Avoid home loan rejection this way.

Real estate is the most coveted investment instrument in the country. Buying a home, whether for investment or residential purposes, can take years to materialise and given the prices, few can afford to pay the money upfront. In such situations, buyers inevitably turn to banks for home loans.

Although the norms for approving home loans have eased in the recent past, don't expect it to be a cake-walk. One small mistake can result in you merely dreaming of the house, and never actually owning it. 

We look at factors that can play a crucial role in getting your loan approved or rejected.

                         

BAD OR LOW CREDIT SCORE

You cannot build a house if the foundations are flimsy, right? When it comes to loan approvals, banks use a similar analogy. If you have a low credit score, you will be denied a home loan out rightly even if you fulfill all other conditions. Credit score is considered to be the most important factor by the banks while disbursing a loan. 

Credit score reflects a consumer's behavior towards the financial transactions. In some ways, it is a mirror to his financial habits and underwriters base their decision and develop risk-based pricing based on the credit score.


So, if a person has defaulted or delayed the payment on any kind of loan or credit cards, it will have a negative impact on the credit score. Other factors like being guarantor to a person who defaults on payment of his loan can affect your credit report too if you fail to repay his loan. So, be very sure before taking up the role of a guarantor. There are credit rating agencies like CIBIL, Experian Credit Information Corporation of India, Equifax Credit Information Services and High Mark Credit Information Services that provide credit score to individuals. Once you submit your loan application, the lender seeks a copy of your credit report from the bureau. They analyse this not only for the credit score, but also to review the extent of existing loans / credit cards, performance of ongoing and closed loans. All these go in to the final assessment of your loan application.

A credit score provided by CIBIL is a three-digit TransUnion score which is derived from the credit history found in credit information report (CIR). A CIR is an individual's credit payment history across loan types and credit institutions over a period of time. It ranges between 300 and 900. It indicates the probability of default of a borrower based on their credit history.

To maintain a healthy credit score, one should ensure timely dues payment and avoid taking too many unsecured loans as it may be considered negative. But if the damage is already done, you can work towards improving it slowly. 

INCORRECT PERSONAL DETAILS IN CREDIT REPORT

Your credit information report contains your personnel detail, so wrong information can lead to a mismatch between the details on your loan application and credit report and hence lead to your loan rejection. If there is any change in the personal details, you must update your lender so that it is reported to the credit information bureau and is reflected in your credit report. Any individual can get the credit report for a nominal fee from the credit bureaus.

However, it is important to check the report for anomalies like a credit card listed in your report but not owned by you, or a loan on their name which they had never taken. Prospective borrowers can also apply directly to the credit bureau for their credit report for a nominal fee. This allows you to review the facilities listed against your name, seek corrections if you spot any anomalies like a credit card listed in your report which is not yours and to know your bureau score. All bureaus have dispute resolution forms on their websites which aggrieved customers can fill and send with relevant identification documents.

REJECTION OF LOAN BY OTHER BANKS

Some people tend to apply to multiple banks at the same time. However, remember that if your loan is rejected from one bank then it can have an impact on your credit score and hence lead to the loan being rejected by other banks too. It is better to wait for the reply from one bank before applying to another so that you know why your loan is rejected and get the same rectified.

NEW OR UNSTABLE JOB

Since the repayment of loan is of utmost priority to the lender, they would like to ensure that you have timely repayment capabilities when he disburses the loan. In case of salaried person a steady flow of income is determined by the stability of job. Since repayment of home loans is normally sanctioned for 15-20 years, stability of income in future becomes a necessary criterion to be assessed at the time of loan sanction. For example, if the borrower has a contract of employment with just eight months left in it, it is natural for the lender to enquire if the contract has been renewed in the past or whether the borrower holds any professional qualifications which would give comfort that alternate employment would be forthcoming.

It is a similar story when it comes to changing jobs. While it may give the buyer a higher income level, it gives a negative impression to the lender. It is generally advised not to change your job if you are planning to take a home loan in the near future. In fact, the financial strength of the employing company is also considered as one of the factors for the evaluation of the application. People working in a proprietorship company, having less than 50 employees & not having provident fund facility, face issues in getting a home loan.

AGE FACTOR

Age is one of the most important factors considered by the lender while disbursing a loan. Typically, they put a minimum age bracket of 23-24 years and maximum limit of 60-65 years for loan applicants. Assuming a 22-year-old, who has been working for the last three years, applies for a home loan and the qualifying criterion for that lender is a minimum age of 23 years with at least two years of continuous work experience, the lender would in all probability turn down such an application.

