Consumer debt is at an all-time high, hovering around $3.4 trillion and still climbing. The average household that owns at least one credit card has in excess of $15,000 in credit card debt. The financial disaster of the previous decade is still plaguing many across the nation. If you are one of the many whose credit was destroyed as a result of the economic crises of the 2000s, there is a way to repair your credit history.

1. Check your credit report periodically. You are entitled to one free copy of your credit report each year. Use it to your advantage. Check the credit report for any errors. If you do find errors, contact the credit bureau to dispute them. Correcting any errors will result in an adjustment to your credit score.
2. Make payments on time. You must make all of your credit payments on time. Set up payment reminders to make sure that you make these payments. Paying your bills on time is one of the biggest components in the makeup of your credit score. A late payment on a mortgage or a car payment will have a dramatic effect on your credit score.
3. Reduce your current debt levels. The closer you are to the maximum borrowing amount on your credit cards, the lower your credit score. If you have a $10,000 limit on a card and you have used $9,500, your credit score suffers. Stop using the card and develop a plan to pay this balance down.
4. Consolidate debt. You can always use a car title loan to consolidate debt and pay it off quicker. A car title loan from a company such as Embassy Loans for example is easy to obtain. There are no credit checks and you can receive payments very quickly – in an hour in many cases. Using a car title loan to pay off debt and then subsequently paying off the car title loan is also good for an individual’s credit history.
5. Be consistent. Make all of your payments on time. Avoid overdrafts at your bank. You may want to consider a bank that offers overdraft protection. The process of fixing one’s credit will not happen overnight. It is much like losing weight. You have to be disciplined over a long period of time before you begin to see any results. Be diligent, and within a year or two your credit history will take a turn for the better.