Bartering Basics For A Clean Credit Report
Harsal Gibs asked:
There is only one way to beat a bully at their own game, and that is to call them out on what they are doing to you. Credit cards thrive on being sneaky and manipulative, and, when you’re late with your monthly payment, can be downright mean.
How many phone calls are made every year from credit card companies to their customers where they demand a minimum payment due immediately? They don’t want to hear any excuses about job loss or having income problems; they just want their money. If you don’t pay right away, your APR goes up. So now, instead of paying 12% interest on your purchases, you’ll now be forced to live with an APR of 15%, or, and this is very likely, upwards of 20%.
How can you get around this interest nightmare?
The answer is easy enough – being a better barterer – and yet so few people actually do it. Instead of bullying back, most people acquiesce, nod reluctantly, and in a soft and timid voice agree to whatever terms they’re given by the company in order to retain their good credit score, because a clean credit report is so essential in today’s world that if it’s even “fair”, you’ll need to make a deposit to even purchase a cell phone plan.
Once you’ve fallen behind, you’ll need to know how to fix credit that has gone sour. But credit cleanup isn’t simple, and it’s going to take guts on your part. It’s going to take some gumption and the ability to stand up for you. And the reality is that it won’t be easy. That said, though, there is one option that can be unanimously agreed upon as a means to combat belligerent credit collectors.
By admitting you’re late with your payments, you’ve accepted responsibility for being tardy. But what you do next is the difference between being the victim, and the victor. After being scolded by the creditor for being late, take the next few weeks and find a card with a lower interest rate than the one they offer and apply. Once you are approved, make a polite phone call to your friendly neighborhood credit card company and have a nice little chat.
Essentially, what you will tell them is that you have found a card with a lower interest rate that you will use to transfer your entire balance, and, sorry, you guys won’t be able to continue digging into anyone pockets on this end of the line again unless they lower their interest and give you a better deal.
Having a clean credit report isn’t a one man show…
It takes two to tango, and if the credit card company wants to keep you as a client, they’ll need to start acting like it’s them working for you, instead of you being a slave to their corporation. In times like these, it’s imperative to end the vicious cycle of creditors beating up on those who are living in hard economic times. By making an ultimatum, and turning the tables on them, you are giving them a viable business option. They can keep you on as a customer by offering you a good deal and better service, you’ll take your business elsewhere. It’s that simple.
The one positive thing about credit cleanup is that, ultimately, you’re in control of how you pay off your debt; not them. By allowing yourself the option of taking your business elsewhere, you’re stating in no uncertain terms that you aren’t pleased with the way they’re treating you, who, outside of missing one or two payments, has paid at least the monthly minimum consistently, and they should be trying to help you with the hard times you’re living in, instead of penalizing you.
Sophie
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There is only one way to beat a bully at their own game, and that is to call them out on what they are doing to you. Credit cards thrive on being sneaky and manipulative, and, when you’re late with your monthly payment, can be downright mean.
How many phone calls are made every year from credit card companies to their customers where they demand a minimum payment due immediately? They don’t want to hear any excuses about job loss or having income problems; they just want their money. If you don’t pay right away, your APR goes up. So now, instead of paying 12% interest on your purchases, you’ll now be forced to live with an APR of 15%, or, and this is very likely, upwards of 20%.
How can you get around this interest nightmare?
The answer is easy enough – being a better barterer – and yet so few people actually do it. Instead of bullying back, most people acquiesce, nod reluctantly, and in a soft and timid voice agree to whatever terms they’re given by the company in order to retain their good credit score, because a clean credit report is so essential in today’s world that if it’s even “fair”, you’ll need to make a deposit to even purchase a cell phone plan.
Once you’ve fallen behind, you’ll need to know how to fix credit that has gone sour. But credit cleanup isn’t simple, and it’s going to take guts on your part. It’s going to take some gumption and the ability to stand up for you. And the reality is that it won’t be easy. That said, though, there is one option that can be unanimously agreed upon as a means to combat belligerent credit collectors.
By admitting you’re late with your payments, you’ve accepted responsibility for being tardy. But what you do next is the difference between being the victim, and the victor. After being scolded by the creditor for being late, take the next few weeks and find a card with a lower interest rate than the one they offer and apply. Once you are approved, make a polite phone call to your friendly neighborhood credit card company and have a nice little chat.
Essentially, what you will tell them is that you have found a card with a lower interest rate that you will use to transfer your entire balance, and, sorry, you guys won’t be able to continue digging into anyone pockets on this end of the line again unless they lower their interest and give you a better deal.
Having a clean credit report isn’t a one man show…
It takes two to tango, and if the credit card company wants to keep you as a client, they’ll need to start acting like it’s them working for you, instead of you being a slave to their corporation. In times like these, it’s imperative to end the vicious cycle of creditors beating up on those who are living in hard economic times. By making an ultimatum, and turning the tables on them, you are giving them a viable business option. They can keep you on as a customer by offering you a good deal and better service, you’ll take your business elsewhere. It’s that simple.
The one positive thing about credit cleanup is that, ultimately, you’re in control of how you pay off your debt; not them. By allowing yourself the option of taking your business elsewhere, you’re stating in no uncertain terms that you aren’t pleased with the way they’re treating you, who, outside of missing one or two payments, has paid at least the monthly minimum consistently, and they should be trying to help you with the hard times you’re living in, instead of penalizing you.
Sophie