APPLYING WITH RELATIVES OTHER THAN SPOUSE/PARENTS

If you want to get a home loan of a higher amount, clubbing the income of your spouse is a good option. But while banks allow clubbing of income of the spouse, father and son, the same does not extend to every family member. Some banks are skeptical of clubbing the income of the siblings because in case of a dispute, the EMI could be delayed. Clubbing the income with any other relative is not allowed. Also, a co applicant can't be a minor.

LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY

Banks also make their decision to disburse loans on the basis of the project's location. Take for instance, Noida Extension, where a number of projects suffered due to lack of clearance and acquisition disputes in 2011. As a result, a number of public sector banks stopped sanctioning fresh loan sanctions in the area, as per news reports. All lenders have limitations with the geographic locations. If the property is beyond such limit, the loan will get declined. The technical valuation of properties in remote locations may also be lesser than the purchase cost; banks do try to cover the risk of funding in an under-developed area on case-to-case basis.


UNSATISFACTORY EVALUATION OF THE PROPERTY

You must ensure that you are buying a house at a price which is close to the market price. This is important because the bank does the valuation of the property itself and will give a loan of upto 80% of the property value after considering other factors like your repayment abilities.

UNCLEAR PROPERTY TITLE
In the event that the property does not have a clear and marketable title, or there are issues connected to the approvals from the relevant authorities, normally banks or home finance companies keep the loan sanction letter valid till the customer finds another property which has clear title and approval. So, before buying a property you must ensure that it is not involved in any dispute.

LACK OF REPAYMENT CAPABILITIES

Banks ascertain your repayment capabilities before disbursing the loan. It depends on the disposable income that is left in your hand after paying off existing EMIs. Banks generally give a loan which amounts to an EMI of upto 50% of the disposable monthly income. So, first assess your repayment capabilities before applying for a loan.

Source: Secondary

Credit check; May be required!

When you think of a credit check, chances are your thoughts jump to loan transactions. After all, the point of a credit history is to provide context for your past credit transactions as a way to predict the default risk you pose to a current lender. The reality, though, is that your credit profile is used for other financial transactions.

Just because you aren’t borrowing money, it doesn’t mean that your credit information isn’t being used to make judgments about your level of financial responsibility. Here are five non-loan financial transactions that may require a credit check:

1. Cell phone service

Many carriers want to make sure you’re going to pay your bill as agreed. Others worry about letting you walk out of the store with a phone that will be paid for in the service contract.

Poor credit means that you may be limited in account choices. You may only have access to an account with strict data usage and calling limits if you have a poor score. Additionally, if you want to upgrade your phone later, your carrier might make you pay for the upgraded phone up front, rather than letting you make installment payments.

Some Internet service providers and cable/satellite TV companies also run credit checks before opening accounts for new customers. If you expect to access entertainment in this way, you need to be aware of the possibility that your credit history will be accessed and used to judge you.
                                   

2. Insurance premiums

Many auto insurers review credit scores when setting rates. Poor scores are highly correlated with future claims insurance. You may pay more for car insurance if you have a poor score.

Some states ban insurers from using credit scores to make these decisions, but there is still the chance that you could pay thousands of rupees extra a year on your auto policy as a result of your credit situation. Some homeowners insurance rates are set based, in part, on the results of a credit check.

3. Renting an apartment or a home

Even though you aren’t borrowing when you rent an apartment or a home, the reality is that you are still expected to make regular payments. For some landlords, a poor credit rating could be a red flag that you will be difficult to collect from.

You might also need to get a cosigner for your lease if your situation isn’t up to scratch. In some cases, you will be approved to move into the rental, but you might need to make a larger security deposit. This can be difficult if you are short on ready cash.

4. Applying for a job

Even your ability to earn an income can be impacted by your credit history. Employers aren’t supposed to check your credit score, but that doesn’t mean that some won’t look at your credit report to identify possible risks. This occurs most frequently for jobs where people handle money or other valuable items. Someone with a bad credit report might be considered a risk of embezzlement or bribes. You may lose a good job opportunity if you have poor credit.

5. Finding true love

Finding the right life partner is supposed to be about love and compatibility. It’s supposed to be romantic. However, there are also money components involved with identifying a life partner. Many single people now exchange credit reports and scores before becoming serious in a relationship.

Even if your partner is willing to overlook your past financial indiscretions, he or she might be unwilling to combine finances with you until you get your credit score in shape. Even though marriage doesn’t have to mean that you share a credit profile, many partners are wary that your situation could affect them.

