Tag: Credit Report Errors

Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

How soon can a Creditor Send my Account to Collections?

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A bill sent to collections can stay on your credit report for up to seven years and have a negative impact on your credit score.  Sometimes people are unaware they have an unpaid bill until a debt collector contacts them, others have fallen on hard times and do not have a choice but to let their debt go to collections.

So how quickly can a creditor send an unpaid bill to a debt collector?

This can occur as soon as the default in payment has occurred. For example, if you made a promise to pay on a certain date and failed to do so, you could be sent to collections the very next day.  However, if there is a contractual grace period, the creditor cannot send the account to collections until the grace period has expired.

You may be able to negotiate with the creditor (or landlord, doctor’s office, utility company, etc.) by explaining your situation and working out a payment plan.  Keep in mind, they want to get paid, rather than write the debt off as a loss.

If you end up with a collection account on your credit report, you can try to have it removed. If it cannot be removed, focus on other aspects of your credit, like paying down debt and making future payments on time. This will help rehabilitate your credit score overtime.

It is also a good idea to regularly review your credit report for mistakes, because credit report errors are common and can damage your credit- unnecessarily. You are entitled to a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

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If you are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

 

Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

5 Quick Fixes for Your Credit Score

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Mortgage borrowers are struggling to obtain the best rates when purchasing a new home. If your credit score is less than 740, these quick fixes are for you:

1. Pay down credit card balances. FICO scores are the highest for those who carry less than a 20% balance on their credit cards. Most analysts believe paying down credit card balances is the best way to improve your credit score.

2. Fix credit report errors. Many individuals have credit report errors weighing down their scores and have no idea. A common credit report error is a medical collection. You may think your insurance company has taken care of a bill and vise versa. It is vital that you make sure your credit report has no errors.

3. Eliminate disputed accounts. Removing disputed accounts from your credit report is essential to improving your credit score. Disputed accounts appear as a negative item. If you are applying for a conventional loan guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, these items must be removed.

4. Use an old credit card or apply for a new one. Unused credit cards will not have a positive impact on your score unless you begin using them. It may seem as though it will help your score if you do not use your credit cards, but using them responsibly will improve your score at a much faster pace.

5. Do not close any accounts. Opening new credit cards that are unnecessary and closing unused credit card accounts are equally negative for your credit score.

To read more on this story visit: http://money.msn.com/credit-rating/5-fast-fixes-for-your-credit-score

If you have any questions on this topic or are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.