Credit Repair Secrets: Five Negotiating Tips

By Tiffani G Peterson

When it comes to credit repair secrets, the sky is the limit. Let's go over 5 tips on negotiating the best credit deals you can get.

Tip #1 Ask

The credit card industry is competitive. They know it too. You can switch from one company to another with a phone call. They want to keep you as a customer so they're willing to make all sorts of offers if you just call and ask. If you need a reason, tell them because you've been a good customer. If that's not true, tell them you need a better rate to help you financially which is true no matter where you are financially.

I know one person who called her credit card company to close the account. She was wanting to pay down her debt and didn't want to think about the possibility that she might use the card again. The company made her all kinds of offers from lower interest to lower payments. It reminded me of an outright settlement. In this economy, creditor are becoming more flexible because it's harder to make the same profit they did before.

Tip #2 Manage your balances well

If you leave room on your credit cards, you can always do a balance transfer to the card with the lowest rate. Also, if you keep your balances around 30%, credit card companies are happy to extend your credit limit every so often because they see you're using it and they're making money on the interest.

Tip #3 Make credit card companies fight for you

Having a better deal somewhere else is the easiest way to get a good deal. Credit card companies know they are a dime a dozen and will give you whatever deal necessary to keep you. If you can make a balance transfer out of their account, they'll be more willing to work with you. If not, make the transfer and then see what kind of deal they'll give you to get it back.

Tip #4 Keep your credit as clean as possible

This probably doesn't need much explanation. The more credit worthy better customer you are, the better deal you'll get. If something happens so you can't make all your payments, prioritize things. It might make more sense to stay current on your best accounts and let the bad ones slide this time. Of course don't loose any collateral in the process.

Tip #5 Do the math

There are plenty of things you can negotiate besides the interest rate. You need to factor in how long you'll have any given interest rate, whether there are any annual fees or any other fees, if there are any rewards for using the card, etc. If a company gives you frequent flier points on top of a 7% rate, that might be better than a card with an annual fee, 5% and no rewards.

The bottom line to negotiating is to know where you are and where you want to be. Once you know that, get out there and do it. There really aren't any credit repair secrets. Just get started and you'll figure it out. - 31379

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