Been Bankrupt? How It Can Hurt Your Credit Score

A lot of things can have a negative effect on a person's credit score. Among these include late credit card payments, unpaid medical bills or apartment rentals, a really large debt load, and bankruptcy. During the past five years, more and more people have filed for bankruptcy, either because of the lingering recession, or because of personal financial blunders. While filing for bankruptcy may help an individual get a fresh start, it also has its share of long-term negative effects, especially on their credit score. Here's how bankruptcy can hurt your credit score.

Why Bankruptcy Is A Tough Thing To Handle

Bankruptcy brings more than sleepless nights and bad dreams for the individual. It can also have a gloomy effect on their credit score. Whenever a person who just filed for bankruptcy applies for mortgages and loans, it puts a heavy frown on the faces of creditors and lending institutions. Insurance premiums for people who've experienced bankruptcy are also more costly than for people who have stable financial records. A person who's experienced bankruptcy will also be classified as a “high-risk” customer, hence the rejection of his or her loan application. Before you file for bankruptcy, remember that bankruptcy is not an easy way out of your financial mess, because it will have serious implications on your credit record, and will also seriously hamper your business dealings with other people.

Bankruptcy Lowers Credit Scores

Whenever a person files for bankruptcy, their credit score will automatically get a 200-point deduction, and this greatly affects their chances of availing for different loans. If a person did not have a satisfactory credit score before bankruptcy, he or she will definitely have a tough time rebuilding their credit score, and rehabilitating their financial base within a reasonable period of time. But if you are confident of repairing your financial image , and you're confident of rebounding from your financial troubles, bankruptcy should not be a ghost that will keep haunting you for years, as long as you take concrete steps to change your wasteful financial habits, and improve your loan repayment capabilities.

Bankruptcy Also Taints Your Financial History

Apart from wrecking your credit score, bankruptcy also taints your long-term financial history, which will make things tough for you to do major transactions and business purchases. Availing a bank loan may be equally tough too, since most lenders will have second thoughts of offering their services to you, especially if they see your bankruptcy record.

How To Stay Afloat Despite Experiencing Bankruptcy

Whenever you wish to make a business purchase, or you wish to avail of a housing loan after an episode of bankruptcy, here are some helpful tips to follow. Look for lenders who still accept clients who have bankruptcy records, since there are a number of them that are in operation today. These lenders generally agree to provide you a small loan, provided they see that you're able to rebuild credit worthiness within two or three years. All you need to do is just wait for two years after your bankruptcy, so that you can rebuild your financial base, and improve your credit score as well.

5 Ways To Rebuild Your Credit Score After Being Bankrupt

Bankruptcy can be a very painful time for anyone. However, bankruptcy surely doesn't mean it's the end of the world for you. While bankruptcy can have a major effect on your credit score, it won't mean that you'll never be able to avail of credit again. While the recovery process may be quite long and stressful, and sometimes you’ll only be left with nothing with your shirt on your back, or your pants and shoes, there is always light at the end of the dark tunnel. Here are five innovative ways for rebuilding your credit after being bankrupt.

Get A Secured Credit Card

Once your bankruptcy has already been discharged, slowly build back your credit, by getting a secured or prepaid credit card. A prepaid credit card can act like a debit card, where you put in cash, and you draw against it, and you reload the card again. Always make it a habit to not use more than 40 percent of your credit limit on any revolving loan.

Pay All Your Bills On Time

To build up your credit score after bankruptcy, remember to pay all of your bills on time. From credit card, telephone and utility bills, to apartment rentals and even parking ticket fines, always ensure that you're not weighed down by too much debt. Some creditors have been known to look at their customer's bill payment records, so that they can establish your willingness to pay.

Get Installment Loans

Next, get an installment loan, such as a car or appliance loan. This can be a nice start towards rebuilding your credit score. Once you've gotten approval, pay off the loan in the quickest time possible.

Evaluate Your Credit Report For Errors

Your credit report must still need to be fully evaluated, even if you've already been declared to be bankrupt. Check out any errors or inconsistencies on your credit report, because any negative item is only allowed to be reported for 7 years. Should you spot any inconsistency or discrepancy in your report, this should be removed or erased immediately.

Keep Off Any Overdraft Fees

To steer clear of overdraft fees, always make it a habit to balance your checkbook against your monthly statements, and always keep records of the items you purchase, or the services you’ve availed of.

It would also help if you say no to having a “co-signer” to your credit. By having co-signers show-up on your credit report, it may actually weaken your case with future creditors. Once a creditor sees that you’ve had a co-signer, they’ll see you as a high-risk client, and will also ask that you get a co-signer for their loan too. These times, a person’s financial future greatly revolves around those three little numbers that make up a credit report. A good score indicates that you are financially stable, and is in good standing for applying a loan, or any form of financing. A low or poor credit score will only serve to add more headaches to your financial standing.