In the end, you need to be aware of the fact that a credit check isn’t just for loan-related financial transactions. Attempts to include other information in credit reports and scores are under way, since utility payments and rental payments can also be indicators of your level of financial responsibility. However, for now your credit profile is still one of the main ways that others — even non-lenders — decide whether or not you are an acceptable risk.

Source: Secondary

Credit Affects You! See How?

How Your Credit Score Affects The Interest Rate You Receive

Of course, you know that the higher your credit score is, the better interest rate you will get on your credit cards and loans, whether that be for a mortgage, car loan, consolidation loan, or any other type of loan you need.  The reverse is also true; the lower your credit score, the higher interest rate you’ll have to pay.

The interest rate you get is important because it has the potential to save you thousands of rupees.

3 Ways Your Credit Affects You That You May Have Never Thought Of:

Most of us understand the relationship between credit score and interest rate received.  However, there are many other ways your credit score affects you that you may have never considered:
                                 

Rate for Car Insurance.  Crazy, right?  Your credit score can affect your car insurance rate, but it is just one of the factors that are used to determine your insurance premium.  Insurers create a credit-based insurance score that is computed by looking at your credit history, geographic location, age, driving and claims history, among other things.

For the credit portion of your insurance score, these factors are important: payment history, including delinquencies or late payments; length of credit history; and types of credit, such as credit cards and loans.  The good news (if you have a good credit history) is that about half of existing customers receive a rate decrease based on credit score.. The opposite is also true.  Those with lower credit will likely pay more.

Ability to Rent an Apartment.  Put yourself in a landlord’s position.  Would you want to rent to someone who had a high likelihood of not paying and that you would have to spend months trying to evict?  That doesn’t sound like a good time, not to mention all of the money the landlord would lose while the tenant is not paying.  For this reason, more and more landlords are checking credit scores before renting to people.

Job Prospects.  How you handle your credit and how you perform at your job should be two separate issues, right? Not so for some employers.  An employer can only look at your credit history with your permission, but for some employers, if you don’t give permission, you won’t get any further in the interviewing process.

While the majority of employers will not ask to see your credit, in particular fields, asking is routine. A bad credit rating is likely to be more of a factor in certain industries like financial services

Credit scores affect more areas of your life than you may realize.The more responsible you can be financially, the higher you can make your credit score. The higher your credit score, the less you’ll pay in many areas of your life. Have you knowingly been affected in these unexpected ways by a high or low credit score?

Visit: www.cibilconsultants.com
Source: Secondary

Bankruptcy: Merits and demerits!

The feeling that your finances are out of control, and that you’ll never be able to afford anything again, is a terrible one. But if you’re overwhelmed by debt and you can’t see how you could possibly get out from under it, bankruptcy is an option you may want to consider.

Bankruptcy is a legal process through which existing debts, under the protection and supervision of a court, are eliminated or reduced, and/or the repayment period is extended.

                    

PROS

– You get a “fresh start.” Most unsecured debts – such as credit card debt – will be discharged through bankruptcy. That means you no longer have to pay that debt. Secured debts are those that have collateral, such as your mortgage (for which your home is the collateral) or your car loan (for which your car is the collateral). If you continue making the payments, you will most likely be able to retain your home and car throughout the bankruptcy proceedings and beyond. However, if you cannot afford the payments or stop making them, the creditor is likely to try to repossess the property or at least re-negotiate the loan.

– Filing for bankruptcy creates an automatic stay against collection efforts. This means that any creditor who tries to collect on the debt after the stay has gone into effect may be cited for contempt of court or ordered to pay damages. If you are about to be evicted, foreclosed on, or have your utilities shut off, the automatic stay resulting from filing for bankruptcy can give you a little breathing room. However, note that creditors can ask a court to lift the stay, and it will likely be granted if it appears you cannot or will not pay off even a part of your debt. Additionally, the automatic stay does not apply to certain types of debt, so depending on the type of debts you have, it may not be helpful.

– You probably won’t lose as much as you think. Every state protects certain types of assets during bankruptcy proceedings, such as your home, personal transportation vehicles, money invested in qualified retirement plans, household items, and clothing. 

CONS

– Bankruptcy is a public legal proceeding, so your family and friends may find out that you have declared bankruptcy. If you have been hiding your financial difficulties, then you may be embarrassed to have others know about your situation. However, unless your case is publicized by the media or you personally know your creditors, it is unlikely that your friends and family will find out about the bankruptcy proceeding the same way they would find out about a new job or new baby.

