• Always pay your bills on time.
• Open a checking account.
• Open a savings account.
• Apply for a store card.
• Take out a small loan.
• Get a gas card.
• Consider a secured loan or card.
• If turned down, find a co-signer.

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• Amount of money you make.
• Length of time on the job.
• Length of time at same address.
• Other credit you have.
• Your bills are paid on time.
• You own real property (house, car).
• Check bouncing history.
• You save money every month.
• You have used credit before.

These questions are considered when an institution decides whether or not to gie you credit. The importance of your answers will be different based on wht the lender is looking for. A creditor's overall concerns are in the ares:

1. Do you have the ability to repay? Your income and other credit commitments are taken into consideration.
2. What are your assets? - In other words, what do you own? Remember, a savings account is a very important asset.
3. What is your attitude? When you have used credit before, have you always paid it back as agreed?
   

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• Incomplete application submitted.
• No credit history or short history.
• Low income.
• Short job history.
• Short time at residence.
• Too much credit.
• Slow payment history/late pays.
• History of bounced checks.
• Judgements, repossessions, and/or bankruptcy.

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• Call the person or company that you owe. Don't wait for them to call you. Explain the situation. Perhaps there has been a job loss, sickness, or family emergency that has made it difficult to keep up with payments.
• Have your plan for repaying the debt ready to discuss with the creditor when you call.
• Make the plan realistic. If the plan is realistic but the person won't accept it, ask to talk to the supervisor. If the supervisor won't accept your plan, call your local Consumer Credit Counseling Service.
• When your plan is accepted, do your best to follow through. If something happens and you can't do what you agreed, call the creditor immediately.
• Keep a record of the names and telephone numbers of people with whom you have discussed your problem and solution. Also keep a record of the dates.
• Follow up your phone conversation with a letter briefly stating what was worked out. Keep copies!
• Keep in contact with your creditors until the problems have been solved.

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