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Credit Repair Secrets: 5 Tips For Negotiating Better Terms
If you're looking for credit repair secrets, here are 5 negotiating tips. They work regardless of how good or bad your credit might currently be. Let's get started.
Tip #1 Ask
Credit card companies are constantly competing for your business. It's easy for consumers to switch to another company so you can get all sorts of better terms just by asking. If you need a reason tell them you've been a good customer, made your payments on time, etc. Even if you don't have perfect credit, companies want to keep making money and will almost always offer better terms to keep you happy.
A friend of mine was struggling to manage her credit. She decided to close most of her accounts. That way she wouldn't be tempted to spend again once she got them paid down. The creditor started making her all sorts of offers of lower interest rates, lower payments, etc just to keep the account open. Seems that in this current economy, creditors are bending over backwards to make money any way they can. If you need to debt settlement, it might even be worth your time to start negotiating even before you get to that point.
Tip #2 Manage your balances well
When you have an available spending limit, you can do a balance transfer from a higher rate card. If you're interested in raising your credit limits, keep your balances around 30%. That way, you let the credit card companies make some money on interest and show you can manage your credit well.
Tip #3 Make credit card companies fight for you
Having a better deal somewhere else is a great way to get a better deal. As competitive as things are out there, creditors know it might not take much for you to go get that deal. You have much more leverage though if you already have that better deal in hand. Then they know you're ready to act and they better do something to keep you. If you've left space, you can go ahead and transfer your balances to the one with the best rate. Then go back to them and offer to transfer the balance back if they give you a better deal.
Tip #4 Maintain better credit
This one might sound obvious. The best customers get the best deals in any industry. One thing to consider though is if something happens and you have to miss payments. After making your secured loan payments, look at prioritizing your accounts based on how good a deal you're getting. Use that as leverage in the future. If they would have given you better terms, they could have been a higher priority. Ask for a better deal so they get paid first next time.
Tip #5 Crunch the numbers
There are more things you can negotiate than just the interest rate. When assessing the value of an account, consider any additional fees, any bonuses for using the card, if a low rate is temporary, etc. You can even ask to have negative items removed from your credit report if you ask. The only limit is what you're willing to ask for.
The bottom line to negotiating is to know where you are and where you want to be. Once you know that, get out there and do it. There really aren't any credit repair secrets. Just get started and you'll figure it out.
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