Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling In Phoenix

The quality of our credit is a big concern for a lot of us these days. If you're worried about the state of your credit, you should know that you're not alone. There are lots of others out there who want to know what they can do to improve their credit. Here are the five most important things you can to to keep your credit in top shape and avoid problems.

1. Purchase LifeLock Identity Theft Protection Is identity theft protection really worth it? Many people would agree that identity protection is one of the most important services to have these days. More and more, criminals are turning to crimes involving people's identity because it is a lucrative business. They are taking money from millions of Americans and American companies, and leaving you, the victim, to deal with cleaning up the mess. Get help and avoid identity theft with a service like LifeLock. It is really easy to sign up and definitely worth the money.

2. Review your credit with your FREE report Resident of most states have the right to receive one free credit report from each of the three bureaus annually. To retrieve your free reports, all you have to do is write, call, or go online. You can find the actual contact information through a google search or via a phone book. You can use these reports to dispute any claims that may be inaccurate or that may be the result of identity theft. Remember that you won't get your credit score on these reports, but you can tell what good things or bad things are listed.

3. Call credit companies if you know you are going to make a late payment One thing that many people forget is that if you know you are going to be late on a payment, you can call your creditors and let them know that you are going to be late. Many times they will work with you to either make up a payment arrangement or will allow you a grace period in which to make your payment. In addition, they won't report anything to the credit bureaus. Otherwise, if you don't call, they will report this information. So save yourself the pain and communicate with these people.

4. Try and only use credit for major purchases like houses and cars or in emergencies. Many people over extend their credit by using it for little things and everyday purchases. If you want to make sure you keep good credit, one thing you can do is avoid using it. Put only large purchases on a credit card or take out a loan only for major things. Keep a card on hand for an emergency rental car or hotel, but otherwise, keep away from your credit. Your score will thank you later.

5. Make on-time payments When you do have to use your credit cards never make only the minimum payment, unless you absolutely can't afford to pay more. Also, never skip a payment without talking to your creditors first and making sure that it's okay and won't be reported. All of these will together help to improve your score and get you out of debt.