Showing posts with label Bankruptcy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bankruptcy. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

No-brainer Idea For Building Credit After Bankruptcy

Filing for bankruptcy is not an easy decision to come to, especially since it leaves such a mark on your credit history. Unlike items that have gone into collections remaining on your credit report for seven years, a bankruptcy discharge remains there for ten years.

Rebuilding your credit post-bankruptcy is a challenge but it is not impossible. You will be starting over in essence but the climb back to financial stability will be steeper because potential lenders will see you as a high financial risk for a decade. There are steps you can take to improve your situation but realize that there will be no easy fix and it will require patience and planning on your part to get you back on your feet.

Small Steps To Good Credit after Bankruptcy

Once you have filed for bankruptcy and had it discharged in court, you will need to have a look at your credit report. You will be checking to see if the discharged bankruptcy and relevant accounts have been noted on the report. In the US there are three major credit bureaus - Experian, TransUnion and Equifax so you will need to check all three.

Fortunately, these reports can be purchased together so you can easily compare what's being noted on each report. All of the accounts you listed on your bankruptcy filing should be noted as being discharged in court. If you find that there are any items not properly noted, you will have to contact the credit bureau and the creditor in writing to have them corrected. There are letter templates available online to help you write to the credit bureaus and creditors as well.

You should try to open either a savings or checking account once your bankruptcy has been discharged, if you do not already have one. Usually banks ask for a minimum deposit to open an account so you might be able to open both a checking and savings account on the same day. Even though banks typically do not report to credit bureaus unless you have bounced a check, having an active account shows potential lenders that you are able to manage your finances and would be able to continue to do so if you were to borrow money in the future.

Reestablishing Your Credit Post-Bankruptcy

Another way to reestablish credit post-bankruptcy is to obtain a secured credit card. A secured credit card is one that requires you to place a deposit into your account with the lender or bank issuing the credit card. Your line of credit with a secured credit card is usually equal to that of your deposit so it will be a low amount, about 0 or 0. To keep building your credit line, you should aim for about ,000 with your card issuer and this is built up over time. You would make payments with a secured credit card in the same manner that you would with a regular unsecured credit card: on time and in full.

Try to pay off your balance each month and do so before the bill is due. So long as you stay within 30% of your available credit - for example, if you have a 0 credit line, you should have at least left at the end of your statement period in available credit, and pay your balance on time, you should be well on your way to adding more positive points to your credit scores.

Getting Your Post Bankruptcy Loan

Once you have reigned in your expenses by adopting a monthly budget and opened both a bank account and a secured credit account, you can apply for a loan. A good loan to qualify for after a bankruptcy discharge is a car loan. These loans are secured, using the new car being financed as collateral. Once you have established a consistent payment history with your newly opened accounts, you should qualify for other lines of credit and loans within a reasonable time frame. The whole process can take a year or longer but the time will be worth it to help get your back on the road to personal financial recovery.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

How Unsecured Personal Loans Can Repair Credit Ratings After Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy might seem like the end of the road, but the stigma is not nearly as severe as it once was. In the past, it meant that the chances of getting approval on unsecured personal loans applications were practically nil, while even those lending firms who might be willing to take a chance would still be more likely to say no.

But in the modern world of finance, it is possible to get post-bankruptcy loans to repair credit ratings and begin the rebuilding process to a stronger financial status. In fact, it is that the credit rating improvement is the purpose of the loan that can lead to approval.

Still, there remains an acute risk to lenders that approval unsecured loans after bankruptcy, and for that reason the term can sometimes be debilitating. Higher interest rates may be expected, but with the advent of the internet, and the online lenders that can be found on it, the heavily increased rates do not need to be accepted.

Strategies To Recover After Bankruptcy

While bankruptcy might not be the end of the road, recovering from it does require starting again. This is where a small unsecured personal loan can come in so useful. However a loan is not the only strategy to choose, with low interest credit cards and dedicated saving helping the cause also.

Getting post-bankruptcy loans to repair credit ratings is admirable, but often the starting point is actually in building a savings account. In getting together a lump sum, a lender can see a committed attitude when a loan is finally applied for.

