How does Balance transfer affect your Credit score?

Balance Transfer is when the credit card company gives you a service for a limited period of time, where you can transfer your debt to a new credit company which has low or zero interest. Balance Transfer is basically the bank giving you time to pay off your loan and not be held down by high interest rates too.

But the main question is- whether balance transfer affects your credit score? The answer depends on how you go about the process and how you use it. Depending on many factors, it can either hurt or help your credit score.If balance transfers are used responsibly, they can help you reduce your debts and even give a boost to your rating. And though it does help you in saving money, we should consider the overall impact of it on our credit score.

Inquiries:
When you apply for multiple balance transfer cards with low interest rates, you can negatively affect your credit score. Applying for several cards means several “hard inquiries” against your report. Hard inquiries stay for 2 years on your report and can take your score by several points. They also reduce your chances of approval and indicate that you may be a lending risk. Do proper research and then apply for one card than multiple cards. Also compare the balance transfer cost and the long term cost of keeping that high interest debt,

Average credit account age: 
The longer the lengths of your accounts, the higher your score. When you open a new balance transfer account, since it doesn't have a long credit history, the average age of your credit accounts comes down. Also most people tend to close their old accounts after balance transfer, which further decreases their average age and in turn decrease the credit score. So even if you opt for balance transfers, keep your old accounts open- they’ll help you in the long run.

Credit utilization rate:
The lower your credit utilization rate, the higher your credit score. When you open a new balance transfer account, since you will be using all of the account to pay off your debts, your credit limit is fully utilized which will lower your credit utilization ratio and then your credit score. So it is better to get an account which has a credit limit more than what you need for your debts. Don’t close your old account, it’ll keep the available credit more and won’t let your credit utilization ratio go up and thus, won’t decrease your credit score.

For any assistance regarding credit score contact us by booking an appointment at www.cibilconsultants.com

Source: Secondary

How does defaulting affect your CIBIL Score?

A loan default is basically not making the required payments on your loan to the lender. A loan default is associated with a lot of financial problems. Even if you met all the conditions of the default, your credit score will drop and you will find it hard to get another loan in the future.

There can be many reasons why an individual may have done his payments, but when a certain time passes without you making the payment, it becomes a part of your credit history and would be included in determining your credit score. When this default is added to your credit history, it stays there for 7 years thereby affecting your credit score for a long time. Therefore, it is important that your avoid turning your late payments into defaults, to not hurt your credit score.

Default can occur with all types of loan. Default in loans like home loans, auto loans can have the lender take repossession of your home or vehicle. 

Default is not the same as deferment, in deferment the payment is postponed mutually after an agreement with the lender while in default there is no agreement that you will get your payments even in the future. Default indicates to the lender that there is far more and deeper problem in the individual’s finances.

If you cannot avoid a default, you can at least reduce the impact of it. The best way to reduce a default is to contact the creditor as soon as you can. If you are late with only a few payments, you can work out some way with your lender for a payment plan. You can also consider various options for refinancing. If you can before declaring on your default, you could sell your car or house on your own or repay the lender than going to a agent. This saves the lender time and money as it is more cost-effective way.

If your debt problems are much deeper than you thought, contact our credit repairing agency at www.cibilconsultants.com , which can help you restructure your payment plans.

Source: Secondary