Credit has evolved over the years.   Before there was a  credit report stores granted credit from your references.  They would call your references to verify that you were reliable person.  Someone who would pay bills on time.

Now we use credit reports from the three major credit bureaus.  When you have new credit, no credit, or bad credit many lenders will require you to have a co-signor.   This decision does not always help the person in this credit situation.  It can sometimes hurt you. 

It is important to establish your own credit history.  Getting family and friends to co-sign or put credit in their name  for you can become away of life.  Life circumstances change in a heart beat.  Your ability to pay a debt can become null and void.  Always wanting someone to bail you out is irresponsible behavior.  What will you do after you have ruined their credit too??

When you are using someone else's credit you should treat their credit better than you do your own.  For some reason if you cannot make a payment you should let your co-signor know right away.  Avoiding them will not make the situation any better.  This will a least allow them time to make the payment to avoid damaging their credit. 

Often times when a person is using someone else's credit he/she may not pay the bill on time or miss payments.   When payments are 30 or more days late it affects the co-signors credit.  You could be causing damage to their credit and he/she may be unaware.   Abusing some one's credit is like a slap in the face.  Causing them serious harm.  If you are abusing some one's credit stop today.  You never know when you may really need some help.

I talk about more in debt about this subject in my book Sex Lies and Credit.  To get a copy of my new book and credit course click www.sexliesandcredit.com.

Miss Rene'