credit

[deman2704]

can you clean up a negative credit report

[CB76]

Sure.

First you need to have an idea of why it's negative. You can ask for a copy from the two main companies that compile them (Experian and Equifax) or maybe ask the last credit card or bank that did a check on you if you can see a copy.

If you believe that there's something factually wrong you can write to them and they should correct it - this can happen for instance if you've been confused with someone else, e.g. the person that used to live in your house.

If you've simple had a few bad debts etc, then you've just got to try and get a better credit history, by using credit and making sure it's always paid off on schedule. Using a credit card and paying off the balance in full every month so you don't pay interest is a good way of doing this.

Also check you've not got any unused credit facilities. If you've got 5 old credit cards and an overdraft you don't use then the fact you have them will be on your report and banks etc may be wary of giving you the opportunity to borrow even more on top even though the facilities are currently unused