Your Credit Report After Bankruptcy-What To Look For
By Karla Fiscus
Do you KNOW what is on your credit report? Even if you have just filed bankruptcy it is EXTREMELY important that you KNOW how it is reported on your credit report. It is NOT the credit reporting agencies responsibility to make sure that your credit report is accurate. It is YOURS, and only you can make sure that it is.
After receiving your bankruptcy discharge papers the first thing you will want to do is get a copy of your credit report and make sure that the information reported on it is correct. Did you know that over 90% of the time it is incorrect?
You wll want to make sure that your report is showing the date the bankruptcy was filed and when it was discharged. Make sure that ALL creditors that you included in the bankruptcy are showing that they were and that your balance is $0 and nothing else. Profit & Loss or Charge Offs will lower your credit score. Make sure they report as "included in bankruptcy" with a $0.00 balance.
If a creditor shows any balance other than $0.00 and it was included in the bankruptcy it will lower your credit score. It will by your responsibility to contact the creditor and have them update your credit report to show the correct information. Be prepared, you may need to contact them several times before they get it right. But don't stop until it is.
Did you also know your credit score will go up after a bankruptcy? Why? Because all past due, profit & loss and charge offs will now show a balance of $0 instead of a balance past due.
Did you know that if your credit score is over 500 you can purchase a home and get 100% financing? That's right!! However, you need to realize that you will be paying a premium price in the closing costs and interest rate. If you do some credit repair and wait until the bankruptcy is two years old you can qualify for a Fannie Mae low interest rate loan.
Remember, you are responsible for your own credit report. No one else is going to care about it as much as you. Start working on it now, it's never to late.
About the author:
Learn how to go from bankruptcy to living a life of financial freedom. At www.life-after-bankruptcy.comyou will discover step by step how to change your life and finally live debt free and financially free.
