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Kansas City Bankruptcy Attorney

Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy Attorney in Kansas City, MO

Most people find it hard to decide to file for bankruptcy. The complicated legal process can be arduous and damaging to your credit. But bankruptcy doesn’t stay on your credit report forever. Depending on the type of bankruptcy you file, it stays there for only seven or ten years. Also, the effects of bankruptcy diminish over time, and there are ways to improve your credit score in the meantime.

Are you being bothered by creditor harassment? Need a loan but can’t get one due to errors on your credit report? Our credit repair attorneys can help you. 

At Jeppson Law Office, we’ve made it our mission to help people just like you get their financial lives back on track by repairing their credit. Filing for bankruptcy is not a sufficient means of eradicating debt. It is important to have a plan in place for credit repair if you want to get your financial house in order. Your ability to save money and buy big-ticket items like a home or car with a loan depends on your credit score.

Make an appointment with our credit repair attorneys now to make this recovery a reality!

Why Do I Need a Credit Repair Attorney in Kansas City, MO?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) previously announced in a study conducted that about 5% of consumers had errors on at least one of their 3 major credit reports. Whether they are errors or not, these mistakes reduce your credit score and can result in higher interest rates, having to pay more over the life of a loan, and being refused credit entirely.

In simpler times, fixing any of these errors took little more than turning the rotary dial on the telephone, conversing with someone at a local contact center, and thanking them for the service. Nowadays, it’s not unusual to read horrific stories about simply how hard it is to get mistakes erased from your credit reports.

While it should be simple, fixing your credit report or repairing the harm caused by inaccuracies is sometimes a time-consuming and complicated lesson in frustration. But considering the importance of a good credit score (which can make or break your ability to acquire a house loan or even get employment), you simply can not ignore it. In cases like these, you may want the help of an experienced Missouri credit repair attorney.

What is the Need for Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy?

Rebuilding Credit After BankruptcyYour bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for ten years, but you can still start building credit right away. There are certain things that scoring companies take into account when calculating our scores, such as:

  • Credit History
  • Outstanding Debt
  • Payment History
  • How Much Credit You’ve Applied For

Consider credit repair efforts now if you’ve filed bankruptcy in the past. Even while bankruptcy will show up in your credit report lasting up to 10 years, its damage will gradually disappear. Your credit rating will also rebound. By taking action now, you can speed up the pace of rebuilding credit after bankruptcy. Steps like checking your credit records for accuracy can be done quickly and easily. However, other steps call for more time and effort, such as making timely payments on your bills

How Long Will a Bankruptcy Stay in your Credit Report?

A bankruptcy may only be kept in your credit record for 10 years, according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Unlike Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy remains on your records for up to 7 years since you are required to repay some of your debts. In contrast, your credit report will show a Chapter 7 bankruptcy for a full ten years. If your bankruptcy is dismissed without a discharge, it could remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, however, several credit bureaus will take it off after seven years.

Bankruptcy will hurt your credit score as long as it appears on your credit report. You may, however, start rebuilding credit after bankruptcy while the bankruptcy is still being reported.

Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy: What Steps Can I Take?

You probably think that after bankruptcy you need to start applying for new credit as early as possible to get your credit back on track, but that’s not always the case. Paying your bills on time and in full every month is the most important step you can do in rebuilding credit after bankruptcy.

Here are some other ways to improve your credit score that doesn’t involve getting new credit:

  • Check your credit report for mistakes, and if you find any, dispute them. Fixing mistakes and wrong information on your credit report can help your credit score. The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to a free copy of your credit report from each of the 3 major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) once in every 12 months. During the national emergency caused by the coronavirus, these companies are giving consumers free credit reports every week. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com to get your free report.
  • Don’t get rid of your old credit cards. You may believe that closing a few credit cards or other accounts will help cleanse your credit. However, keeping older accounts active is often a good idea, especially when it comes to credit cards. Keeping your old accounts open helps you build a better credit history.
  • Avoid debit cards. Having and using a  debit card will not help you in rebuilding credit after bankruptcy.
  • Include positive information in your reports. Consider including details about your employment or other sources of income in your credit reports to show that you are financially stable. Your credit report doesn’t tell the whole story about whether or not you’ll be able to get credit in the future. It’s also based on other factors such as how long you have been in the same job and how many assets you have.
  • Keep your credit utilization rate low. Less is better when it comes to your credit utilization ratio which is how much of your total credit lines you are currently using. Less than % is recommended.

Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy by Getting a New Credit Card

A New Account Will Shorten Your Credit History’s Average Length

Your credit can improve when you get a new credit card, use it regularly, but also promptly and fully pay the bills. However, you should only consider acquiring a new credit card if you don’t currently have one. If you currently have one or more credit cards, applying for another will not improve your credit score and may even harm it. While evaluating your credit rating, credit scorers typically evaluate the length of your credit history. 

If you are unable to acquire a standard credit card, you should consider acquiring a secured card. A secured credit card requires you to deposit an amount of money with a credit union or bank in order to receive a credit card with a credit limit that is a percentage of the amount that you deposit, such as 50%. However, before applying for a certain credit card, inquire whether the card issuer reports to credit reporting bureaus. If you don’t, you’re missing out on the primary advantage of acquiring a secured credit card.

Taking Out a Credit Builder Loan

“Credit-builder loans,” sometimes known as “Starting Over Loans” or “Fresh Start Loans,” are provided by some community banks, credit unions, and online lenders. After you submit an application, the lender deposits the loan amount (like $500 or $2,000) onto a savings account. However, you are not allowed to touch the money. You make loan payments for 12, 18, or 24 months instead. The lender will report the payments to the credit reporting agency, and once you have paid off the loan, you will get the money.

The main purpose of this type of loan is to build good credit.

Getting a Car Loan While Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy

If you don’t have one yet, you might want to think about getting a car loan. You build a solid payment history when you make on-time payments. Another criterion that credit scorers consider when determining a score is having a diverse mix of credit, including installment and revolving accounts. If you have no installment loans in your credit record, having a car loan may boost your profile through diversification of your credit mix.

Naturally, before requesting any new credit, be sure you are financially ready.

How Long Will It Take for My Credit Score to Improve After Bankruptcy?

You can usually work to improve your credit score 12 to 18 months after bankruptcy. Most people will experience some improvement after a year if they take the right steps. You cannot erase a bankruptcy from your credit report unless it is incorrectly listed.

If you try to rebuild your credit over the course of this 12- to 18-month period, your FICO credit report can change from having bad credit (traditionally defined as less than 579) to being in the fair range (580–669). It will take significantly longer to achieve a good (670-739), very good (740-799), or excellent (800-850) credit score.

Consult a Bankruptcy Lawyer from Kansas City, Missouri About Credit and Bankruptcy

Our bankruptcy attorneys in Kansas City, Missouri, are well-versed in the ins and outs of the bankruptcy process as well as the steps necessary to rebuild credit. If you need help with Kansas City bankruptcy laws, Jeppson Law Office is the place to go! We help you::

  • Take back control of your finances.
  • Continue living your life and making progress.
  • Get a fresh start in your finances
  • Restore your credit.
  • Find a solution to your debt issues.
  • Get competent representation in Kansas City.

As Kansas City, Missouri bankruptcy attorneys, we are dedicated to providing highly individualized services to each client because we understand that each situation is unique.

If you’re struggling financially and need assistance for filing bankruptcy, whether chapter 7 bankruptcy or chapter 13 bankruptcy, Jeppson Law Office is here to help.

Make an appointment now to discuss your financial problems and find out how we can help you!

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