It can also help in securing a low interest secured credit card, with a small credit limit. This is necessary mainly due to the fact that our society is credit card orientated, but by making credit card repayments on time, a history of repayment is built up. So when it comes to applying for unsecured loans after bankruptcy, there is an indication of good financial habits.

Type of Loans Available

Graduating to loan applications is only natural, and the signs of recovery can only be beneficial when seeking a small unsecured personal loan. But there are options that are highly effective in rebuilding credit ratings. Amongst the best are payday loans, which are perfectly suited to the task.

These loans are approved against an upcoming pay check, making employment and income the two issues that really matter in the application. The loan from 0 to ,500 can be secured, making it very attainable, but they are repaid in full anything from 14 days to 30 days later. Interest rates are high, but the sum is small to there is little complaint regarding these post-bankruptcy loans to repair credit ratings.

Crucially, however, each time a payday loan is repaid, even if it is for just 0, it shows on the credit record. It might take some time, but after a series of 5 or 6 payday loans, the credit score will have increased quite considerably. This then augurs well when applying for larger unsecured loans after bankruptcy.

The Online Lenders

Where to go is a major part of the recovery process. Sadly, traditional lending institutions are quite strict about their lending policies so approving unsecured personal loans to an applicant that has been declared bankrupt is quite rare without severe penalties. Online lenders are experts on the area, however, and so offer post-bankruptcy loans to repair credit ratings at far better interest rates and terms.

Getting unsecured loans after bankruptcy is not impossible, but it is a recovery process that cannot be rushed. So, small and simple is the best strategy, eventually guiding the individual to healthier financial situations and qualifying them for larger and better unsecured personal loans.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Post Bankruptcy Time Periods For Auto Loans

Because of the national economy many businesses and individuals are still not capable of operating without some sort of governmental financial assistance. So, the number of folks with poor credit or bankruptcies seeking auto loans are surging like a tsunami. And many lenders have stepped in to fill that need. Time periods for auto loans may mean something to traditional lenders, but not online lenders.

Time Periods after Bankruptcy for Auto Loans

Many folks think that after successfully filing bankruptcy, that they must wait any number of years before applying for any sort of loan, especially a car finance loan. This is not often the case. Because of the number of people who have had to abandon a life fueled by credit cards and other financial debt, many prospective lenders have stepped in to fill the gap. Even bankrupt folks need transportation.

Two to Three Years Could Help

Post-bankruptcy borrowers may be helped by waiting a few years before attempting to land a car loan. During that time they may have to drive around in a clunker, but that will give them a chance to start giving new life to their credit history. Many take out small loans, put the cash in a bank account, and then have automatic payments made to the loan from that account. A number of little loans done this way can sincerely help your credit standing. Meanwhile, cool your need for a spiffy car.

Not an Option

If you rely heavily on a car to get to work or take care of other responsibilities, not having a means of dependable transportation could be a big detriment. So, don't worry about bankruptcy time periods to apply for an auto loan. As noted above, there are plenty of lenders out there to help you finance a vehicle without time periods elapsing.

Go Online

Time periods not withstanding your search for a car loan, your best bet would be to go online. Traditional brick and mortar financial institutions may not be interested in lending to you, but there are those who will. Just understand that with a bankruptcy or a poor credit credit history, you will end up paying higher than usual interest rates. But since so many Americans are having credit problems, and since so many need relief, what with new lenders stepping in to alleviate this problem, you are apt to find a deal that is as good or better than those offered to folks with good credit. So, start shopping.

No Time Periods before Applying

Non-traditional lenders are not too concerned if you had a bankruptcy yesterday or three years ago. The lower your credit scores and the sooner you apply after bankruptcy, will certainly effect the interest rates you are offered. About the only thing you will need is a government I.D., a proof of residency, a proof of salary and time on the job, a social security number and proof of bank accounts

Time Lapses Are Not Necessary for a Bankruptcy Auto Loan

Do not be fooled. A bankruptcy or other credit problems can be very hard on a credit report. That does not necessarily mean you cannot land a bankruptcy car loan. You may have to step back and not look to owning a dream car right after bankruptcy, but given a decent income and other indications of stability, landing a car loan should not be that big of deal. You do not have to wait forever to do it, you do not need to wait a time period after a bankruptcy to get a bankruptcy auto loan.