– Certain types of debt cannot be discharged through bankruptcy, including student loans, child support, alimony, and debts arising from criminal conduct. Thus, if these types of debts comprise all or the majority of your debts, bankruptcy will not relieve your financial burden.

– The bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for ten years, and is the worst kind of negative entry you can have. Thus, you may find it extremely difficult or impossible to borrow money, or the rates you are offered may be much higher than what the average borrower could get. However, it is certainly possible to rebuild your credit history and eventually have a good credit rating.
Visit- www.cibilconsultants.com
Source-secondary

Prevent Identity Theft- Follow the Tips by Experts

Identity Theft is one of the by-product of technological evolution. World was more secure when there was no internet, photocopier or scanner. Identity Theft can be disastrous for any individual. Recently one lady's Home Loan was rejected because of low CIBIL Score. She was advised to pull out CIBIL Report. When  checked, her CIBIL Report, found that Rs 200000 outstanding was written off against her credit card. She never applied for this credit card. The credit card was issued at her old Delhi address before she shifted to Mumbai. It was a clear case of Identity Theft. 
Worst part is that complete onus is on an individual to prove that he is victim of Identity Theft. 

Normally on internet, the discussion on Identity Theft revolve around Online Identity Theft i.e. through internet. Offline Identity Theft is more dangerous and easy to execute. Secondly, there is more organized mafia whose job is find potential victims for Identity Theft. Mostly observed that online Identity Theft is because of mistake from user end which could have been easily avoided but scope of offline Identity Theft is vast. In this post we will discuss tips and tricks to prevent offline identity theft.

1. Photocopy of Documents: It was quite interesting episode, of one of TV serial, lady A gave her documents for photocopy and told shopkeeper that she will collect in 2 hours. Somehow fraudster steal the copy of documents. Documents were misused by fraudster to get job in Lady A’s  name. Fraudster committed fraud in her company and poor Lady A was caught based on documents. Though police finally caught the real culprit but imagine the trauma undergone because of Identity Theft.

Photocopy shops are soft and easy target for identity theft. With advancement of technology, photocopy machine can retain scanned copy of documents. It is advisable to take photocopy at home through printer only. If it is absolutely necessary to photocopy from outside because of volume then you should get it done only from known shopkeeper. You can also keep extra copies at your home for emergency.

2. Handover Documents only to Bank Executive and Take Acknowledgement: During our day to day financial transactions, we have to handover some imp documents to bank like PAN, Address proof etc. A businessman handed over his originals to employee and send him to bank for any such work. Yes, it is not feasible for businessman to do everything on his own. At the same time it is suicidal to handover either original or photocopy to 3rd party. It is advisable to handover documents only to authorized bank executive and insist on acknowledgement. In relevant document, also mention the details of documents submitted by you with the bank.

3. Watermark: One of the critical step to safeguard your identity is to watermark all the scanned documents and then take photocopy. Only use watermark copy for any future use. Watermarked copies are very difficult to temper with. Watermarking can be done using software like pdf writer or image editor. Though its a tiring job but you have to do only once in a lifetime.

4. PAN: Obtaining a PAN is one of the simplest govt process in my opinion. Last year CBDT madeverification of originals mandatory for PAN to reduce PAN based frauds. Analysts termed it as “Step Back”, “Return of License Raj”, “Bottle Neck” or “Retro Grade” step. Being an election year and under pressure from govt, CBDT withdrew the circular. PAN is lifeline for doing any financial transaction and process is so lax that anyone can manipulate.

PAN is one of the most misused document for financial frauds and is heart & soul of identity theft. PAN should not be issued / re-issued without verification of originals even if it cause inconvenience to general public. People don’t realize that its for their benefit only.

5. Inquiry in CIBIL Report

PULL out your CIBIL report atleast once in 6 months or preferable once every quarter. One of the important section to look out is “Inquiry Information”. Please check any suspicious entry in the report e.g. if bank A has posted entry related to Enquiry for issuance of Credit Card with credit limit 1 lakh. In case,  you have not applied for any such credit card then immediately you should bring it to the notice of the bank. Prevention is always better than cure and checking “Inquiry Information” in CIBIL Report is one such prevention.

6. Social Media: . An open invitation to Identity Theft, social media is one of the most dangerous place if not handled responsibly and with caution. Even Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia will rank after Social Media. Social Media is emerging as a new crime hub both for financial and non-financial crimes.

