As you consider whether to hire HOPE to assist you with your credit needs it is important to look at the price you are already paying for having a low credit score. A low credit score hurts your ability to get loans and raises the cost of credit when you can get it. Credit scores are also looked at for insurance rates, renting, and even employment.

Having bad credit can realistically cost you hundreds of dollars more per month, thousands of dollars more per year, and hundreds of thousands more over the course of the years to come. Why does bad credit cost you more? Because lenders charge consumers with low credit scores higher interest rates. Here are a few real examples of the cost of bad credit:

*Student Loans - $9,000 More Per Student Loan! On a $20,000 student loan a person with a credit score of 620 may pay $9,000 EXTRA over the life of the loan versus a person with a credit score of 740.  That's a difference of around $74 EXTRA per month!

*Automobile Loans - $6,680 More Per Vehicle! On a $25,000 auto loan a person with a credit score of 620 may pay $6,680 EXTRA for their vehicle than a person with a credit score of 740 would pay for the same vehicle. That's is difference of around $70 EXTRA per month!

*Mortgage Loans - $84,600 More Per House! It is very difficult - almost impossible - to be approved for a mortgage without a good credit score. However, even if you are approved for a mortgage with less than stellar credit it will cost you a lot of extra money. On a $300,000 home loan a person with a credit score of 620 would very likely pay an EXTRA $84,600 than a person with a credit score of 740 would pay over the course of the loan. That's a difference of around $235 EXTRA per month!

*Credit Cards - $54,000 More! It's become more difficult to be approved for a credit card over the past couple of years. Credit card issuers have tightened their lending criteria which results in pickier standards and higher interest rates for consumers. Some card issuers even require a credit score of 720+ to be approved. If you are approved for a credit card with a less than stellar credit score then you can expect to pay more interest. A person with a 620 score (20.99% rate) might expect to pay an EXTRA $54,ooo in interest over the course of 50 years versus a person with a credit score of 740. That's a difference of around $90 EXTRA per month!