A credit score of 750 or higher opens up a world of opportunities to you. It’s an indication to lenders you’re a good credit risk. Let it drop below 650 and that world drastically shrinks in size. Here are seven things you either can’t do or will pay a lot more to do when you have bad credit.
Buy a Home
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Having a decent credit score (700 or higher) when you’re ready to purchase a home is an absolute must these days. When your credit score falls below 660, you will be paying more in interest or may even be denied the loan because the lender will view you as a credit risk.
Lease an Apartment
If you can’t buy a home with bad credit, you might think renting an apartment will be easier. Think again. Most landlords run credit checks to determine if you can be trusted to pay your rent. You may not be denied the apartment, but the landlord could make you pay a higher security deposit or ask for a co-signer.
Get Wireless Phone Service
Wireless service providers are also going to run a credit check on you before letting you have a service contract. If they consider you a credit risk, they’ll make you pay a deposit. How much depends on what the credit bureau recommends, based on how much of a risk you’re considered to be.
Find a Job
Want a job in the government, finance, or the military? You guessed it; your credit history is going to be a factor in whether you land the job. The Fair Credit Reporting Act has made it legal for employers to check your credit history; however, they must get your permission in writing before doing it. You can always say no, but don’t be surprised if you don’t get hired.
Purchase a Car
Any time you want to borrow money for a major purchase like an automobile, the bank is going to scrutinize your credit history. Like other lenders, the worse your credit is, the more the bank will make you pay in interest, if not outright deny you the loan. If this happens, a DriveTime bad credit auto loan can get you into the car you want to purchase.
Get Car Insurance
Did you know that insurance carriers in 47 states check your credit history before offering you insurance? Your perceived credit worthiness is going to determine how much your premium is. As we’ve already seen, the worse your credit is, the more money you’re going to have to pay, no matter how great your driving record is.
Go to College
Getting a college education is an expensive proposition, and many prospective students need to borrow money to go. It’s a loan, so expect your credit history to determine how much interest you’re going to pay. With a credit score of 650, expect to pay $8,000 more over the life of the loan than someone with a credit score of 750.
Don’t let bad credit keep you from doing the important things in life. Start by checking the accuracy of the information in your credit report. You can get a free one annually at AnnualCreditReport.com.