Posts Tagged :

credit score

Nine ways to sabotage your own credit score

I’m working hard to improve my credit score these days. In the past I was a bit of a bad boy when it came to paying bills – so I’ve been looking into what will kill your credit score, and fast. Real fast. Your credit score, which is sometimes referred to as your credit rating, will generally range from 0 to either 1,000 or 1,200 depending on the credit bureau calculating it. Your illion score via Credit Simple will range…

read more
Wanting to get a foot on the property ladder? Here are five strategies to help you get there

As a young would-be home buyer, it can be tough getting a foot (or even just a big toe) on the property ladder. To help set Aussies up for success, CreditSimple.com.au spokesperson Emily Price provides her top tips for first time buyers to get started. 1. Use your score to leverage a better deal “The first step is to check your score via CreditSimple.com.au. If it’s above 700, you’re an attractive customer and you should pick up the phone to see…

read more
Know your rights - What to do if you’re being chased by a debt collector
Know your rights: What to do if you’re being chased by a debt collector

There’s nothing like owning a ferocious guard dog for dealing with debt collectors. Chomp, chomp, chomp. There goes the arm of that dastardly fella. Well, not really. Setting the dog on the debt collector isn’t going to solve your problems – it’ll just make them worse. Debt collectors don’t even taste that nice (or so we’re told). It’s easy to stick your head in the sand when you can’t (or forget to) pay a bill. But leaving all those envelopes…

read more
Shocked female
How a $560 phone bill stopped a home loan application dead in its tracks

It’s easy to go through life ignoring your finances. Money, bills and investments are topics that are often thrown in the too-hard basket, and we live with the mindset that if we pay the bills, our finances should be in order. But it’s not quite that simple, and as Melbourne resident Krystle* discovered, something as small as a late payment can come to haunt you years down the track. “I’ve always been a really organised person,” Krystle says. “The importance…

read more
Five financial things I learned while getting a degree I never used

You’ll often hear people say that you shouldn’t go to university unless you know what you want to study and how you’ll use it in a job later on. I disagree; I think all university study is useful in one way or another. It’s not just a degree  –  it’s a formative experience  –  and I personally don’t think it’s ever a waste of money, time or effort. But I’m speaking from the point of view of having got my…

read more
Here’s whats behind that zero credit score

Getting a zero credit score can be a bit of a shock. If they were emojis, it would be a bit like this guy. But don’t worry, you can turn your emoji frown upside down with a few fixes. But first, a bit about why you got a zero score. For 85% of people with zero scores, they’ll have a default or a bankruptcy on their file. This is the major problem: not paying your bills. Lenders want to know…

read more
Boy looking into makeshift phone
The Credit Simple guide to understanding your score

So you got your credit score, but you can’t understand why you got the score you did. Maybe it’s quite high (yay!) or maybe it’s low (or even zero). Here’s a rule of thumb guide to understanding your credit score. Two big things to keep in mind are: Credit scores of 1,000 are really rare, and anything over 800 is pretty standout. If your score isn’t as high as you think it should be, this could be because your current…

read more
What affects your credit score (and why it matters)

Your credit score indicates how financially healthy and responsible you are, and how likely you are to pay your debts. Your illion score via Credit Simple will range from 0 – 1,000 and shows you how banks and other lenders see you. Understanding how this score is calculated is crucial to improving your score, so you can get better deals from your bank, telco, insurance company and more. Here’s what affects your credit score: Defaulting on a payment, even if you…

read more
I checked my credit report (and you won’t believe what happens next!)

I got asked for ID last week at the liquor store and I was shamefully delighted about it, earning me the disgust of the very young checkout assistant. And while she might be in need of an eye check, once I stopped waving my ID in her face with glee it occurred to me that she probably thinks I am just a sad old lady eying up forty. While this might be true, I don’t miss my twenties. I might miss…

read more
My boss wants to check my credit score
Help! My new boss wants to check my credit report

Imagine you’re on the cusp of getting a hot new job, and your prospective boss says they’ll need to do a credit check. You’re pretty sure there’s some bad info on there, and anyway, isn’t it a breach of privacy? Fret no more, dear reader: we bring good news. Firstly, it’s true that other parties can check your credit report – landlords, recruiters, telcos, insurance providers and utility companies, as well as employers. However, they can’t do it without your…

read more