As you're maxing out your credit cards and ignoring your bills, you might not realize the effect it's going to have on your credit. Credit card payments and level of debt have the most impact on your credit score. Mess up in these areas and your credit score will plummet.
"What's the big deal with a low credit score," you might ask. Since so many businesses now judge you based on your credit score, having bad credit can make life extremely difficult from getting a job to getting a place to live. Here are some of the most common side-effects of bad credit.
1. High interest rates on your credit cards and loans
Creditors and lenders see bad credit applicants as riskier than applicants with better credit scores. They make you pay for this risk by giving you a higher interest rate. Over time you’ll end up paying more in interest than you would if you have better credit. The cost is higher with big credit card balances or major loans.2. Credit and loan applications may not be approved
Because creditors and lenders think your bad credit is a risk, they might not want to lend to you at all. You may find that your applications are being denied.3. Difficulty getting approved for an apartment
Who knew that landlords checked credit before allowing you to sign a lease? It’s true. Having bad credit can leave you homeless or close to it.
How to Rent With Bad Credit4. Security deposits on utilities
Utility companies – electricity, phone, and cable – check your credit as part of the application process. If you have a bad credit history, you may have to pay a security deposit to establish service in your name, even if you’ve always paid your utility bills on time.5. You can't get a cell phone contract
Yep, cell phone companies check your credit too. They contend that they’re extending a month of service to you, so they need to know how reliable your payments will be. If your credit’s bad, you may have to get a prepaid cell phone, a month-to-month contract where phones are typically more expensive, or go without one at all.6. You might get denied for employment
Certain jobs, especially those in upper management or the finance industry, require you to have a good credit history. You can actually be turned down for a job because of negative items on your credit report, especially high debt amounts, bankruptcy, or outstanding bills.7. Higher insurance premiums
Insurance companies check credit too. They say that lower credit scores are linked to higher claims filed. Because of this theory, they check your credit and charge a higher premium to those with lower credit scores, regardless of the number of claims you’ve actually filed.
Bad Credit, Bad Driver8. Calls from debt collectors
Bad credit itself doesn't lead to debt collection calls. However, chances are if you have bad credit you also have some past due bills that debt collectors are pursuing.
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