“Too Little on Social Media can be Too Much”. It is advisable to draw a thick line between privacy and social interaction before you post anything through social media channels. Privacy should not be compromised at all and at any cost. Remember for a small mistake you have to pay heavy price.

7. Letter Box: In the age of internet and email, people don’t check their letter box for months. It is quite visible from overflowing letter boxes next to mine in my apartment complex. Its again an open invitation for Identity Theft. We receive bills and statements through snail mail and anyone can easily steal your identity using these document. It is advisable to check your letter box regularly to prevent identity theft.

8. Change of Mobile or SIM: Now a days most of the people change their mobile every 6 months. Also many of us have habit of storing important information on mobile like bank account no, PAN, Passwords, PIN etc. As mobile is personalized device therefore danger of Identity Theft through mobile is manifold. It is advisable that all the data from mobile should be deleted when you are changing it. Mobile should be restored to factory settings. Remove micro SD card and also remove all installed applications. Log out from all accounts sync with the device and most importantly remove SIM card (if you are opting for Nano SIM in new device).

9. Purpose of document: Whenever you are handing over photocopy of your documents, don’t forget to mention the purpose for which the documents is being handed over. For example, if you are submitting document for Ration Card then don’t forget to mention on Watermarked document “Purpose: Application for Ration Card” in either Red or Blue Pen. It will help to prevent identity theft. Secondly, if fraudsters realize that particular person has taken necessary steps to prevent identity theft then they don’t mess around. Only people caught unaware become victims of identity theft.

10. Date of Birth: Besides PAN, DOB is important piece of information for Identity Theft.  Birth Certificate was not mandatory earlier but now it is also one of the important document.

11. Beware of Freebies: Last but not the least and most crucial. Don’t share your DOB, mobile no, name etc through feedback forms in Restaurants or to participate in some lucky draw. You can politely say NO. There are no free lunches in this world but others should not have free lunch at your cost.

Learn more about identity theft at www.cibilconsultants.com
Source-secondary

Biggest Misconceptions About Credit Score Debunked

Bangalore: Nowadays to apply for a loan or credits it has become mandatory that you should have a high credit score. According to rating on your credit scores the insurance companies, cable companies and even utility providers will decide on the rates or deposit amounts that will be charged on you. But often it is seen that like many other important things in life, even the credit scores are often misunderstood. There are many myths about the credit card scores that are going around about what hurts or improves.

Let’s have a look at seven popular myths about credit scores and credit reports:

I cannot check my credit card report as it will hurt my credit card score : 

There is no harm in checking your personal credit report. Usually while you review your own credit report that is called as a “soft pull,” or “soft inquiry,” that will be seen on a personal credit report and in addition to that this will have no impact on your scores.  It is advisable that everyone should at least annually check their credit report.

When lenders or others check your credit card score then it is called as a “hard enquiry” and this can affect your credit card scores.  Sometimes hard inquiries are shown to other lenders in order to represent new debt that might not be shown on a credit report as an account. Thus hard inquiries can really affect your credit scores but soft enquires don’t.

Employers should not check a job applicant’s credit : 

This myth is wrong it is actually legal for an employer to pull and review a credit report of a job applicant before hiring him or an employee. But yes the employer should seek job applicants or employees permission for this reviewing. In some of the fields like finance, government and banking agencies have to often review credit reports before hiring any person as they might have access to large amount of money or any confidential information. But it is advisable for employers to just check the financial habits or failings of a job applicant instead of checking their credit report.

By paying cash instead of using credit card might increase my credit score : 

Using cash every time instead of credit cards will not help you increase your credit scores, instead using credit accounts is the best way to help you establish and build credit. As both cash and debit cards are just like an electronic check these are not the better options. In order to get qualified for the best rates in order to for instance apply for a home loan or a student loan you need to prove that you can manage your credit responsibly. Second way to build your credit score is to make sure that you make loan and rent payments on time and in addition to that when you have high scores you will be offered with best and new services.

My academic background can affect my credit scores : 

Your Academic background or education level is never part of a credit report, so it will not affect your credit scores. Only debt related information is included in credit reports. Therefore, information about loans, credit cards and payment history, as well as bankruptcy, tax liens and civil judgments will be reported.

Other information like income, investments or assets such as stocks or bonds will also not be included in a credit report. In addition to that there is no information about savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit or other non-debt banking relationships etc. Additionally, factors like race, gender, marital status, national origin or religion are also not included in credit report.

Source-secondary

Is someone ruining your Credit score?

