Rebuilding your credit score after bankruptcy is an essential part of any debt relief service we provide. Whether you have been discharged from a chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy, or we provided other personalized debt solutions, the following tips will give you a head start on your fresh start.
TIP # 1 Take an active role in managing your credit report and score after your bankruptcy. After you have been discharged from your bankruptcy check your credit reports from Equifax, Transunion and Experian. Ensure that each agency has listed the debts, prior to your bankruptcy, as “included in bk”. This is the first step to ensure your fresh start. If an agency incorrectly reports any of your pre-bankruptcy filing debts, you have the right to dispute the errors with the agency.
TIP # 2 Monitor your finances and credit report. Websites like mint.com (allows you to track income and expenses, bill payments, etc.) and creditkarma.com (allows you to monitor your credit report) help you keep a watchful eye on your financial health.
TIP # 3 You can apply for a credit card. I know that this sounds crazy, but in order to help build your credit score a credit card can help. An option after bankruptcy is to get a secured credit card. A secured credit card uses your savings account as collateral. The benefit of a secured credit card is that it allows you to begin using credit and having positive credit history reported on your report. A secured credit card is also easier to get approval for after a bankruptcy than an unsecured credit card.
TIP # 4 Keeping steady employment will help your credit score. Although this tip is not always within your control, steady employment will improve your credit score.
TIP # 5 Be conservative with your credit and use caution when spending. After your bankruptcy you may have numerous offers for lines of credit from multiple creditors. Choose one or two of those offers. Do not overextend yourself as this can have a negative impact on your credit score and harm the positive actions you had taken above.
Corey Sacca
Corey is a debt relief attorney practicing in Westmoreland, Indiana, Allegheny, Cambria, and Somerset Counties. Our firm has been representing clients in Southwestern Pennsylvania since 1985.
We have convenient office locations in Greensburg, Latrobe and Johnstown. We meet with clients in the evenings and weekends by appointment.