that you got yourself in hot water. Once a collection agency jumps into the arena, it becomes the owner of the debt, which will show on your credit history. Trying to make payments to the original debtor will not make the collection agency or the negative mark on your credit go away.

    8. Thou Shalt Not Forget The Little Things. That library fine you didn’t pay or the health club contract you signed but didn’t honor can show up on your credit report. Any debtor has the right to report unpaid bills to the credit bureaus, and many of them exercise that right.

    9. Thou Shalt Not Negotiate. On paying less than what you owe, that is. If you cannot repay a debt in full and a creditor agrees to settle for less than you owe, you haven’t won the battle. The transaction will be reported as a settled account and this will hurt your credit score. Instead of negotiating to lower the overall amount of the debt, ask to have your interest rate or monthly payment lowered so that you can continue to pay the debt off in full. (Sometimes negotiating is the best choice. Each case is different)

    10. Thou Shalt Not Give Up. If you have late payments, missed payments, defaulted loans, and similar credit mess-ups in-between, don’t give up and think that your credit history is ruined. Although offenses like these generally stay on your credit history for seven years, the recovery clock doesn’t start ticking until you have one full month of paying all of your debts on time, says Sweet.

    Adapted from FreeCreditReport.com, a part of Experian. (excluding introductory paragraph)

    Posted by Blair Warner

    Mortgage Originators: FHA Delays Collection Payoff Rule

    April 8, 2012 | Posted by Blair Warner | No Comments

      FHA Delays Implementation of Collection Payoff Rule

    Looks like the public outcry has FHA rethinking their position. Note in bold–wording regarding seeking additional input.

    Posted as an FHA notice late April 6:

    In order to allow Mortgagees additional time to adapt their procedures to implement portions of the new guidance found in Mortgagee Letter 2012-03 (ML 2012-03), FHA is delaying the effective date of the following topics from ML 2012-03:

    Handling of Disputed Accounts, Public Records FHA Total User Guide Chapter 2, and
    Handbook 4155.1 4.C.2.e, Paying off Collections and Judgments.

    The new effective date of this section is delayed until July 1, 2012. Prior to the effective date, FHA intends to seek additional input on this section and work to clarify guidance, as appropriate.

    The Mortgagee Letter and FHA Total Scorecard User Guide will be updated and posted to HUD’s website on Monday April 9, 2012. Please Note: With this extension, any case numbers assigned prior to July 1, 2012 are subject to the previous guidance in effect for the subject topics.

    From OriginationPro Blog Post April 7, 2012:

    This means we have 3 more months to get more loans closed. It also means there is more time to come up with a workable plan for implementing the new rulings once they do come into effect.

    Best to you!

    By Blair Warner
    I am on Google+

    How To Set Goals

    February 29, 2012 | Posted by Blair Warner | 1 Comment

    Today’s Blog Post comes by way of Dr. Daisy Sutherland, the Founder/CEO
    Dr. Mommy Online

    Goals are something we as individuals all have. Some may have achieved their goals while others are still determining what their goals are or how they can achieve them. Everyone knows the importance of not only having goals for your health, business or life in general but how many are actually taking the next step of writing them down.”~ Dr. Daisy Sutherland

    Goal setting and planning are a crucial part of any successful financial planning and debt management, so we thought it would be helpful to share some tips.

    Here Are 5 Tips Dr. Sutherland mentions in her article:

    1. Start with a positive mental attitude (PMA)
    2. Details are Essential
    3. Be realistic
    4. Write your goals on paper
    5. Determine a time frame

    Read full article here…

    Avoid These Goal-Setting Mistakes

    Hope you gained something from our post, even though it is not specifically related to credit issues.

    Blair Warner – Founder and Sr. Credit Consultant

    Check out my Google Plus Profile

    What is credit repair anyway?

    May 1, 2011 | Posted by Blair Warner | No Comments

    It seems like a new business networking group springs up every week. This last week, I was asked to join a new group by the name of Cup of Coffee Networkers. From what I can tell, it is primarily an online group, so I am still trying to figure out how this avid coffee-drinking connoisseur is going to get his cup of coffee. Actually, I think the goal is to start online and then organize groups offline step by step. Are they going to meet at coffee shops?

    All humor aside, it is a fact that business networking groups are the in thing these days. A popular one that I personally attend is Netweavers– SAKM Netweavers (South Arlington, Kennedale, Mansfield) . You are probably asking “what does this have to do with the title ‘What is credit repair anyway?'” Well, I am glad you asked. One of the key components of any networking group is to meet with other members one-on-one in order to get to know each other and their respective businesses better. Without fail, whenever I do a one-on-one with someone they either ask “what is credit repair anyway?” or, “so, how does credit repair work?”. That is the question I am waiting for them to ask. I love to answer it.

    Credit repair in a nutshell:

    The first step is to obtain your credit reports and get them to us. Once we’ve received your credit reports, we will analyze your credit history to identify items that are responsible for bringing your credit score down – including not having enough current positive credit.

    Upgrade Your Credit

    We will recommend and provide ways to increase your score, as well as draft letters to dispute the negative items on your behalf. Upgrade My Credit’s letters are expertly designed such that credit bureaus will accept the dispute and conduct an investigation.

    A disputed credit listing must be verified as accurate and within the correct time constraints for it to remain on the credit report. If the credit listings contain an error, the credit bureau may simply correct the item, but, very often, disputed credit items cannot be verified because either the creditor no longer possesses necessary information or does not to go to the effort of verifying it. Furthermore, the investigation must be completed within 30 days or the listing must be removed. For these reasons, properly disputed credit listings are removed from your credit report with remarkable frequency.

    At the conclusion of the credit bureau’s investigation, a new copy of the credit report is sent to you along with any deletions or improvements. You then provide us with a copy of the new credit report and the cycle repeats itself at strategic intervals and according to a personalized plan for reaching your goals.

    The above process can be done DIY (Do it yourself), as the laws used by Upgrade My Credit and all credit restoration companies were written for the consumer. However, for some reason, the government did not write the laws consumer-user friendly. And, just like we need a CPA or even have someone mow the lawn for us, often times, it is more efficient and quicker to let a professional help.

    In addition to credit repair, Upgrade My Credit offers many more financial and credit services to help you build and manage your financial future well, such as personal budgeting help, debt reduction programs, classes and workshops, bankruptcy counseling, etc.

    Well, that is it in a nutshell. Hope it has answered the question “what is credit repair?”.

    Here’s to your financial future!

    Blair Warner – Founder and Sr. Credit Consultant

    Credit Reports, Credit Repair, credit counseling, Credit Restoration, Credit Cards, Credit Score, Debt Settlement, build credit, debt, foreclosure, identity theft, medical bills, free credit repair, bankruptcy, Credit Repair Fort Worth, Credit Repair Arlington, Credit Repair Dallas, Credit Repair Plano, Credit Repair North Richland Hills, Credit Repair Mansfield, Credit Repair Kennedale,