Your credit history is a major part of your financial life. Even if you don’t think that you will borrow money anytime soon, the information in your credit report can influence your auto insurance rates, whether or not you can rent an apartment, and can even keep you from getting a job.

Keeping tabs on your credit history, and keeping up with the information in your credit report is an important part of protecting your finances. While it’s possible to monitor what goes on with your credit with the help of credit consultants like CIBIL CONSULTANTS  , the reality is that protecting your credit is your job.
It’s important that you protect your credit from others. Here are some of the ways that others can damage your credit — and how to stop them from ruining your financial reputation:

Loaning someone your card

“Sure they promised to pay, but if they don’t it’s on your credit report, not theirs,”.
When you hand over your card, you are offering the other person access to your available credit. They can use as much of it as they wish. If they run up more bills than you can afford to pay, you are still responsible for the balance, since you gave your permission for the use of your credit card.
Someone’s use of your credit card can impact your debt utilization, which in turn can bring down your credit score. And don’t forget about the costs that come if the person goes over your credit limit with your card.
“Don’t ever give someone your credit card, regardless of how desperate their plea may be,”. “You can offer to help them out of the jam, but not by handing over your credit card.”

Authorized user

Maybe you don’t hand over your credit card. Perhaps, instead, you decide to add someone (like your college-bound child) as an authorized user on the account. He or she gets a personal card. However, the reality is that it’s still your account. “The authorized user has charging privileges, but is not responsible for repayment,”. “Activity is reported in both names.”
This can be a way to help someone else, like a spouse or a child, build credit, but you are still responsible for repayment of the loan. “If they spend recklessly and you can’t repay the debt, it’s a real problem,”.
If you decide to add someone as an authorized user, recommends that you set clear boundaries, and carefully watch spending activity online. That way, it’s possible to head off any spending disasters before they get out of hand.

Cosigning a loan

It can be tempting to help someone out by cosigning their loan. After all, you aren’t actually borrowing the money, and the “real” borrower is responsible for repayment. It’s a bit different from adding an authorized user to your credit card, since the bill isn’t coming directly to you when you cosign. Unfortunately, there are major pitfalls associated with cosigning a loan.
“Some people think that you’re each responsible for half of the debt". “Actually, each cosigner is responsible for payment in full.”
All payment activity is reported to the credit bureau in each signer’s name, she continues, "so nonpayment by the borrower can wreck an otherwise good credit report and score for the cosigner.”
Even if the cosigner pays regularly and on time, the fact that there is debt on your credit report means that your ability to borrow could be hampered. If you plan to make a major purchase with debt (like a home or a car) in the near future, your ability to borrow or get the best possible interest rate could be significantly reduced.
If you decide to cosign, make sure that you set clear expectations for the borrower. Monitor payment, and insist that the borrower talk to you if he or she runs into trouble so that you can salvage your credit. “Only cosign on a loan if you’re willing to pay it all yourself,". That way, you are prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Identity theft

Of course, it’s not just people you know who can ruin your credit. You might be the victim of identity theft that can cause problems. “Identity theft and scams can damage your credit at least temporarily,”
Loans taken out in your name can reduce your ability to borrow. Additionally, if a fraudster takes out a loan in your name and doesn’t pay, it can be a fast way to tank your credit.
In order to catch identity theft early, it makes sense to monitor your situation.You can also get access to your free credit scores if something goes amiss with a credit application.
Keeping up with these actions can help you see red flags and remedy the situation as quickly as possible. You don’t want others to ruin your good financial name, so take steps to keep your credit in tip-top shape.

Source: Secondary

Get solutions to your credit problems with us

Solution to Problems

Meet John. Not too long ago, John was living the American dream. He had a job that he loved, a growing family, and a brand new 4-bedroom home in the city. Sadly, less than a month after purchasing his new home, John’s company downsized, and he quickly found himself out of work. Within a few weeks’ time, his American dream had become a huge nightmare. With no steady income coming in, John maxed out his credit cards and the late payments were stacking up. To John, it was a scene right out of a movie, and unfortunately, he was playing the main character.

Unfortunately, John’s situation is all too common, and thousands of people just like him continue to feel the effect of today’s volatile job market.
Job loss is a terrible, frustrating and unfortunate event that no one can prepare for. It knocks you for a loop and sends you spinning in every direction, but up. It can effect everything,
including your credit.

Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Check
When you sign up for Lexington Law, a team of credit repair experts will pull your credit reports (all three bureaus) and work with you to identify the negative items you want to challenge or change.
Negative items Lexington Law has been successful in removing:
– Collections
– Late payments
– Charge offs
– Liens
– Bankruptcies
– Repossessions
– Foreclosures
– Judgments

Step 2: Challenge
Their experts serve as an advocate for you and interact with the credit companies on your behalf. They will also communicate the appropriate changes to the credit bureaus.
Step 3: Change
Lexington Law makes it easy to track your goals with helpful tools, including a personal online dashboard and text and email alerts.
Using their strategies, members have seen an average 11.6 negative item removals in just four months.

If you’re looking for expert advice on how to fix your credit problems, book an appointment with us.
www.cibilconsultants.com.

Source: Secondary

Youth and The Credit Score

Westernization is developing its roots in India. Like western countries our country's youngsters are slowly moving towards becoming financially independent at a young age too. Also, increasing is the importance of credit transactions in India. Nowadays almost all transactions involve the use of credit cards, unlike the earlier use of cash everywhere. Almost everything can be paid online now with the help of credit cards. So, everyone has a credit card these days. Therefore, it is necessary for young adults to know about credit scores as these credit cards will impact their scores and low credit scores or no credit history may pose a hindrance in getting a loan approved in future. So, it is advisable to start building credit responsibly as early as possible. The basic things for youngsters to know about building credit responsibly.

Credit score & it’s Effects:
First and foremost try to understand what credit score is. Credit score is evaluating the probability of an individual paying back the money he/she borrows.

Your credit score affects a lot of factors in your financial life. Whether it is getting a loan or getting a job. If you are aiming for a job in Finance, almost all companies check your credit report. Your credit report could give you an edge over another applicant who is neck to neck with your job.
In loans, lenders calculate the credit risk from your credit report and then decide whether to give you loan. So the lower the score, the lower your chances of getting a loan.

Get a credit card:
Credit cards can be a good way in getting yourself a credit history. Because no credit history means no credit score. You could start with asking your parents to get yourself authorized in their card; their history will get added to your history or you could also get your own card. Lots of student credit cards are available which have low credit and income requirements.  But keep in mind to use it sparingly. Don’t keep balances and interests pending. By doing all the payments responsibly you are building a history of responsible use and maintaining a good credit score.

Keep checking your credit reports:
Checking your credit reports at regular intervals is a very good habit to instill in young adults. Credit bureaus like CIBIL, Equifax, Experianand  maintain a record of individual’s credit activities and make credit reports. Checking your credit reports will help you in spotting any errors or mistakes in it and getting it fixed. Getting your mistakes fixed may take a few months, but it will be worth the effort in the future when you apply for loans.

Beware of Identity thefts:
If you are offered a credit card and the people in question are asking too much personal information be cautious you can get involved in identity theft. See to it that when you are providing information do it through a secure form online or in front of the company to whom you are providing. Don’t give away information where your information would lie down on a stack on the desk and anybody could access it. Know about the people who you are giving information to, find out whether they are trustworthy or not.

We can help you build your credit score, just visit www.cibilconsultants.com and book an appointment with experts.

Source: Secondary

They check your credit score before appointing you !

If you feel your credit health is important for your potential creditors and loan providers only then you are not aware of the fact that your financial crunches can affect your job opportunities as well. Now role of credit reporting agencies have become more crucial in people's working life. Most of the reputed recruiters nowadays prefer to know about credit health of its employees before hiring them. It has been found that employees who are under financial crunches show less interest in their work and thus, their overall performance and productivity is suffered.

Credit reporting agencies collect a large amount of data in relevance to people's debts, income level, payment history and access to additional credit to calculate scores that reflect their credit health. A high credit show reflects low loan default risk. It is assumed that if a person had defaulted on his financial obligations or bankruptcy, he might repeat it in the future. On the other hand, if you have maintained healthy debt to income ratio, the chances of your future default on debt are less. Thus, your past credit record becomes a testament to your responsible management. These records are generally accessed by your prospective creditors, banks and potential employers to take decision to offer you a mortgage, credit card or a job. Most of the reputed organizations access such reports to evaluate a person's personal skills and financial condition before recruiting him for a particular job. Thus, if you want to serve good organizations, it is not enough to have educational skills, you should have skills to rectify credit and manage sound financial position to be suitable candidate for any job.

Source: Secondary

Commonly asked questions about Cibil score !!

To have an impeccable credit history is of utmost importance these days. The way you handle your finances will impact your Cibil report and Cibil score. While a good Cibil score is your ticket to easy access to loans when you are in need of it, irresponsible credit behaviour and thereby a bad Cibil score may even harm the prospects of you attaining your dream job! Confused as to how that might transpire? Read on to find out more.

