In these uncertain economic times, many people suffer from poor credit. Don't worry about your credit situation, just improve it!

First, you need to get your credit score. Many sites offer this service; some for free and some for a small charge. Before you even begin to repair your credit, you must know exactly what your credit looks like.

Contact your creditors for the most up to date information on your accounts. Knowing how the accounts will be handled, you can decide which ones are most critical and which ones can be handled later. If you concentrate first on your most serious debts, you will save money by avoiding the highest fees and charges. You can relieve your financial pressure by paying off the accounts that do not allow payment plans first. Then you can focus on those accounts that allowed you to make payment arrangements.

Don't forget to document unusual entries on your credit report. You will be able to identify mistakes and possible security issues when you have pulled all of your credit information together. With this information, you can protect your credit by reporting any errors you see on your credit report. When you have the documentation to back up your claims, your credibility increases.

Know all of your rights and responsibilities if your debt has gone on to a collection agency. Collection agencies can not threaten you, nor can you go to jail for the inability to pay a bill. While the law varies by state, for the most part, an agency cannot legally harass you over the phone. By knowing your rights, you can stand up for yourself if collectors are pushing you around.

Make sure that your credit card balances do not exceed 30 percent of the limit. This is beneficial in keeping your payments manageable. A balance over 30 percent may be harder for you to pay, and this can hurt your credit.

The ideal method in managing your bills that have already been turned over to collections is to develop a plan to pay down your debts. It is also possible to set up a payment plan before the bill makes it out to debt collectors. You will only make the problem worse by ignoring calls from collection agencies. Talking to debt collectors allows you to work out a payment plan. Tell them you are working hard to pay your debts, but things are rough right now. They may be able to adjust your payment plan to make it more manageable or may even lower the amount that you owe. Honesty can go a long way towards improving your overall credit situation.

Following the guidelines above will help you stay on top of your credit profile. With just a few months of putting these tips to use, your credit score will certainly rise.