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You might think bad credit only keeps you from getting a credit card or loan, but it goes further than that. Bad credit can leave you homeless, carless, and jobless. That's because more and more businesses are using your credit to make decisions about you. Still not convinced it's time to get your credit act together? Here are 15 reasons you need to fix your credit.
Low credit scores typically mean higher interest rates, and that means higher finance charges on your credit card balances. Repairing your credit would allow you to get a more competitive interest rate and cut back on the money you pay in interest.
Utility service providers and even phone companies check your credit before allowing you to establish service. To offset the risk of a default, those service providers charge you a deposit. Making your payments on time will allow you to get your deposit back. Improving your credit score keeps you from having to pay the deposit altogether.
Believe it or not, your credit affects your insurance premiums. This includes auto, life, and home insurance. A bad credit history means you'll pay more for insurance than you would if you had better credit.
If you have bad credit, you'll have a hard time getting a credit card, which means you'll end up paying cash for everything. It may not be a nuisance until you need to do something like renting a car, where you have to pay an extra deposit if you don't use a credit car
Generally, as you demonstrate you can pay your bill on time, your creditors will increase your credit limit. But, a credit card issuer will check your credit score before increasing your credit limit. A bad credit history might get your credit limit cut hurting your credit score even more by raising your credit utilization.
Repairing your credit includes paying off those debt collection accounts. Until you do, you face relentless calls and letters from debt collectors. While you can take action to stop debt collector calls, collection accounts often move from one debt collector to another. When a new collector gets your debt, you'll have to go through the process of sending letters to stop the calls all over again
Homeownership has always been the American Dream. Bad credit is the nightmare that keeps you from realizing that dream. Many banks won't lend you a mortgage until you've repaired your credit. Those that will approve you with a high interest rate that makes home ownership cost a lot more.
When one spouse has better credit than the other, the spouse with good credit will be the one applying for the loans and credit cards. Improving your credit will let you bear some of the credit-brunt rather than placing it entirely on your spouse.
When you have bad credit, you'll often need others to co-sign for your loans and credit cards. If you can find someone to co-sign, you're putting financial pressure on them but they don't receive any of the benefits. Repairing your credit will save you the time and hassle of burdening someone else with co-signatures.
Starting a new business takes money, so many entrepreneurs rely on small business loans to get their businesses off the ground. Bad credit can keep you from getting the financing you need to start your new business. You'll have to improve your credit before a bank will give you a loan.
Having bad credit can tempt you to use your child's credit. You might think you'd never do that but you never know what you'll do when you're desperate. Say you have to have electricity turned on, but your credit's too bad. You could easily rationalize using your child's credit to have the electricity turned on. Keep your own good credit and you won't think about exploiting your child's.