You may be extended the credit or loan, but at higher interest rates. There are ways to gain back the credit scores you deserve. The first thing you must do is to obtain all three of your credit reports as soon as possible.
Don't try to get by with only one. You must get all three because each one can contain different data. When you get them, look them over completely with a fine-tooth comb.
Note any mistakes and report them to the bureau right away. Even the slightest mistake on your reports can cause you to have a lower score. Make sure all three reports have the same information as the others.
Discrepancies can also hurt your chances of receiving a good score from the credit monitoring agencies. Sometimes the credit card companies don't report to all three bureaus, so check and be sure all three have the same facts and figures.
Take a look at the debt that is owed to your creditors. Negotiate with the companies over the debt and get the debt paid off if possible. If they report that the debt owed to them has been paid in full, your credit reports will reflect that positive action and your credit score will be raised.
If it's not possible to pay them all off, then pay as much as you can on a regular basis. Make sure you're paying all of your bills on time. Late payments, especially recent ones, get on your reports and are factored into your credit scores as a detriment.
Don't apply for any more debt until you have all of your old debt paid off. The credit reports will reflect all of the debt that you owe, so the more debt that it shows, the lower your score will be until it's paid off.
Pay off all your old debt first and make sure that they're reported to the credit monitoring agencies. Even when you pay off your credit cards, keep the accounts open at least on some of them.
Closing all of the accounts reflects negatively on your score. Even if you don't intend on using those accounts again, it still looks better that the account is open and there's zero balance on it.
It also looks better if you charge very small amounts and then pay it off completely each month on time. It shows your ability to repay your debt. Don't pay another company to take care of your credit repair unless you absolutely know that they come highly recommended.
It's best you do it yourself. Most of the companies that claim they can repair your credit instantly are scams that will take your money and do nothing for your credit. Work hard to keep it clean and pay off all your bills on time. You can bring a negative score to a more positive one with a little diligence in budgeting for your bills and maintaining a timely schedule.
