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On the path to better credit? Prepare to hear a lot of myths. These myths become prevalent for different reasons, so be sure to inform yourself in all matters regarding credit repair. Watch out for these top five credit repair myths when trying to repair your own credit. After all, dangerous methods can do more harm than good.
More Money Means Better Credit
Having a higher income can come with higher credit, but that’s only because more money will allow you to pay down credit cards and loans more easily. Credit companies do not look at your individual income when determining your credit score. The fact that so many high-income households suffer from miserable credit is proof of that. Credit repair is all about paying down loans, which you can do at any income level.
Opening New Accounts Is Always Beneficial
People who want better credit often consider opening new accounts, believing that the additional credit information will boost their credit score. While having extra credit accounts can potentially lead to an improved credit profile, it’s important to be mindful of drawbacks. Opening new accounts can temporarily lower your average account age, which may have a minor impact on your credit. Managing numerous accounts can be challenging and may increase the risk of costly mistakes. Some cards have annual fees, so be aware.
Bad Marks Will Never Go Away
When someone goes through a foreclosure or lien or gets any type of bad mark on their credit, they see it as a death knell and assume their credit is forever ruined. However, any mark will go away with time. The length of time it takes to disappear will vary—it could be months or years. Continue to work on your credit and build it up until it does disappear.
Closing Accounts Will Help
If having too many accounts is bad, then closing them will help, right? While you don’t want to have too many accounts, having too few accounts is just as bad. If you close them all, there is no way for credit agencies to learn about your credit. A major part of your score is the age of your credit. Removing old accounts takes away years or decades of your credit history, leaving you with only new information. This is detrimental to your credit score.
You Can Build Great Credit Quickly
If you’re doing everything right, you might be frustrated if your score is not going up. Good credit doesn’t happen overnight, and it may take much longer to show your efforts.
Repairing your credit will take time. There are no quick-fix gimmicks to cheat the system. It’s a slow, straightforward process. Instead of wasting your time on these five myths, focus on paying down your balances, staying on top of your bills, and managing your finances.