• What is a Cibil score?

Cibil Score is a numerical expression that predicts the likelihood of default of a person in the next 12 months. It is mainly influenced by your past repayment track record captured in your Cibil report. This means, if you have made payments on time on all your loans on or before the due date, it is very likely that you have a good credit score, and hence banks look at you as a good customer.

• Why is my Cibil score important?

When you apply for a new loan or a credit card, it is now mandatory for a bank to access your Cibil score to assess how creditworthy you are. A good Cibil score (above 750 out of 900) puts you in a vantage position as lenders would vye amongst themselves to offer you the best interest rates. This is because your Cibil score conveys that the chances of your turning delinquent are nearly nil. On the other hand, a poor Cibil score may lead to the rejection of your loan application altogether.

That's not all. Your Cibil score also has an important role to play if you happen to apply for certain jobs, especially in banking and finance sector, ITsector and other multinational companies as well. It has been found that those who are financially disciplined make diligent and disciplined employees in their workplace as well. Therefore, while performing a background check on you, your employer may ask you to submit your Cibil report among other documents. If your prospective employer finds that your credit behaviour is unsatisfactory, you may even be rejected as a candidate outright. It may be noted that if you are trying to find a job in a bank, a Cibil score of less than 750 will not do. However, if you approach the bank as a customer, the same bank may still consider giving you a loan if your score is between 700-750.

• What determines my Cibil score?

Your Cibil score is based on the information in your Cibil credit report. There are primarly five factors that go into the composition of your credit score. In order of their importance they are, your repayment history, utilization of credit , average age of credit accounts , your mix of credit and the number of inquiries that lenders make each time you apply for a new loan or a credit card. To maintain a good Cibil score, make all repayments of your loans and credit card outstanding on time, keep the balances on your credit cards low, keep the overall utilization of credit below 30% on your credit cards, have a healthy mix of secured and unsecured credit and finally apply for credit only when you are in dire need of it. 

• How can I access my Cibil score?

Your Cibil score is literally just a click away. You need to log on to www.cibilconsultants.com and follow the simple instructions to procure your score. You will need to fill out your personal details, make a payment thereof and authenticate your identity. Once your authentication is complete, your Cibil score will be generated.

• Does checking my own Cibil score impact my score negatively?

No. When you request for your own credit report it is considered a "soft" inquiry as opposed to that of a lender's inquiry which is considered a "hard" inquiry. Too many loans applied for in quick succession will lead to many hard inquiries which will then lead to negative impact on your Cibil score.

• How often should I access my Cibil credit score?

As a prudent practice it is good to check your Cibil score and Cibil report at least once every year. If you haven't done so, make sure you access your Cibil score and report at least six months prior to applying for a new loan. This is to ensure that your Cibil score is satisfactory and your Cibil report is free of any discrepancies.

Now that you know how important your Cibil score is and the way in which it impacts your life, it is highly recommended that you keep a check on your financial health by accessing your Cibil score periodically. Always bear in mind that it is not your income level that  important to maintain a good Cibil score, but your attitude towards handling credit! 

For availing credit related services contact us at www.cibilconsultants.com

Surprising Tactics Rich People Use To Grow Their Money

Let’s be honest, most of us daydream about what we would do if we were rich. We imagine doing stuff like quitting our jobs, buying a boat, and spending the rest of our lives sailing around the world. It brings a certain satisfaction dreaming about such things, but is this really how rich people spend their time?

I highly recommend you check it out if you are at all interested in someday becoming wealthy. You might be surprised to learn that most self-made millionaires are extremely frugal. In fact, out of all the millionaires they profiled, the most wealthy drove the oldest cars and had smaller homes compared to their peers.

Here are some of the most surprising tactics used by millionaires to manage (and grow) their money.

Spend Time Researching Investment Opportunities

On average, millionaires spend almost 20% of their income on investments. More importantly, these people spent time activity researching their investments. In other words, investing isn’t viewed as simply a retirement plan, but rather, one of the most important drivers of their wealth and future security.

Keep a Budget

Surprisingly, most millionaires have a budget and consider it important to stick to it. In other words, they have a plan. And in the end, this really does make a huge difference. How many people do you know who actually keep a budget?

Don’t Buy Luxury Cars

Fact is over 80% of luxury cars are purchased by non-millionaires –that is, people trying to create the illusion of wealth.

its really surprising !!